the gathering of brother hilarius-第8章

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s　agone　a　child　was　lost　and　seen　last　near　her　door；　ay；　and　never　seen　again。　　When　we　came　to　question　her　she　cursed　at　us　for　meddling　mischief…makers；　and　would　but　glare　and　spit；　and　swear　she　knew　naught　of　the　misbegotten　brat。〃

〃Maybe　'twas　true　eno'；〃　said　Martin。　　〃I　hate　these　rough…cast　witch…findings　…　'tis　not　a　matter　for　man's　judgment；　unless　'tis　sworn　and　proven　in　court　before　the　Justiciary。〃

〃Nay；〃　joined　in　an　old　man；　〃what　need　of　a　Justice　when　God　speaks？　　We　did　but　thole　her　to　the　river　to　see　if　she　would　sink　or　swim。　　The　witch　did　swim；　as　all　can　testify；　her　Master　helping　her；　and　seeing　that；　we　drew　her　under　…　ay；　and　see　her　now　as　she　lies；　and　say　whether　the　Devil　hath　not　set　a　mark　on　his　own？〃

Martin　wrung　his　hands。

〃For　the　love　of　Christ；　lay　her　decently　on　her　pallet；　and　say　no　word　of　this　to　yon　holy　man。〃

Moved　by　his　earnest　manner；　one　or　two　more　kindly　folk　busied　themselves　unfastening　the　ropes　and　thongs　which　bound　the　witch；　and　bore　her　to　her　wretched　bed。

The　people；　in　their　previous　eagerness；　had　torn　down　the　front　of　the　miserable　hovel　she　called　home；　so　all　men　could　see　the　poor　place　and　its　dead　dishonoured　mistress。

Martin；　finding　his　bidding　accomplished；　turned　to　meet　Hilarius　and　the　Friar　who　were　now　coming　slowly　across　the　windswept　common。　　March　mists　gathered　and　draped　the　sluggish　river；　the　dry　reeds　rattled　dismally　in　the　ooze　and　sedge。　　Hilarius　shivered；　and　the　Friar　started　nervously　when　Martin　spoke。

〃Friar；〃　he　said；　〃God　comfort　thee！　　After　all　thy　pains　thou　art　too　late　to　speed　thy　mother's　soul；　she　passed　to…day；　and　lies　even　now　awaiting　burial　at　thy　faithful　hands。〃

The　Friar　drew　a　quick　breath；　and　Hilarius　questioned　Martin　with　a　look。　　The　crowd　parted　to　let　them　through；　and　hung　their　heads　abashed　in　painful　silence　as　the　Friar；　led　by　Hilarius；　gave　his　blessing。

They　were　close　to　the　mean　hovel　now；　and　he　turned　to　Martin。

〃Didst　thou　hear　of　her　end；　or　did　she　die　alone；　for　the　people　feared　her？〃

〃Ay；　she　died　alone；〃　answered　Martin；　and　muttered；　〃now　God　forgive　me！〃　under　his　breath。

As　they　went　into　the　wretched　shed　the　setting　sun　broke　through　the　lowering　grey　clouds　and　shone　full　on　the　dead　woman。　　It　lighted　each　vicious　line　and　hideous　trait　of　the　wrinkled；　toothless　face；　and　betrayed　the　mark　of　an　evil　life；　surcharged　with　horrid　fear。

Hilarius　shrank　back　shuddering。　　Could　this　hideousness　be　death？　The　Friar　stepped　forward；　but　Martin　stayed　him。

〃Nay；　touch　her　not；　Father；　it　may　be　the　pestilence　as　thou　didst　read　in　thy　dream。〃

The　Friar　fell　on　his　knees；　and；　in　the　silence　that　followed　was　heard　the　drip；　drip；　drip；　from　the　sodden　rags　on　the　beaten　earth　floor。　　The　people　without；　staring；　open…mouthed　and　silent；　saw　the　Friar　look　up；　his　hand　hastily　outstretched　touched　the　dank；　muddy　hair；　then　he　knew　all；　and　fell　on　his　face　with　an　exceeding　bitter　cry。　　It　was　answered　by　another　cry　…　the　glad　cry　of　a　lost　child　that　is　found。


The　Friar；　standing　in　front　of　that　hovel　of　death；　preached　to　the　cringing；　terrified　people；　many　of　whom　knelt　and　crouched　in　the　down…trodden　grass　and　quag。　　He　threw　up　his　arms；　and　turned　his　blind；　anguished　face　to　the　setting　sun。

〃Woe　to　the　rebellious　children；　saith　the　Lord；　that　take　counsel　but　not　of　Me；　that　they　may　add　sin　to　sin。　　Darkness　shall　come　upon　them；　Death　shall　overtake　them；　their　place　shall　know　them　no　more。　　Let　them　bare　their　backs　to　the　scourge；　let　them　confess　and　repent　ere　I　visit　them　as　I　visited　Sodom　and　Gomorrah；　cities　of　the　Plain。

