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shimmering mantle to her knee。 Her beauty … nay； men had slain
themselves gladly to escape the torment of her look。 She stood in the
curtained doorway； a heavy purple hanging at her back； and the man who
awaited her paled as he saw her vengeful face。
It was Hilarius。 He drew himself up to the full of his slender height；
and bowed。
Panting a little； the woman came towards him across the many…hued
marble floors； and； as she passed； a vase of great white lilies caught in her
draperies of cramoisie and fell。 She gave no heed； but swept on； and
faced him in the sunny silence。 Across the pause the Angelus sounded
from a church hard by： Hilarius crossed himself devoutly； and the
stillness fled before a woman's scornful laugh。
〃Nay； then； Signor；〃 she cried mockingly； 〃is ours to be a war of signs
and silence？ I have heard thy lips were ready enough with judgment；
though they halt at a love…phrase。 By Our Lady； if all that is said of thee
be true； I will e'en have thee whipped at the gibbet for thy gibes！ Speak；
fool； while thy tongue is left thee； 'tis a last asking。 Wilt thou paint this
face of mine that is； it seems； so little to thy liking？ Strain not my
patience over much … 'tis a slender cord at best； and somewhat tried
already。 Speak； is it yea or nay？〃
Hilarius looked away to where Mary's flowers lay bruised and
scattered on the flag of blood…red marble； his answer came low and clear：…
〃'It is nay。'〃
She thrust her head forward； and looked at him wondering； there was a
stain where her teeth had been busy。
〃'It is nay；'〃 she repeated after him； and her eyes mocked him。 〃May a
poor Princess ask the Signor's reason？〃
Hilarius pointed past her to the fallen lilies。
〃It lies there。〃
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For an instant the hot colour splashed the angry whiteness of her cheek；
then； pale to the lips； she turned on him； and she stammered in her wrath：…
〃And dost thou … dost thou dare； say this to my face … to me； who
stooped to ask when I had but to command？ I； with my unmatched
beauty； I； who hold the hearts of men in thrall to the lifting of my eyes； I；
to whom men kneel as to their God！ Art thou mad； mad； that thou canst
set aside such a behest as mine？ 'Tis small wonder men say thy doublet
hides a monkish dress； of a truth the tale they brought savoured of little
else。 Hear me； thou prating； milk…faced Modesty； I choose that thou shalt
limn this face of mine： say me nay； and I will teach thee a lesson hard of
forgetting； for I will silence thy preaching for aye； and lend my serving…
men to whip thee through the streets。 Men； said I？ Nay； thou art too
much a cur to make fit sport for men： rather my maids shall wield the
rod and lace thy shoulders。〃
She flung herself on a low couch by the open window； where the
peacocks on the terrace strutted in the sun； and Hilarius waited； dumb as
the dog to which she had likened him； for he had no word。
There was silence a while。
Then the Princess spoke； and her voice cut Hilarius like the sting of a
lash：…
〃Bring me yon flowers。〃
He obeyed。
〃Set them at my feet。〃
He bent his knee and did so； wondering。
A moment； and she trod them under； their dying fragrance filled the air；
as their living breath had flooded the senses of the blind… eyed lad at the
Monastery gate。
One by one she set her heel upon the blossoms； and the marble was
yellow with stolen gold。
Hilarius held his breath； it was as if she did to death some living thing；
and yet he dared not bid her stay her insolent feet。
It was done； and she looked at him under questioning brows。
〃So much for thy lilies！ Dost still think that it will soil thy brush to
limn such an one as I？ I； whom men call the Queen of Love … but thy lips；
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
say they； burnt with another name！ Bethink thee； faint heart； there is not
a man in all this city but would count death a small price to pay for my
favours； and I ask of thee one little service； and thou shalt name thine own
reward。 Surely 'tis churlish to gainsay！〃
Her voice was suddenly sweet。
Stooping； she gathered to her the destruction she had wrought；
fingering the fallen petals tenderly； with a little sigh。 She glanced up at
Hilarius through her lashes' net。 〃Maybe I was over hasty；〃 she said
softly； and a sob swelled the round of her wonderful throat … 〃and yet how
couldst thou call me wanton？〃 Her mouth drooped a little … she was very
fair。
〃Art thou still minded to set these poor pale flowers against the roses
in love's garden？ For I love thee；〃 she added； and then suddenly she was
still。
Hilarius looked from the dead flowers to the woman in her over…
mastering beauty； and all at once the passion that lies hid in the heart of
every man leapt to his lips。 He desired this woman as he had never
before desired aught in all the world； and he knew； to his shame； that she
was his for the asking。 The blood thudded and rang in his veins； he
feasted his eyes on the curve of her neck and the radiance of her sun…swept
hair。 He stretched out his hands； but ere he could speak she raised a
white； terrified face； and glanced over her shoulder。
〃Who touched me？〃 she gasped； her voice shrill with fear； 〃who
touched me？〃 And she sprang to her feet。
There was no one： the two shared a common pallor as they stared
into each other's eyes across the dying lilies。 Hilarius shrank back and
covered his face with his hands。 Clear and distinct he heard the Prior's
voice： 〃A light woman … a light woman。〃
Then the Princess said hoarsely； 〃Go； go；〃 and without word or look
Hilarius went。
The Prior rose from his knees comforted。 He had wrestled with the
devil for his son's soul； and knew that he had prevailed。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER III … OPEN EYES AT THE GATE
ANOTHER year wrote its record on forest and field。 The weeks
passed； summer sped to autumn； the ripe corn bowed to the sickle。 The
Convent's lands were rich and heavy； virgin soil reclaimed； and the Prior；
watching the last great wain piled high with wealth of golden treasure； saw
the porter coming to him。
Now the porter was stout； short of breath； and of a hasty spirit； and the
Prior knew something was amiss by reason of his hurried gait and wrathful
countenance。
〃Domine；〃 he gasped； 〃Domine； there is a ragged man at the gate； a
vagabond by his own showing； and he craves speech of thee。 I bade him
go to the guest…house； but he will not budge； and hath waited already an
hour despite my … 〃
The porter stayed； staring； he spoke to the wind； the Prior was already
halfway to the gate。
〃This my son was dead and is alive again；〃 sang his heart。 The porter；
afraid； hasted after him with the keys； and had scarce time to do his office
ere the sunburnt vagabond was clasped in the Prior's arms。 It was a
harvesting indeed。
That night Hilarius went across to the Prior's house to tell the tale of
his journeyings。 He found him seated in a great oak chair by the open
window； the sky was ablaze with stars； and the flame of the oil lamp jarred
like a splash of yellow paint on the moonlight which flooded the room； the
Prior's eyes smiled measureless content； and the murmured 〃Laus Deo〃 of
his lips voiced the gladness of his heart。 Thus； in the shelter of peace and
a great love； Hilarius told his tale； while the forest waved a welcome to
him over the Monastery wall； and the late lilies burned white in the garth
below。
The Prior sat with his chin in his hand； his eyes fixed on the lad's face；
pale against the dark w