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preparations for the evening meal； and sat there； lonely and dejected； his
curiosity quenched； his heart sore； his whole being crying out for the
busied peace and silent orderliness of his cloister home。 The servants
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
gibed at him； but he was too weary to heed； indeed he hardly noticed when
the household swept in to supper； until a page…boy tweaked him slyly by
the ear and bade him come to table。 He ate and drank thankfully； too
dazed to take note of the meal； and the pages and squires among whom he
sat left him alone； abashed at his gentleness。 At last； something restored
by the much…needed food； Hilarius looked round the hall。
It reminded him of the Refectory at home； save that it was far loftier
and heavily timbered。 The twilight stealing in through high lancet
windows served but to emphasize the upper gloom； which the morrow's
sun would dissipate into cunningly carved woodwork … a man's thought in
every quaintly wrought boss and panel； grotesque beast and guarding saint。
A raised table stood at the upper end of the hall； and here gaily dressed
pages waited on the master of the house and his honoured guests。
Hilarius rightly guessed the tall； careworn man of distinguished presence
to be no other than Sir John himself； and he liked him well； but his eyes
wandered carelessly over the rest of the company until they were caught
and held by a woman's face。 It was Eleanor； the fairest of the knight's
three fair daughters； and when Hilarius saw her he felt as a weary traveller
feels who meets a fellow citizen in a far…off land。
〃Even such a face must the Blessed Agnes have had；〃 he thought； his
mind reverting to his favourite Saint； 〃she is like the lilies in the garth at
home。〃
It was a strange comparison； for the girl was extravagantly dressed in
costly materials and brilliant colours； her hair coifed in the foolish French
fashion of the day； and yet； despite it all； she looked a nun。 Her face was
pale； her brows set straight； her eyes； save when she was much moved；
were like grey shadows veiling an unknown soul； her mouth； delicately
curved； was scarcely reddened； her head drooped slightly on her long；
slender neck； a gesture instinct with gracious humility。 She was like a
pictured saint： Hilarius' gaze clung to her； followed her as she left the hall；
and saw her still as he sat apart while the serving men cleared the lower
tables and brought in the sleeping gear for the night。 He lay down with
the rest； and through the high； lancet windows the moonlight kissed his
white and weary face as it was wont to do on bright nights in the cloister
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
dormitory。 Around him men lay sleeping soundly after the day's toils；
there was none to heed； and he sobbed like a little homesick child； until his
tired youth triumphed； and he fell asleep； to dream of Martin and the Prior；
the lady at the raised table； and the pale； sweet lilies in the cloister garth。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
PART II … THE FLOWER
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER I … THE CITY OF PURE GOLD
〃BLIND eyes； blind eyes！〃 sang the dancer。
Hilarius woke with a start。 He had fallen asleep on a bench in the
sunny courtyard and his dream had carried him back to the forest。 He sat
rubbing his eyes and only half…awake； the sun kissing his hair into a halo
against the old grey wall。 A falcon near fretted restlessly on her perch；
and a hound asleep by the fountain rose； and； slowly stretching its great
limbs； came towards him。
It was four o'clock on a warm day in September； the courtyard was
deserted save for a few busied serving men； and the knight and his
household； were at a tilting in the Outer Bailey； all but the Lady Eleanor；
Hilarius' mistress； for； as Martin had foreseen； Sir John had so appointed
it。
It was now two months since Hilarius had come to the city which had
seemed to him in the distance as the New Jerusalem full of promise； but he
had found no angels at the gates； nor were the streets full of the righteous；
nay； the place seemed nearer of kin to the Babylon of Blessed John's
Vision … with a few holy ones who would surely be caught up ere
judgment fell； amongst them Sir John and Lady Eleanor。
A good knight and a God…fearing man was Sir John； tender to his
children； gentle with his people； a faithful servant to God and King
Edward； shrewd withal； and an apt reader of men。 Therefore； and
because of the love he bore to Prior Stephen； he set Hilarius to attend his
eldest daughter； who seemed to belong as little to this world as the lad
himself； and felt that in so doing he had achieved the best possible for his
old friend； according to his asking。
Hilarius for his part served the Lady Eleanor as an acolyte tends the
chapel of a saint； only she was further removed from him than a saint； by
reason of her pale humanity。 He soon perceived； as he watched her at
banquet； tourney； or pageant； that she went to a revel as to the Sacrament；
and sat at a mummers' show with eyes fixed on the Unseen。 She moved
through the gay vivid world of Court gallants and joyous maidens like a
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shadow； and the rout grew graver at her coming。
It was much the same with her lover； Guy de Steyning … brother of that
Hugh de Steyning men wot of as Brother Ambrosius … a gentle knight with
mild blue eyes； a peaked red beard； and great fervour for heavenly things。
The pair liked one another well； but their time was taken up with
preparation for Paradise rather than with earthly business； and their speech
lent itself more readily to devout phrases than to lovers' vows。 It was
small wonder； therefore； that another year saw them both by glad consent
in