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The Prior sat with his chin in his hand； his eyes fixed on the lad's face；
pale against the dark wainscot； and Hilarius told of his journeyings； and all
that befell； even as it hath been recorded in this chronicle； and the Prior's
eyes were wet as he heard of the little maid。
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〃And then； my son？〃 said the Prior。
〃Then； my Father； I companied with the caravan folk as far as the sea…
coast； and； leaving them there； went overseas in the train of my lord
Bishop Robert Walter of Norwich； who was hasting to Rome。 He knew
thee； my Father； and bade his people supply my needs。〃
〃Ay； he knows me；〃 said the Prior briefly。 〃The Lord reward him
according to his works； but show him mercy forasmuch as he had
compassion on my son！〃
〃Then saw I Rome； my Father； that great and beauteous city full of
treasure and many wonders； only the Holy Father I did not see； being let。
Methinks life in that country is as one long pageant； but I marked that
great holiness and an evil life； much riches and much penury； dwelt there
side by side； and men reeked little of death but much of pleasure。 Then
one bade me go to Florence an I would be a limner； therefore I hasted
thither； and gave my last coin for bread as I entered the city。〃
The Prior's brows contracted； the lad had seen some schooling。
〃But thou didst learn to be a limner； my son？〃
〃Ay； my Father； in God's time： at first I must herd goats and sell
melons in the market…place for a lump of bread。 Day by day I strove to
gain enough to buy colours； but could not； for the Lord sent me ever a
neighbour poorer than myself。 Nevertheless I was of good courage；
knowing the Lord's ways are not as ours； and mindful how Brother
Ambrose held that inasmuch as the Heavenly City is laid with fair colours
'twere no sin to deem that a man may limn perfect pictures there； for the
gift is from the Lord。〃
〃My son； 'tis a great lesson thou hast learnt；〃 said the Prior； 〃for the
Word was made Flesh； and as Blessed John hath it； a man cannot love God
unseen； if he love not the brother whom He hath given him。 What next；
dear lad？〃
〃My Father； the Lord Himself sent a messenger to me。 One day a
great limner； the Signor Andrea di Cione； whom men call d'Orcagna；
stayed by me where I stood with my melons in the shadow of the
Shepherd's Tower； and bade me follow him to his house； for he would fain
use me for an angel's head in the great Altar…piece he was e'en then
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concerned with for the Church of the White Friars。 Later he heard my
story； and when he found I had some small skill with the brush； he kept
me with him； and taught me as only such an one can teach： him I served
five years。 And many times Satan desired my soul； nay； once I was in
peril of hell…fire； but the Lord was with me； and plucked my feet out of the
pit。 But of that I will speak anon； at my shriving； as is meet。〃
The Prior remembered his dream； but he said no word； and Hilarius
took up his tale。
〃Then one day my master cried there was an end to teaching；
nevertheless he would have me bide with him in honour for the work。 But
my heart was full of longing for home and the scent of the forest； and；
above all； for thee； my Father； therefore I set my face north； that I might
bring back my gift to St Benedict and our Church； and should have been
here long ere this； but I was let by the way。〃
The Prior looked up a little anxiously； and Hilarius smiled at the
question in his face。
〃Tis a lawless tract； my Father； under the shadow of the great
mountains beyond Florence； and I was taken by robbers； who bore me and
others of our company to their fastness in the hills： there I lay in a little
cave many days； but what befell the rest I know not。 The robbers
brought me forth to serve them； and by God's mercy handled me kindly；
though they thought little of bloodshedding。
〃Then one of them was troubled in his spirit； and minded to forsake
this evil manner of life。 Therefore one night he fled； carrying me with
him； when the others had gone forth； and we made good our way to
Mantua。 There Pietro； for so was the robber called； left me that he might
give himself to the service of God and men； inasmuch as he had formerly
abused them。 Never saw I man so changed； my Father； his speech；
formerly profane； was all of God and the Saints； he did penance and
confessed his sins publicly； ay； by the Justice's order he received one
hundred lashes in the market…place； and at every lash he cried with
upturned face； 'Deo Gratias！' And I was there； because he besought of
me to stand in the crowd and pray for him that his courage failed not。
But it came to pass that even the people marvelled at his joyful endurance；
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and indeed 'twas more like a scourging of one of the blessed martyrs than
of a poor sinful robber。 After this the Brothers of the Poor took him； for
such was his desire； and so I bade him farewell； and craved his blessing。〃
〃The Lord fulfil all his mind！〃 said the Prior with clasped hands。
〃Amen；〃 said Hilarius。
〃Didst thou not fear to journey further alone； my son？〃
〃Nay； my Father； I found for the most part good and kindly men by the
way； despite their somewhat evil seeming； but at Genoa I took service
with a merchant then beginning his journey； and travelled with him
through Flanders； a strange； flat country with many canals and tall poplar
trees； and so we came to Bruges in safety； after a most prosperous course。
There he commended me to a good friend of his； a wool merchant
travelling to Salisbury； and at first all things went well with us； but later
the winds proved contrary； and we were driven hither and thither in great
peril of our lives； but at last made the Bristol Channel； and so came safe
into port。 Thence I have come hither afoot begging my bread。〃
When Hilarius had made an end； the Prior took him in his arms and
blessed him for his dear son； praising God that the lad had come back a
child at heart； but hungering； loving； open…eyed。
Next morning； being shriven； Hilarius ate the bread and drank the wine
of the 〃wayfaring man；〃 his heart merry for the joy of his home…coming。
When the Lady…Mass was ended he knelt on in her Chapel。
〃Great Light of Love； all praise and thanks be thine from thy poor
son；〃 sang his heart； and then he prayed for his little maid。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER IV … THE PASSING OF PRIOR
STEPHEN
THE Convent welcomed Hilarius gladly； and on the Feast of St
Michael he made his profession； for the Prior deemed that he had served
his noviciate and been found faithful； and the Brethren assented eagerly；
for they were fain to keep this wondrous limner for the service of their
own Church。
Then； by the Prior's command； Hilarius set himself to limn a great
picture for the High Altar。 It was a Crucifixion； and all his heart and all
his love were in it。 When the Brethren first saw the fair proportion and
fine colours that Hilarius brought to the work； they rejoiced in that their
Church should be glorified above other Churches of the Order； but when
the picture was near completing； and they gazed up into the wondrous face
of the Great King who looked down from the throne of