〃O　ye　people；　ye　have　taken　judgment　in　your　hands　and　judged　falsely　withal；　but　ye　shall　be　judged　in　truth；　yea；　even　according　to　your　measure。　　Repent；　repent；　for　Death　cometh　swiftly　and　maketh　no　long　tarrying。　　It　shall　come；　it　shall　snatch　men's　souls　away；　even　as　ye　have　torn　away　my　mother's　soul；　leaving　no　space　for　repentance。〃

He　stretched　his　hands　out　over　the　common；　and　pointed　to　the　little　town。

〃Your　dwellings　shall　be　desolate；　and　this　place　a　place　of　heaps。　Ye　shall　run　hither　and　thither；　seeking　safety　and　finding　none；　for　the　arm　of　the　Lord　is　stretched　out　still　because　of　the　wickedness　of　the　earth。　　Woe；　woe；　woe；　a　disobedient　and　gainsaying　people！　　Woe；　woe；　woe；　a　people　hating　righteousness　and　loving　iniquity！　　The　Lord　shall　straightway　destroy　them　from　off　the　face　of　the　earth。〃

He　made　an　imperative　gesture　of　dismissal；　and　first　one　and　then　another　in　the　crowd　turned　to　slink　home　like　beaten　dogs；　snarling；　growling；　but　afraid。

Hilarius　and　Martin　buried　the　witch　at　the　back　of　her　wretched　den；　and　the　Friar；　the　priest　lost　in　the　son；　prayed　long　by　the　else　unhallowed　grave；　and　Martin　prayed　beside　him。

Hilarius　stood　apart；　his　lips　set　straight；　and　said　no　prayer；　for　what　availed　it　to　pray　for　an　unassoilzied　witch　who　had　met　her　due；　damned　alike　by　God　and　man？

Martin　came　up　to　him。

〃She　was　his　mother；〃　he　said；　as　if　making　excuse。

Hilarius　stared　in　bewilderment。　　His　mother？　　Ay；　but　an　evil　liver；　and　the　people　of　Bungay　had　wrought　a　good　work　in　sending　her　to　her　own　place。　　He　crossed　himself　piously　at　the　thought　of　the　near　neighbourhood　of　devils　busied　with　a　thrice…damned　soul。

Martin　led　them　out　of　Bungay　by　the　Earsham　road；　and　the　Friar　clung　to　him　like　a　little　child；　for　the　strength　of　his　vision　was　spent。　　They　lay　that　night　with　a　friendly　shepherd；　but　only　one　slept；　and　that　one　Hilarius。　　He　lay　on　a　truss　of　sweet…　smelling　hay；　and　dreamt　of　Wymondham　and　Brother　Andreas；　of　gold；　vermilion　and　blue；　of　wondrous　pictures；　and　a　great　name：　　and　the　scent　of　the　pine　forest　at　home　swept　across　his　quiet　sleep。

On　the　morrow　came　the　parting　of　the　ways；　for　Hilarius　was　all　aglow　for　Wymondham；　and　Martin　had　charged　himself　with　the　Friar　at　least　as　far　as　Norwich。

〃As　well　lead　a　blind　friar　as　sing　blindly　at　another's　bidding；〃　he　said　whimsically；　and　so　they　bade　one　another　farewell　never　to　meet　again　in　this　world：　　for　Martin　and　the　Friar　went　to　Yarmouth；　not　Norwich；　and　there　they　perished　among　the　first　when　the　east　wind　swept　the　Plague　thither　in　a　boat…load　of　sickened　shipmen。　　And　Hilarius　…　once　again　the　Angel　of　the　Lord　stood　in　the　path　of　his　desires。



CHAPTER　VII　…　THE　COMING　OF　HUNGER　AND　LOVE



HILARIUS　fared　but　slowly；　it　was　ill　travelling　on　a　high…road　in　good　weather；　but　on　a　cross…road　in　the　spring！　…　that　was　a　time　to　commend　oneself　body　and　soul　to　the　Saints。　　He　walked　warily；　picking　his　way　in　and　out　of　the　bog　between　fence　and　ditch；　which　was　all　that　remained　to　show　where　the　piety　of　the　past　once　kept　a　road。　　The　low　land　to　his　left　was　submerged；　a　desolate　tract　giving　back　a　sullen　grey　sky；　lifeless；　barren；　save　where　a　gaunt　poplar　like　the　mast　of　a　sunken　ship　broke　the　waste　of　waters。

The　sight　brought　Hilarius'　thoughts　sharply　back　to　the　events　of　the　evening　before。　　Wonderful　indeed　were　the　judgments　of　God！　　A　witch　…　plainly　proved　to　be　such　…　had　been　struck　dead　in　the　midst　of　her　sins；　and　London；　that　light…minded；　reprobate　city；　was　a　heap　of　graves。　　Now　he；　Hilarius；　having　seen　much　evil　and　the　justice　of　the　Almighty；　would　get　him　in　peace　to　Wymondham；　there　to　learn　to　be　a　cunning　limner；　and　having　so　learnt　would　joyfully　hie　him　back　to　Prior　Stephen　and　his　own　monastery。

