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He pulled out a few small coins and a gold piece。 When Dickon saw it his eyes gleamed。 Robin paid the reckoning and put the piece in his cheek。
〃Hard…earned money … 'tis blood out of a stone to draw wages from my master。 Better it should light in my belly than in a rogue's pocket。 'Tis as well for me that John o' th' Swift…foot swings at the cross…roads。 Godden； my masters！〃 And leading his weary beast； he took the road that skirted the forest。
The moon was at full； and he had yet a good stretch of lonely way before him； when the horse stumbled and fell and would not rise。
〃A murrain on the beast！〃 muttered Robin angrily； tugging in vain at the creature on whom death had taken pity。 〃I must e'en leave him by the wayside and tell Richard what hath befallen。〃
He stooped to loose the halter； and as he bent to his task a man slipped from the shadow of the hedge into the quiet moonlight。 There was a thud； a dull cry； and Robin fell prone across the horse's neck … a pace beyond him in the moonlight shone the gleam of gold。
Next day Dickon's child died； ay； and the other five followed with scant time between the buryings。 Another had fathered them and filled the gaping mouths； but men shuddered at his care； for it was the Black Death that they had deemed far from them。
Pale and woebegone they clustered on the green。 News had come of Robin … he was dead when they found him … but no man gave heed。 Death was in the air； death held them safe in walls they might not scale。 The heavens were brass； food failed for man and beast； God and man alike had forsaken them。 The forest lay one side； the river； now but a shallow sluggish stream； lay the other； 'twas a cleft stick and the springe tightened。
No evil had as yet befallen Dickon。 He stood with the rest and murmured； cursing。 All at once he made for the ale…house。
〃Fools that we are to stand like helpless brats when there is liquor enough and to spare in yon cellars。 He who is minded to go dry throat to Heaven had best make haste； for me I will e'en swill a bucket to the devil's health； and so to hell。〃
Half…a…dozen men followed him； pushing aside mine host who strove to bar the door。 Some of the women fell on their knees and clamoured in half delirious prayer； the rest slunk dismayed to their pestilent homes。
CHAPTER VII … THE VISION OF THE EVENING AND THE MORNING
MEANWHILE； news came to the Monastery of the ill case of the village； for it lay scarce a league away across the forest； but the pine…trees stood as guardian angels in between。
The Prior summoned the whole Convent； according to the ruling of Blessed Benedict when the matter is a grave one； and told the tidings。
Then he went on to give reason for their assembling。
〃My Brethren； it is in my heart that we dare not leave these poor； stricken sheep to die alone without shepherding； moreover； in their fear and desolation； they may flee to other villages； and so the terror and pest spread ever further。 And I deem that； inasmuch as Charity is greater than Faith or Hope； so it is greater than obedience also。 Wherefore I purpose to set aside the Rule of our Order in the letter that I may hold to it in the spirit； and go forth to serve these perishing brethren； and I will take with me whosoever hears the call of God in this visitation。〃
When he had made an end； there was silence in the Chapter。 Break cloister； the Prior himself urging them thereto？ The Convent might scarce credit its ears。
Prior Hilarius watched his children with a tender smile on his white face； and a prayer on his lips that love might have its triumph。
Five monks stood up； among them the Sub…Prior； and seven novices sprang also to their feet。
〃Nay； Brother Walter；〃 said Hilarius； turning to the Sub…Prior； 〃this flock must have its shepherd also； thy place is here。 But I will take with me Brother Simon and Brother Leo； who will doubtless suffice at first for the ministry； and … 〃 smiling at the novices … 〃all these dear lads to tend the sick and bury the dead。〃
The Sub…Prior ventured on a remonstrance。
〃Good Father； it is not fitting that thou should'st go on such an errand； send me in thy stead； for my life is a small thing as compared with thine。 Moreover these novices； 'tis but the other day the Master gave them as lazy and ill…conditioned； and … 〃
The Prior held up his hand。
