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and heavily timbered。 The twilight stealing in through high lancet
windows served but to emphasize the upper gloom； which the morrow's
sun would dissipate into cunningly carved woodwork … a man's thought in
every quaintly wrought boss and panel； grotesque beast and guarding saint。
A raised table stood at the upper end of the hall； and here gaily dressed
pages waited on the master of the house and his honoured guests。
Hilarius rightly guessed the tall； careworn man of distinguished presence
to be no other than Sir John himself； and he liked him well； but his eyes
wandered carelessly over the rest of the company until they were caught
and held by a woman's face。 It was Eleanor； the fairest of the knight's
three fair daughters； and when Hilarius saw her he felt as a weary traveller
feels who meets a fellow citizen in a far…off land。
〃Even such a face must the Blessed Agnes have had；〃 he thought； his
mind reverting to his favourite Saint； 〃she is like the lilies in the garth at
home。〃
It was a strange comparison； for the girl was extravagantly dressed in
costly materials and brilliant colours； her hair coifed in the foolish French
fashion of the day； and yet； despite it all； she looked a nun。 Her face was
pale； her brows set straight； her eyes； save when she was much moved；
were like grey shadows veiling an unknown soul； her mouth； delicately
curved； was scarcely reddened； her head drooped slightly on her long；
slender neck； a gesture instinct with gracious humility。 She was like a
pictured saint： Hilarius' gaze clung to her； followed her as she left the hall；
and saw her still as he sat apart while the serving men cleared the lower
tables and brought in the sleeping gear for the night。 He lay down with
the rest； and through the high； lancet windows the moonlight kissed his
white and weary face as it was wont to do on bright nights in the cloister
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dormitory。 Around him men lay sleeping soundly after the day's toils；
there was none to heed； and he sobbed like a little homesick child； until his
tired youth triumphed； and he fell asleep； to dream of Martin and the Prior；
the lady at the raised table； and the pale； sweet lilies in the cloister garth。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
PART II … THE FLOWER
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER I … THE CITY OF PURE GOLD
〃BLIND eyes； blind eyes！〃 sang the dancer。
Hilarius woke with a start。 He had fallen asleep on a bench in the
sunny courtyard and his dream had carried him back to the forest。 He sat
rubbing his eyes and only half…awake； the sun kissing his hair into a halo
against the old grey wall。 A falcon near fretted restlessly on her perch；
and a hound asleep by the fountain rose； and； slowly stretching its great
limbs； came towards him。
It was four o'clock on a warm day in September； the courtyard was
deserted save for a few busied serving men； and the knight and his
household； were at a tilting in the Outer Bailey； all but the Lady Eleanor；
Hilarius' mistress； for； as Martin had foreseen； Sir John had so appointed
it。
It was now two months since Hilarius had come to the city which had
seemed to him in the distance as the New Jerusalem full of promise； but he
had found no angels at the gates； nor were the streets full of the righteous；
nay； the place seemed nearer of kin to the Babylon of Blessed John's
Vision … with a few holy ones who would surely be caught up ere
judgment fell； amongst them Sir John and Lady Eleanor。
A good knight and a God…fearing man was Sir John； tender to his
children； gentle with his people； a faithful servant to God and King
Edward； shrewd withal； and an apt reader of men。 Therefore； and
because of the love he bore to Prior Stephen； he set Hilarius to attend his
eldest daughter； who seemed to belong as little to this world as the lad
himself； and felt that in so doing he had achieved the best possible for his
old friend； according to his asking。
Hilarius for his part served the Lady Eleanor as an acolyte tends the
chapel of a saint； only she was further removed from him than a saint； by
reason of her pale humanity。 He soon perceived； as he watched her at
banquet； tourney； or pageant； that she went to a revel as to the Sacrament；
and sat at a mummers' show with eyes fixed on the Unseen。 She moved
through the gay vivid world of Court gallants and joyous maidens like a
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shadow； and the rout grew graver at her coming。
It was much the same with her lover； Guy de Steyning … brother of that
Hugh de Steyning men wot of as Brother Ambrosius … a gentle knight with
mild blue eyes； a peaked red beard； and great fervour for heavenly things。
The pair liked one another well； but their time was taken up with
preparation for Paradise rather than with earthly business； and their speech
lent itself more readily to devout phrases than to lovers' vows。 It was
small wonder； therefore； that another year saw them both by glad consent
in the cloister； he at Oxford； and Eleanor in the Benedictine House of
which her aunt was Prioress。
Hilarius had written of his saintly mistress to Prior Stephen just as he
had written of the wondrous beauty of St Peter's Abbey： 〃With all its
straight； slender； upstanding pillars； methinks 'tis like the forest at home〃
（forgetting that his more intimate knowledge of the forest partook of the
nature of sin）。 〃The Lady Eleanor； my honoured mistress；〃 he wrote； 〃is
a most saintly and devout maiden； full of heavenly lore； and caring nought
for the things of this world；〃 and he added； 〃'tis beautiful to see such
devotion where for the most part are sinful and light…minded persons。〃
The Prior laid the script aside with a smile and a sigh； and when
Brother Bernard asked news of the lad； answered a little sadly； 〃Nay；
Brother； he still sleeps；〃 and indeed there seemed no waking him to a
world of men … living； striving； sorely…tried men。
He dwelt in a land of his own making … a land of colour and light and
shadow in which much that he saw played a part； only the gorgeous
pageants turned to hosts of triumphant saints heralded by angels； while the
knights at a tourney in their brave armour pictured St George； St Michael；
or St Martin in his dreams。
It was a limner he longed to be； far away from the stir and stress； not a
page attending a great lady to the Court functions。 He yearned ever after
the Scriptorium； with its busied monks and stores of colour and gold。 It
lay but a stone's throw away behind the jealous Monastery walls； but it
was no part of Prior Stephen's plan that the lad should go straight from one
cloister to another。
To Hilarius sitting on the bench in the sun； came one of Eleanor's
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tirewomen to bid him wait on her mistress。 He rose at once and followed
her through the hall and up the winding stair； along a gallery hung with
wondrous story…telling tapestry； to the bower where Eleanor sat with two
of her women busied with their needle。
Hilarius found his mistress； her hands idle on her knee。 He louted
low； and she bade him bring a stool and sit beside her。
〃I am weary；〃 she said； 〃this life is weariness。 Tell me of the
Monastery and the forest … stay； tell me rather of the New Jerusalem that
Brother Ambrose saw and limned。'
Hilarius； nothing loth； settled himself at her feet； elbow on knee； and
chin on his open hands； his drea