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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
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
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 proved too severe for some
weak Brother … and then turned his attention to the little maid who sat
patient； eyeing the food。
For her； bread and milk。 He sat down on a low stool； and taking the
child on his knee slowly supplied the gaping； bird…like mouth。 At last the
little maid heaved a sigh of content； leant her flaxen head against her
nurse's shoulder； and fell fast asleep。
Hilarius； cradling her carefully in gentle arms； crooned softly to her；
thrilling with tenderness。 She was his own； his little sister； the child he
had found and saved。 Surely Our Lady had guided him to her； and her
great Mother…love would shield this little one from a foul and horrid death。
In that dirty； neglected room； the child warm against his breast； Hilarius
lived the happiest moments of his life。
Presently he rose； for there was much to be done； kissed the little pale
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
cheek； noted fearfully the violet shadows under the closed eyes； and laid
his new…found treasure on the bed by her mother。
The woman was half…asleep； but started awake。
〃Art thou going？〃 she said； and despair gazed at him from her eyes。
〃Nay； nay； surely not until we all go together；〃 he said soothingly。 〃I
would but kindle a fire； for the cold is bitter。〃
Wood was plentiful； and soon a bright fire blazed on the hearth。 The
poor woman； heartened by her meal； rose and came to sit by it； and
stretching out her thin hands to the grateful warmth； told her tale。
〃'Twas Gammer Harden's son who first heard tell of a strange new
sickness at Caxton's； and then Jocell had speech with a herd from those
parts； who was fleeing to a free town； because of some ill he had done。
Next day Jocell fell sick with vomitings； and bleeding； and breaking out of
boils； and in three days he lay dead； and Gammer Harden fell sick and
died likewise。 Then one cried 'twas the Plague； and the wrath of God；
and they fled … the women to the nuns at Bungay； and the men to seek
work or shelter on the Manor； but us they left； for I was with child。〃
〃And thy husband？' said Hilarius。
〃Nay； he was not my husband； but these are his children； his and mine。
Some hold 'tis a sin to live thus； and perhaps because of it this evil hath
fallen upon me。〃
She looked at the babe lying on her lap； its waxen face drawn and
shrunk with the stress of its short life。
Hilarius spoke gently：…
〃It is indeed a grievous sin against God and His Church to live
together out of holy wedlock； and perchance 'tis true that for this very
thing thou hast been afflicted； even as David the great King。 But since
thou didst sin ignorantly the Lord in His mercy sent me to serve thee in
thy sore need； ay； and in very truth； Our Lady herself showed me where
the coney lay snared。 Let us pray God by His dear Mother to forgive us
our sins and to have mercy on these little ones。〃
And kneeling there in the firelight he besought the great Father for his
new…found family。
Five days passed； and despite extreme care victuals were short。
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Hilarius dug up roots from the hedgerows； and went hungry； but at last the
pinch came； the woman was too weak and ill to walk； the babe scarce in
life … there could be no thought of flight … and the little maid grew white；
and wan and silent。 Then it came to Hilarius that he would once again
beg food in the village where he had sought help before。
He went slowly； for he had eaten little that his maid might be the better
fed； and he was very sad。 When he reached the village he found his
errand like to be vain。 News of the Plague was coming from many parts；
and each man feared for his own skin。 At every house they questioned
him： 〃Art thou from a hamlet where the Plague hath been？〃 and when he
answered 〃Yea；〃 the door was shut。
Very soon men； angry and afraid； came to drive him from the place。
He gained the village cross； and prayed them for love of the Saviour and
His holy Rood to give him bread for his little maid and her mother。 Let
them set it in the street； he would take it and cross no man's threshold。
Surely they could not； for shame； let a little child die of want？
〃Nay； 'tis better they die； so are we safe；〃 cried a voice； then they fell
upon him and beat him； and drove him from the village with blows and
curses。
Bruised and panting； he ran from them； and at last the chase ceased；
breathless and exhausted he flung himself under a hedge。
A hawk swooped； struck near him； and rose again with its prey。
Hilarius shuddered； but perhaps the hawk had nestlings waiting open…
mouthed for food？ His little maid！ His eyes filled with tears as he
thought of those who awaited him。 He picked up a stone； and watched if
perchance a coney might show itself。 He had never killed； but were not
his nestlings agape？
Nothing stirred； but along the road came a waggon of strange shape
and gaily painted。
He rose to his feet； praying the great Mother to send him help in his
awful need。
The waggon drew near； the driver sat asleep upon the shaft； the horse
took his own pace。 It passed him before he could plu