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warming their tired old limbs in the south cloister； for the summer
sunshine was very pleasant to them。
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〃Since Brother Thomas died … 〃 began Brother Paul。
〃The Lord have mercy on his soul！〃 ejaculated Brother Anselm。
〃Since Brother Thomas died；〃 said Brother Paul again … a little
impatiently； though he crossed himself piously enough … 〃methinks the
provisions have oft been scanty and far from tempting； Brother。〃
〃Ay； and the wine；〃 said Brother Anselm。 〃Methinks our Cellarer
draws the half of it from the Convent's well。〃
They shook their heads sadly。
〃No doubt；〃 said Brother Anselm after a short silence； 〃our Cellarer is
most worthy； strict； and honest in the performance of his office … while
Brother Thomas； alack … 〃
〃Methinks Brother Edmund is somewhat remiss also in his duties；〃
said Brother Paul。 〃The Prior； holy man； perceives nothing of these
things。 On Sunday's feast one served him with a most unsavoury mess in
the refectory； the dish thereof being black and broken； yet he ate the meat
in great content； and seemingly with appetite。〃
〃He is but young； he is but young … sixty come Michaelmas … sixty； and
twenty…two years Prior … 'tis a long term；〃 and Brother Anselm nodded his
head。
〃Ay； he is still young； and of sound teeth；〃 said Brother Paul； 〃whereas
thou and I； Brother； are as babes needing pap…meat。 Brother Thomas … God
rest his soul！ … was wont to give savoury mess easy of eating to the elder
Brethren。〃
〃Ay； he was a kind man with all his faults；〃 said Brother Anselm；
fingering his toothless gums。 〃Think you 'twould be well to speak of this
matter to the Prior？〃
〃Nay； nay；〃 said the other； 〃he is ever against any store being set on the
things of this world … ''tis well for the greater discipline of the flesh；' so
saith he ever。 Still he hath forbidden the blood…letting to us elder
Brethren。〃
〃Methinks there is little to let； since Brother Thomas died；〃 said
Brother Anselm ruefully。
〃Nay； then； let us seek out the Cellarer and admonish him … maybe he
will hear a word in season；〃 and the two old monks moved slowly away to
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the Cellarer's office as Prior Stephen came down the cloister walk。
He looked little older； his carriage was upright as ever； but government
sat heavy upon him； the keen； ascetic face was weary； and the line of the
lips showed care。 His thoughts were busy with Hilarius。 It was now
full six years that the lad had left the Monastery； and since the Christmas
after his going no news had come of him； save that he never reached St
Alban's。 Had the Plague gathered him as it gathered many another well…
beloved son？ Or had the awakening proved too sudden for the lad set
blind…eyed without the gate？
He passed from the cloister into the garth where bloomed the lilies that
Hilarius had loved so well。 He looked at the row of nameless graves
with the great Rood for their common memorial； last but one lay the
resting…place of Brother Richard； and the blind monk's dying speech had
been of the lad whose face he had strained his eyes to see。
Prior Stephen stood by the farmery door； and the scent of Mary's
flowers came to him as it had come to Hilarius at the gate。 He stretched
out his hands with the strange pathetic gesture of a strong man helpless。
It was all passing fair： the fields of pale young corn trembling in the
gentle breeze； the orchards and vineyards with fast maturing fruit； the
meadows where the sleek kine browsed languidly in the warm summer
sunshine。 Peace and prosperity everywhere； the old Church springing
into new beauty as the spire rose slowly skywards； peace and prosperity；
new glories for the House of the Lord； and yet； and yet； his heart ached for
his own helplessness； and for the exceeding longing that he had for the
boy whose mother once held that heart in the hollow of her little hand。
Ah well； blessed be God who had called him from the things of this
world to the service of Christ and the Church！ Once again he offered
himself in the flame of his desires： he would fast and pray and wait。
The Office bell sounded sharp and clear across the still summer air
calling to Vespers； and the Prior hasted to his place。
〃Qui seminant in lachrymis in exultatione metent；〃 chanted the deep
voices of the monks； and Prior Stephen's voice trembled as he joined in the
Psalmody。
〃Euntes ibant et flebant mittentes semina sua。 Venientes autem
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
venient cum exultatione portantes manipulos suos。〃
He had sown in tears； ay； and was weary of the sowing； but the
harvesting was not yet。
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CHAPTER II … MARY'S LILIES
IT came to pass upon a certain day scarce a se'nnight later； that Prior
Stephen was troubled in his mind by reason of a dream which came to
him。
It happened on this wise。 He was sitting by his window after the
noon repast； musing； as he was wont； on his dear son。 The song of the
bees busy in the herb…garden was very pleasant to his ear； the warm； still
air overcame him； and he slept。 Suddenly he heard a voice calling … a
voice he knew in every fibre of his being and yet could set no name to； for
it was the voice of God。 He arose in haste and went out into the garth；
and lo！ under the lilies Hilarius lay sleeping。 The Prior stood fast in great
wonder； his heart leaping for joy； yet he could not cross the little piece of
grass that lay between the cloister and the farmery door。
As he watched； a woman； light of foot and of great beauty； came
swiftly from the gate to where Hilarius slept； and the Prior was grieved；
and marvelled that the porter had opened to such an one； for it was a grave
scandal that a woman should set foot within the Monastery precincts。 He
strove to cry； but his voice died on his lips； and his feet were as lead。
The woman stayed when she came to the sleeping lad； and stooped to
arouse him； but he slept on。 She called him； and her voice was as the
calling of the summer sea on a shelving beach； but Hilarius gave no heed。
Then； in great impatience； she caught at the white lilies under which he lay；
and； as she broke the flower…crowned stems； Hilarius stirred and cried out
in his sleep； whereat she plucked the faster。 Of a sudden Prior Stephen
was as one set free。 He strode to the woman's side： there was but one lily
left。 He laid his hand on her shoulder； for speech was still far from him：
and she fell back from the one remaining blossom with a cry of fear … and
Prior Stephen awoke； for behold！ it was a dream； but he was sore troubled。
〃Maybe；〃 said he； 〃evil threatens the lad； such evil as slew his mother；
on whom God have mercy！〃 And sighing heavily he took his way to the
great Rood and made supplication for his son。
Far away； under a southern sky； in one of the great palaces of
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Florence； there stood a woman of fair stature； with tight…clenched hands；
whose many jewels bit the tender flesh。 Her russet eyes flashed under
threatening brows； her teeth held fast the curling upper lip。 Great； alack！
was her fame： men crept to her knee like spaniels craving favour。
Great was her wealth： a golden piece for every ruddy strand that hung a
shimmering mantle to her knee。 Her beauty … nay； men had slai