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The friar flung up his hands。
〃Laus Deo！ Laus Deo！〃 he cried； 〃now I know thou art in very truth
the lad of my dream。 Listen； my son； and I will tell thee all。 Thrice has
the vision come to me； I see the mother who bore me carried away；
struggling and cursing； by men in black apparel； and Hell is near at hand；
belching out smoke and flame； and many hideous devils； yet the place is
little Bungay； where my mother hath a cot by the river。 When first the
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
dream came I lay at Mechlin in the Monastery there； my flesh quaked and
my hair stood up by reason of the awfulness of the vision； then as I mused
and prayed I saw in it the call of the Lord； that I might wrestle with Satan
for my mother's soul； for she was ever inclined to evil arts and spells； and
thought little of aught save gain。
〃Forthwith I suffered no man to stay me； and set off； the Plague at my
heels； but ever out…stripping it； I was careful to preach its coming in every
place； that men might turn and repent。 Then as I tarried on the seaboard
for a ship the Plague came； and because I had preached its coming； the
people rose in wrath； and； falling upon me； roughly handled me。 They
beat me full sore in the market… place； then； piercing my eyeballs； set me
adrift in a small boat。
〃Two days and two nights I lay at the mercy of the sea； darkness and
light alike to me； and with no thought of time； for the flames of hell burnt
in my eyes； and a worse anguish in my heart because of my mother's
soul。〃
〃And then； and then？〃 tried Hilarius breathlessly； tears of pure pity in
his eyes。
〃Then the Lord cared for me even as He cared for the Prophet Jonas；
and sent a ship that His message might not be hindered。 The shipmen
were kindly folk； but we were driven out of our course by a great wind；
and at last came ashore in Lincolnshire。 I have come south thus far by
the aid of Christian men； but time presses； and now； lo！ thou art here to
guide me。〃
〃But； my Father；〃 said poor Hilarius； seeing yet another barrier in the
way of his desires； 〃'tis a limner I would be； and I am from Westminster；
not London； and then there is Prior Stephen's letter … 〃
The friar held up his hand：
〃Thou shalt be a limner； my son； the Lord hath revealed it to me。 Last
night the vision came again； and a voice cried： 'Speed； for a son of Christ
waits by the way to guide thy steps；' and lo！ thou art here； waiting by the
way； as the voice said。 And now； son； an thou wilt come thou shalt take
thy letter to Wymondham … 'tis a cell of this Abbey … for there is Brother
Andreas from overseas who hath wondrous skill with the brush； he will
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
teach thee； for thou shalt say to him that Brother Amadeus sent thee； who
is now as Bartimeus； waiting for the light of the Lord； but first thou shalt
set me in that village of Bungay； where my mother dwelleth。〃
Hilarius listened； gazing awestruck at the withered eyes that vainly
questioned his face。 He had forgotten plague； death； flagellants； in this
absorbing tale of the man of God； who was even as one of the blessed
martyrs。 Brother Andreas！ A skilled limner！ How should he； Hilarius；
gainsay one with a vision from the Lord？〃
〃I obey； my Father；〃 he cried joyously； taking the friar's hand； and they
two passed swiftly down the road； their faces to the east。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
CHAPTER V … THE WHITE WAY AND WHERE
IT LED
IT was a bitterly cold night and St Agnes' Eve； the snow fell heavily；
caught into whirling eddies by the keen north wind。 Hilarius and the Friar；
crossing an empty waste of bleak unprotected heath； met the full force of
the blast； and each moment the snow grew denser； the darkness more
complete。 They struggled on； breathless； beaten； exhausted and lost；
Hilarius； leading the Friar by one hand； held the other across his bent head
to shield himself from the buffets of the wind。
Suddenly he stood fast。
〃I can no more； Father；〃 he said； 〃the snow is as a wall； there is naught
to see or to hear； I deem we are far from our right way。〃 His voice was
very weak； and he caught at the Friar for support。
〃I will pray the Lord； my son； that He open thine eyes； even as He
opened the eyes of the prophet's servant in the besieged city； so shalt thou
see a host of angels encompassing us； for we are about the Lord's
business。〃
〃Nay； my Father；〃 said Hilarius feebly； 〃I see no angels； and I perish。〃
He tottered； and would have fallen； but the Friar caught him in his arms。
A moment he stood irresolute； the boy on his breast； then flung away his
staff and lifted him to his shoulder。
With unerring； confident step he went forward through the snow； a
white figure bearing a white burden in a white world。 All at once the
wind dropped； the blinding shower ceased； and Hilarius； rested and
comforted； spoke：…
〃Is it thou； my Father？〃
〃It is I； my son； but angels are on either hand and go before to guide。
The snow hath ceased； canst thou walk？〃
He set Hilarius gently on his feet； and lo！ he found the stars alight！
The boy gave a cry； and forgetting his companion's darkness； pointed
to the left where lay a snow…clad village。
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
〃A miracle； a miracle； my Father！〃
〃A miracle； i' faith； my son： the Lord hath given guidance to the
blind as He promised。 Let us go down。〃
They went by the white way under the stars； and Hilarius was full of
awe and comfort because of the angels of God which attended on a poor
friar。
At the village hostel they found rough but friendly entertainment and
several guests。 They dried themselves at a roaring fire； and Hilarius
made a hearty meal； the Friar would eat nothing save a morsel of bread。
A messenger was there； a short stout man with stubbly beard； bright
black eyes like beads； and a high colour。 He was riding with despatches
from the King to the Abbat at Bury； and had fearful tales to tell of the
Plague； how in London they piled the dead in trenches； while many who
escaped the pest died of want and cold； it was a city of the dead rather than
the living。 One great lord； travelling post…haste from Westminster； had
been found by his servants to have the disorder； and they fled； leaving him
by the wayside to perish。
Hilarius heard horror…struck。
〃'Tis a grievous shame so to desert a sick master；〃 he said。
〃Nay； lad；〃 said a chapman in the corner； 〃but a man loves his own
skin best。〃
〃Ay； ay；〃 said a fat ruddy…faced miller； overtaken by the storm on his
way to a neighbouring village； 〃a man's own skin before all。 Fill your
belly first and your neighbour's afterwards。 Live and let live。〃
〃Ay； let live；〃 chimed in mine host； bustling in with a stoop of cider for
the chapman； 〃but； by the Rood； 'tis cruel work when two lone women are
murdered for a bit of mouldy bacon and a lump of bread； for I'se warrant
'tis a long day sin' they had more than that at best。〃
The chapman took his cider。
〃Where was this work done？〃 he said。
〃Nay； where but here on the bruary！ The women were found
Wednesday se'n…night by the herd as he went folding。 They lay on the
floor in their blood。〃
Hilarius turned sick。 In Westminster； by some miracle； he had been
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THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
spared the sight of violent death … ay； or of death in any form … and had
seen nothing worse than a rogue in the stocks； for which sight he had
thanked Heaven piously。
〃'Tis the fault of the rich；〃 sai