按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
48
… Page 49…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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
49
… Page 50…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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。
50
… Page 51…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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。
51
… Page 52…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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 diffident