〃Dear Brother； I thank thee for thy love and care for me； but my call has come。 As for these … 〃 he stretched out his hand towards the waiting novices … 〃maybe they are in the wrong school； and the Lord hath even opened the door that they may serve Him； perchance die for Him； elsewhere。 And shall I count myself wiser than Prior Stephen； who set me without the gate to learn my lesson？ Let us go in peace； my children； for we are about the Lord's business。〃
Very early next day； having eaten of Heavenly manna； the little band embraced their brethren and set out； laden with food and wine and herbs from the farmery； and the Prior appointed a place to which the Convent should send daily all things needed。
The shade of the forest was very welcome in the hot； breathless sunshine； and the scent of the pine…needles； odorous； pungent； rose at each footfall from the silent path。 The Brethren chanted the Gradual Psalms as they paced two and two through the sun…lit aisles； full of the Prior's memories； and he looked up again to see Our Lady's robe across the tree…tops。 Then all at once the Psalm broke； and Brother Simon； who was leading； stayed suddenly。
Under a bush beside the track lay a man； naked save for filthy rags； his hair and beard matted with moss and leaves； his eyes sunk； his lips drawn apart in a ghastly grin。 Hilarius made haste to kneel beside him； and lo！ sudden remembrance lighted the fast… glazing eyes； but his own answered not。
〃My son； my son；〃 said the Prior； and his voice was very pitiful； 〃thou art indeed in evil case； let me shrive thee ere it be too late。〃
He motioned the others to stand back； and raising the heavy head upon his shoulder； bent close to catch the whisper of the parched lips。
At first no sound came； and then a hoarse word reached him。
〃The Convent's hens！〃
The Prior stared amazed； then once more the laboured voice …
〃Hast forgot thy theft； and the dancer？〃
Hilarius needed no further word； in a moment the years were wiped away。
〃Lad； lad； to find thee again； and in such sorry plight！ But see； stay not thy shriving； for the time is short； and the Lord ever ready to pardon。〃
The man strove in vain to speak。 At last he said quite clearly： 〃I hunger；〃 and so saying died。
The Prior was greatly moved； and for a while he knelt in prayer； while the Brethren； amazed； waited his pleasure。 Then he rose； and lo！ before him lay the open glade where his schooling had begun； and he had seen a flower incarnate dance in the wind。
He bade them lift the dead； and lay him in the hollow of the glade under fallen branches until they could return and give him burial。 Then； as they went on their way； he told the tale of his little maid； and when the telling was ended； the village they had come to succour was in sight； and lo！ they saw it through a mist。
CHAPTER VIII … 〃BEHOLD THE FIELDS ARE WHITE〃
THE Prior's heart was ready； and it seemed to him as he passed up the village and saw the huddled； helpless people； that his little maid led him by the hand。
Brother Simon； Brother Leo； and the novices turned aside to speak comfort and carry succour to the sick and fearful； and to bury the dead； for three unshriven souls had passed to judgment and mercy。 Hilarius made straight for the ale…house。
As he crossed the green； the door opened and Dickon stumbled blindly down the steps。 At sight of a monk he cried out； and suddenly sobered； dropped on his knees； while the topers and roysterers staring from the open doorway fell into silence。
Hilarius pushed back his cowl and stood bareheaded in the scorching sun of that windless day； it came to his mind that he was very weary。
〃Hear； O my children； the Lord hath sent me to succour you； lest ye go down quick into the pit。 Return； every one of you； for the arms of His love are still stretched wide upon the Rood； and the very hairs of your head are numbered。 Repent ye； therefore； and confess each one of you his sins； that I may prepare him for the work of the Lord； and take comfort also； for they that are with us are mighty。〃
One by one the men； sobered by the shock of great surprise； confessed and were shriven under the summer sun： only the man Dickon was not among them。 Then the Prior bade them get to work as he should direct； and he set a watch that no man should flee the village； and all obeyed him。
Early and late the Prior toiled with the Brethren and his band of workers； nursing the sick； burying the dead； and destroying the pestilent dwellings。
Brother Leo was the first to whom the call came： he answered it like a soldier at his post。
As the Prior rose from the pallet of his dead son； one bade him come quickly； for a dying man had need of him。 It was Dickon。
The Prior； bearing with him the Body of the Lord； made haste to the hovel where he lay； and shrived him though he scarce