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the young face he would never see again。
The Prior gave him the Communion； and later walked beside him to
the gates。 Then as Hilarius knelt he blessed him； and the boy；
overmastered by nameless fear； sprang up and prayed that he might stay
and learn some other way； however hard。 The Prior shook his head。
〃Nay； my son； so it must be； else how shall I answer to the Master for
this most precious lamb of my flock？ Come back to us … an thou can'st …
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
let no fear deter thee； only take heed； when thine eyes are opened and the
great gifts of hunger and love are vouchsafed thee； to keep still the faithful
heart of a little child。〃
Then he bade him go； and Hilarius； for the pull of his heart… strings；
must needs run hot…foot down the broad forest road and along the highway；
without daring to look back； and so out into the wide； wide world。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER III … THE KING'S SONG…BIRD
MARTIN THE MINSTREL sat under a wayside oak singing softly to
himself as he tuned his vielle。 He was a long lanky fellow with straight
black locks flat against his sallow face； and dark eyes that smouldered in
hollow cavities。 He wore the King's colours； and broke a manchet of
white bread with his mid…day repast。
〃Heigh…ho！〃 sighed Martin； and laid the vielle lovingly beside him；
〃another four leagues to Westminster； and I weary enough of shoe… leather
already； and not another penny piece in my pocket 'til I win back to good
King Ned。 A brave holiday I have had； from Candlemas to Midsummer；
free to sing or to be silent； to smile or frown； wide England instead of
palace walls； a crust of bread and a jug of cider instead of a king's banquet。
Now but another few leagues and the cage again。 Money in my pocket；
true； but a song here and a song there； such as suit the fancy of the Court
gentles； not of Martin the Minstrel。 Heigh…ho； heigh…ho！ 'tis a poor bird
sings at the word of a king； and a poor enough song too； if Edward did but
know it。
〃Who comes here？ Faith； the lad goes a steady pace and carries a
light heart from his song； and no ill voice either。〃
It was Hilarius； and he sang the Alma Redemptoris as he sped along
the green grass which bordered the highway。
When Martin hailed him he turned aside gladly； and his face lit up at
the sight of the vielle。
〃Whence dost thou come； lad？〃 said Martin； eyeing him with interest。
〃Many days' journey from the Monastery of Prior Stephen；〃 answered
Hilarius。
〃But thou art no monk！〃
〃Nay； a novice scarcely； but the Prior hath bidden me go forth to see
the world。 It is wondrous fair；〃 he added sincerely。
〃He who speaks thus is cloister…bred；〃 said Martin； and as Hilarius
made sign of assent； 〃'tis writ on thy face as well。 Thy Prior gave thee
letters to the Abbat of St Peter's； I doubt not； thy face is set for
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Westminster。〃
〃Ay； for Westminster； but my letters are for that good knight； Sir John
Maltravers。 I should have made an end of my journeying ere now but
that two days ago I met strange company。 They took my purse and hat
and shoes； and kept me with them all night until the late dawn。 Then
they gave me my goods again； and bade me God… speed。'
〃But kept thy purse？〃 Martin laughed。
〃Nay； it is here； and naught is missing。 It was all passing strange； and
I feared them； for they looked evil men； yet they did me no wrong； and set
me on my way gently enough； giving me provision； which I lacked。〃
〃Pick…purses and cut…throats afraid of God's judgments for once；〃
muttered Martin； then aloud； 〃Well； young sir； we shall do well if we win
Westminster before night…fall； shall we journey together since our way is
the same？〃
Hilarius assented gladly； and as they went； Martin told him of Court
and King； and the wondrous doings when the Princess Isabel was wed。
He listened open…eyed to tales of joust and revel and sport； and heard
eagerly all the minstrel could tell of Sir John Maltravers himself； a man of
great and good reputation； and no mean musician； 〃and；〃 added Martin；
〃three fair daughters he hath； the eldest Eleanor； fairest of them all； of
whom men say she would fain be a nun。 Thou art a pretty lad； I wager
one or other will claim thee for page。〃
〃I will strive to serve well；〃 said Hilarius soberly； 〃but I have never
spoken but to one maid 'til yesterday； when a woman gave me good…
morrow。〃
Martin looked at his companion queerly。
〃And thou art for Westminster！ Nay； but by all the Saints this Prior
of thine is a strange master！〃
〃It is but for a time；〃 said Hilarius； 〃then I shall go back to the
Monastery again。 But first I would learn to be a real limner； I have some
small skill with the brush；〃 he added simply。
Martin stared。
〃Back to the cloister？ Nay； lad； best turn about and get back now； not
wait till thou hast had a taste of Court life。 Joust and banquet and revel；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
revel； banquet； and joust； much merry…making and little reason； much love
and few marryings： a gay round； but not such as makes a monk。〃
Hilarius smiled。
〃Nay； that life will not be for me。 I am to serve my lord； write for
him； methinks。 But tell me； good Martin； dost thou love the Court？ It
seems a fine thing to be the King's Minstrel。〃
〃Nay； lad； nay；〃 said the other hastily； 〃give me the open country and
the greenwood； and leave to sing or be silent。 Still； the King is a good
master； and lets me roam as I list if I will but come back； 'tis ill…faring in
winter； so back I go to pipe in my cage and follow the Court until next
Lady…day lets the sun in on us again。〃
He struck his vielle lightly； and the two fell into a slower pace as the
minstrel sang。 Hilarius' eyes filled with tears； for he was