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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
THE GATHERING OF
BROTHER HILARIUS
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
PART I … THE SEED
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER I … BLIND EYES IN THE FOREST
HILARIUS stood at the Monastery gate； looking away down the
smooth； well…kept road to the highway beyond。 It lay quiet and serene in
the June sunshine； the white way to the outer world； and not even a dust
cloud on the horizon promised the approach of the train of sumpter mules
laden with meats for the bellies and cloth for the backs of the good
Brethren within。 The Cellarer lacked wine； the drug stores in the farmery
were running low； last； but not least； the Precentor had bespoken precious
colours； rich gold； costly vellum； and on these the thoughts of Hilarius
tarried with anxious expectation。
On his left lay the forest； home of his longing imaginings。 The
Monastery wall crept up one side of it； and over the top the great trees
peered and beckoned with their tossing； feathery branches。 Twice had
Hilarius walked there； attending the Prior as he paced slowly and silently
along the mossy ways； under the strong； springing pines； and the
occasions were stored in his memory with the glories of St Benedict's Day
and Our Lady's Festivals。 Away to the right； within the great enclosure；
stretched the Monastery lands； fair to the eye； with orchard and fruitful
field； teeming with glad； unhurried labour。
At a little elevation； overlooking the whole domain； rose the Priory
buildings； topped by the Church； crown and heart of the place； signing the
sign of the Cross over the daily life and work of the Brethren； itself the
centre of that life； the object of that work； ever unfinished because love
knows not how to make an end。 To the monks it was a page in the history
of the life of the Order； written in stone； blazoned with beauty of the
world's treasure； a page on which each generation might spell out a word；
perchance add a line； to the greater glory of God and St Benedict。 They
were always at work on it； stretching out eager hands for the rare stuffs
and precious stones devout men brought from overseas； finding a place for
the best of every ordered craft； their shame an uncouth line or graceless
arch； their glory each completed pinnacle and fretted spire； ever restoring；
enlarging； repairing； spendthrift of money and time in the service of the
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
House of the Lord。
The sun shone hot on grey wall and green garth； the spirit of insistent
peace brooded over the place。 The wheeling white pigeons circling the
cloister walls cried peace； the sculptured saints in their niches over the
west door gave the blessing of peace； an old； blind monk crossed the garth
with the hesitating gait of habit lately acquired … on his face was great
peace。 It rested everywhere； this peace of prayerful service； where the
clang of the blacksmith's hammer smote the sound of the Office bell。
Hilarius； at the gate； questioned the road again and again for sign of
the belated train。 It was vexatious； the Prior's lips would take a thinner
line； for the mules were already some days overdue； and it was ill to keep
the Prior waiting。 The soft June wind swept the fragrance of Mary's lilies
across to the lad； he turned his dreamy； blue eyes from the highway to the
forest。 The scent of the pinewoods rushed to meet his sudden thought。
Should he； dare he； break cloister； and taste the wondrous delight of an
unwalled world？ It were a sin； a grave sin； in a newly…made novice；
cloister…bred。 The sweet； pungent smell overpowered him； the trees
beckoned with their long arms and slender fingers； the voice of the forest
called； and Hilarius； answering； walked swiftly away； with bowed head
and beating heart； between the sunburnt pine…boles。
At last he ventured to stop and look around him； his fair hair aflame in
the sunlight； his eyes full of awe of this arched and pillared city of mystery
and wonder。
It was very silent。 Here and there a coney peeped out and fled； and a
woodpecker toiled with sharp； effective stroke。 Hilarius' eyes shone as
he lifted his head and caught sight of the sunlit blue between the great；
green…fringed branches： it was as if Our Lady trailed her gracious robe
across the tree…tops。 Then； as he bathed his thirsty soul in the great sea of
light and shade； cool depths and shifting colours； the sense of his wrong…
doing slipped from him； and joy replaced it … joy so great that his heart
ached with it。 He went on his way； singing Lauda Syon； his eyes
following the pine…boles； and presently； coming out into an open glade；
halted in amazement。
A flower incarnate stood before him； stood … nay； danced in the wind。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Over the sunny sward two little scarlet…clad feet chased each other in
rhythmic maze； dainty little brown hands spread the folds of the deep blue
skirt； a bodice； silver…laced； served as stalk； on which balanced； lightly
swaying； the flower of flowers itself。 Hilarius' eyes travelled upwards
and rested there。 Cheeks like a sunburnt peach； lips； a scarlet bow；
shimmering； tender； laughing grey eyes curtained by long curling lashes；
soft tendrils of curly hair； blue black in the shadows； hiding the low level
brow。 A sight for gods； but not for monks； above all； not for untutored
novices such as Hilarius。
His sin had found him out； it was the Devil； the lovely lady of St
Benedict； he drew breath and crossed himself hastily with a murmured
〃Apage Sataas！〃
The dancer stopped； conscious perhaps of a chill in the wind。
〃O what a pretty boy！〃 she cried gaily。 〃Playing truant； I dare wager。
Come and dance！〃
Hilarius crimsoned with shame and horror。 〃Woman；〃 he said； and
his voice trembled somewhat； 〃art thou not shamed to deck thyself in this
devil's guise？〃
The dancer bit her lip and stamped her little red shoe angrily。
〃No more devil's guise than thine own；〃 she retorted； eyeing his semi…
monastic garb with scant favour。 〃Can a poor maid not practise her steps
in the heart of a forest； but a cloister…bred youngster must cry devil's
guise？〃
As she spoke her anger vanished like a summer cloud； and she broke
into peal on peal of joyous laughter。 〃Poor lad； with thy talk of devils；
hast thou never looked a maid in the eyes before？〃 Shrewdly hit；
mistress； never before has Hilarius looked a maid in the eyes； and now he
drops his own。
〃Dost thou not know it is sin to deck the body thus； and entice men's
souls to their undoing？〃
〃An what is the matter with my poor body； may it please you； kind
sir？〃 she asked demurely； and stood with downcast eyes； like a scolded
child。
〃It is wrong to deck the body；〃 began Hilarius； softening at her attitude；
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〃because； because … 〃
Again the merry laugh rang out。
〃Because； because … nay； Father〃 （with a mock reverence）； 〃methinks
thy sermon is not ready； let it simmer awhile； and I will catechise。 How
old art thou？〃 She held up her small finger admonishingly。
〃Seventeen；〃 replied Hilarius； surprised into reply。
〃Art thou a monk？〃
〃Nay； a novice only。〃
〃Hast thou ever loved？〃
Hilarius threw up his hands in shocked indignation； but she went on
unconcerned …
〃'Twas a foolish question； the answer's writ large for any maid to read。
But tell me；