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sprang also to their feet。
〃Nay； Brother Walter；〃 said Hilarius； turning to the Sub…Prior； 〃this
flock must have its shepherd also； thy place is here。 But I will take with
me Brother Simon and Brother Leo； who will doubtless suffice at first for
the ministry； and … 〃 smiling at the novices … 〃all these dear lads to tend the
sick and bury the dead。〃
The Sub…Prior ventured on a remonstrance。
〃Good Father； it is not fitting that thou should'st go on such an errand；
send me in thy stead； for my life is a small thing as compared with thine。
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Moreover these novices； 'tis but the other day the Master gave them as
lazy and ill…conditioned； and … 〃
The Prior held up his hand。
〃Dear Brother； I thank thee for thy love and care for me； but my call
has come。 As for these … 〃 he stretched out his hand towards the waiting
novices … 〃maybe they are in the wrong school； and the Lord hath even
opened the door that they may serve Him； perchance die for Him；
elsewhere。 And shall I count myself wiser than Prior Stephen； who set
me without the gate to learn my lesson？ Let us go in peace； my children；
for we are about the Lord's business。〃
Very early next day； having eaten of Heavenly manna； the little band
embraced their brethren and set out； laden with food and wine and herbs
from the farmery； and the Prior appointed a place to which the Convent
should send daily all things needed。
The shade of the forest was very welcome in the hot； breathless
sunshine； and the scent of the pine…needles； odorous； pungent； rose at each
footfall from the silent path。 The Brethren chanted the Gradual Psalms
as they paced two and two through the sun…lit aisles； full of the Prior's
memories； and he looked up again to see Our Lady's robe across the tree…
tops。 Then all at once the Psalm broke； and Brother Simon； who was
leading； stayed suddenly。
Under a bush beside the track lay a man； naked save for filthy rags； his
hair and beard matted with moss and leaves； his eyes sunk； his lips drawn
apart in a ghastly grin。 Hilarius made haste to kneel beside him； and lo！
sudden remembrance lighted the fast… glazing eyes； but his own answered
not。
〃My son； my son；〃 said the Prior； and his voice was very pitiful； 〃thou
art indeed in evil case； let me shrive thee ere it be too late。〃
He motioned the others to stand back； and raising the heavy head upon
his shoulder； bent close to catch the whisper of the parched lips。
At first no sound came； and then a hoarse word reached him。
〃The Convent's hens！〃
The Prior stared amazed； then once more the laboured voice …
〃Hast forgot thy theft； and the dancer？〃
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Hilarius needed no further word； in a moment the years were wiped
away。
〃Lad； lad； to find thee again； and in such sorry plight！ But see； stay
not thy shriving； for the time is short； and the Lord ever ready to pardon。〃
The man strove in vain to speak。 At last he said quite clearly： 〃I
hunger；〃 and so saying died。
The Prior was greatly moved； and for a while he knelt in prayer； while
the Brethren； amazed； waited his pleasure。 Then he rose； and lo！ before
him lay the open glade where his schooling had begun； and he had seen a
flower incarnate dance in the wind。
He bade them lift the dead； and lay him in the hollow of the glade
under fallen branches until they could return and give him burial。 Then； as
they went on their way； he told the tale of his little maid； and when the
telling was ended； the village they had come to succour was in sight； and
lo！ they saw it through a mist。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER VIII … 〃BEHOLD THE FIELDS ARE
WHITE〃
THE Prior's heart was ready； and it seemed to him as he passed up the
village and saw the huddled； helpless people； that his little maid led him
by the hand。
Brother Simon； Brother Leo； and the novices turned aside to speak
comfort and carry succour to the sick and fearful； and to bury the dead； for
three unshriven souls had passed to judgment and mercy。 Hilarius made
straight for the ale…house。
As he crossed the green； the door opened and Dickon stumbled blindly
down the steps。 At sight of a monk he cried out； and suddenly sobered；
dropped on his knees； while the topers and roysterers staring from the
open doorway fell into silence。
Hilarius pushed back his cowl and stood bareheaded in the scorching
sun of that windless day； it came to his mind that he was very weary。
〃Hear； O my children； the Lord hath sent me to succour you； lest ye go
down quick into the pit。 Return； every one of you； for the arms of His
love are still stretched wide upon the Rood； and the very hairs of your
head are numbered。 Repent ye； therefore； and confess each one of you
his sins； that I may prepare him for the work of the Lord； and take comfort
also； for they that are with us are mighty。〃
One by one the men； sobered by the shock of great surprise； confessed
and were shriven under the summer sun： only the man Dickon was not
among them。 Then the Prior bade them get to work as he should direct；
and he set a watch that no man should flee the village； and all obeyed him。
Early and late the Prior toiled with the Brethren and his band of
workers； nursing the sick； burying the dead； and destroying the pestilent
dwellings。
Brother Leo was the first to whom the call came： he answered it like
a soldier at his post。
As the Prior rose from the pallet of his dead son； one bade him come
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quickly； for a dying man had need of him。 It was Dickon。
The Prior； bearing with him the Body of the Lord； made haste to the
hovel where he lay； and shrived him though he scarce could hear his
muttered words； but lo！ when he would place the Host he could not； for a
gold piece lay on the man's tongue。 The Prior drew back