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¡¨Did'st¡¡thou¡¡ever¡¡love£¿¡¨

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He¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡grey¡­walled¡¡city¡¡rising¡¡from¡¡the¡¡water's¡¡edge£»¡¡with¡¡roof¡¡and¡¡pinnacle£»¡¡gable¡¡and¡¡turret£»¡¡aflame¡¡in¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡the¡¡western¡¡sky£»¡¡in¡¡front¡¡flowed¡¡the¡¡river¡¡like¡¡a¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡molten¡¡gold¡£

Hilarius¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡little¡¡cry¡£

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An¡¡hour¡¡later¡¡they¡¡stood¡¡within¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡of¡¡Westminster¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡Hilarius£»¡¡amazed¡¡and¡¡weary£»¡¡clung¡¡close¡¡to¡¡Martin's¡¡side¡£¡¡¡¡Around¡¡him¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡russet¡­clad¡¡archers£»¡¡grooms£»¡¡men¡¡on¡¡horseback£»¡¡pedlars£»¡¡pages£»¡¡falconers£»¡¡scullions¡¡with¡¡meats£»¡¡gallant¡¡knights£»¡¡gaily¡¡dressed¡¡ladies£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡like¡¡a¡¡tangled¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡gabled¡¡fronts¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡were¡¡richly¡¡blazoned¡¡or¡¡hung¡¡with¡¡scarlet¡¡cloth£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shifting¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡colour£»¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡movement£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡Hilarius'¡¡untutored¡¡eyes£»¡¡wild¡¡confusion¡£¡¡¡¡Outside¡¡the¡¡taverns¡¡clustered¡¡all¡¡sorts¡¡and¡¡conditions¡¡of¡¡men£»¡¡drinking£»¡¡gossiping£»¡¡singing£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡day's¡¡work¡¡was¡¡done¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡courtyard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¨Black¡¡Boar¡¨¡¡a¡¡chained¡¡bear¡¡padded¡¡restlessly¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro£»¡¡and¡¡Hilarius¡¡crossed¡¡himself¡¡anxiously¡¡¡­¡¡was¡¡the¡¡devil¡¡about¡¡to¡¡beset¡¡him¡¡under¡¡all¡¡guises¡¡at¡¡once£¿¡¡¡¡He¡¡raised¡¡a¡¡fervent¡¡Ora¡¡pro¡¡me¡¡to¡¡St¡¡Benedict¡¡as¡¡he¡¡hurried¡¡past¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡string¡¡of¡¡pack¡­horses¡¡in¡¡the¡¡narrow¡¡street¡¡sent¡¡folk¡¡flying¡¡for¡¡refuge¡¡to¡¡the¡¡low¡¡dark¡¡doorways£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡buxom¡¡wench£»¡¡seeing¡¡the¡¡pretty¡¡lad£»¡¡bussed¡¡him¡¡soundly¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡too¡¡much£»¡¡only¡¡the¡¡man¡¡in¡¡him¡¡stayed¡¡the¡¡indignant¡¡tears¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Martin£»¡¡Martin£¡¡¨¡¡he¡¡cried£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡minstrel¡¡was¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡ground¡¡now£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡hailed¡¡everywhere¡¡with¡¡acclamations£»¡¡and¡¡news¡¡given¡¡and¡¡demanded¡¡in¡¡a¡¡breath¡£¡¡¡¡Hilarius£»¡¡shrinking£»¡¡aghast£»¡¡his¡¡ears¡¡scourged¡¡with¡¡rough¡¡oaths¡¡and¡¡rude¡¡jests£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡offended¡¡by¡¡the¡¡easy¡¡manners¡¡round¡¡him£»¡¡his¡¡cheek¡¡hot¡¡from¡¡the¡¡late¡¡salute£»¡¡took¡¡refuge¡¡under¡¡a¡¡low¡¡archway£»¡¡and¡¡waited¡¡with¡¡anxious¡¡heart¡¡until¡¡the¡¡minstrel¡¡should¡¡have¡¡done¡¡with¡¡the¡¡crowd¡£

Martin¡¡did¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡him¡£

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Hilarius¡¡delivered¡¡the¡¡Prior's¡¡letter£»¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡steward¡¡into¡¡a¡¡rush¡­strewn¡¡hall¡¡where¡¡scullions¡¡and¡¡serving¡­men¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡with¡¡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¡¡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£º¡¡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¡¡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¡£




PART¡¡II¡¡¡­¡¡THE¡¡FLOWER




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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¡£

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