Presently　the　way　led　somewhat　uphill；　and　he　saw　to　his　right　a　small　hamlet。　　It　lay　some　distance　off　his　road；　but　he　was　sharp…　set；　for　the　shepherd's　fare　had　been　meagre；　and　so　turned　aside　in　the　hope　of　an　ale…house。　　There　was　no　side　road　visible；　and　he　struck　across　the　dank；　marshy　fields　until　he　lighted　on　a　rude　track　which　led　to　the　group　of　cottages。　　The　place　struck　him　as　strangely　quiet；　no　smoke　rose　from　the　chimneys；　no　dogs　rushed　out　barking　furiously　at　a　stranger's　advent。　　The　first　hovel　he　passed　was　empty；　the　open　door　showed　a　fireless　hearth。　　At　the　second　he　knocked　and　heard　a　sound　of　scuffling　within。　　As　no　one　answered　his　repeated　summons　he　pushed　the　door　open；　the　low　room　was　desolate；　but　two　bright　eyes　peered　at　him　from　a　corner；　…　'twas　a　rat。　　Hilarius　turned　away；　sudden　fear　at　his　heart；　and　passed　on；　finding　in　each　hovel　only　empty　silence。

Apart　from　the　rest；　standing　alone　in　a　field；　was　a　somewhat　larger　cottage；　a　bush　swung　from　the　projecting　pole　above　the　door：　　it　was　the　ale…house　that　he　sought；　here；　at　least；　he　would　find　some　one。　　As　he　came　up　he　heard　a　child　crying；　and　lo！　on　the　doorstep　sat　a　dirty　little　maid　of　some　four　summers；　sobbing　away　for　dear　life。

Hilarius　approached　diffidently；　and　stooped　down　to　wipe　away　the　grimy　tears。

The　child　regarded　him；　round　eyes；　open　mouth；　then　with　a　shrill　cry　of　joy；　she　held　out　her　thin　arms。

At　the　sound　of　her　cry　the　door　opened；　on　the　threshold　stood　a　woman　still　young　but　haggard　and　weary…eyed；　at　her　breast　was　a　little　babe。　　She　stared　at　Hilarius；　and　then　pulling　the　child　to　her　in　the　doorway；　waved　him　away。

〃Stand　off；　fool！　…　'tis　the　Plague。〃

Hilarius　shrank　back。

〃And　thy　neighbours？〃　he　asked。

〃Nay；　they　were　light…footed　eno'　when　they　saw　what　was　to　do；　and　left　us　three　to　die　like　rats　in　a　hole。〃　　Then　eagerly：　　〃Hast　thou　any　bread？〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃Nay；　I　came　here　seeking　some。　　Art　thou　hungry？〃

She　threw　out　her　hands。

〃'Tis　two　days　sin'　I　had　bite　or　sup。〃

〃Where　lies　the　nearest　village？　and　how　far？〃

〃A　matter　of　an　hour；　over　yonder。〃

〃See；　goodwife；〃　said　Hilarius；　〃I　will　go　buy　thee　food　and　come　again。〃

She　looked　at　him　doubtfully。

〃So　said　another；　and　he　never　came　back。〃

〃Nay；　but　perchance　some　evil　befell　him；〃　said　gentle　Hilarius。

〃Well；　I　will　trust　thee。〃　　She　went　in　and　returned　with　a　few　small　coins。　　〃'Tis　all　I　have。　　Tell　no　man　whence　thou　art；　else　they　will　hunt　thee　from　their　doors。〃

Hilarius　nodded；　took　the　money；　and　ran　as　fast　as　he　could　go　in　the　direction　of　the　village。

The　woman　watched　him。

〃Is　it　fear　or　love　that　lends　him　that　pace？〃　she　muttered；　as　she　sat　down　to　wait。

It　was　love。

Hilarius　entered　the　village　discreetly；　and　adding　the　little　money　he　had　to　the　woman's　scanty　store；　bought　bread；　a　flask　of　wine；　flour　and　beans；　and　a　jug　of　milk。

〃'Tis　for　a　sick　child；〃　he　said　when　he　asked　for　it；　and　the　woman　pushed　back　the　money；　bidding　him　God…speed。

The　return　journey　was　accomplished　much　more　slowly；　because　of　his　precious　burden；　and　as　he　crossed　a　field；　there；　dead　in　a　snare；　lay　a　fine　coney。

〃Now　hath　Our　Lady　herself　had　thought　for　the　poor　mother！〃　cried　Hilarius　joyously；　and　added　it　to　his　store。

When　he　reached　the　cottage；　and　the　woman　saw　the　food；　she　broke　into　loud　weeping；　for　her　need　had　been　great；　then；　as　if　giving　up　the　struggle　to　another　and　a　stronger；　she　sank　on　the　bed　with　her　fast…failing　babe　in　her　arms。

Hilarius　fed　her　carefully　with　bread　and　wine　…　not　for　nothing　had　he　served　the　Infirmarian　when　blood…letting　had　prov