the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
… Page 54…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
cheek； noted fearfully the violet shadows under the closed eyes； and laid
his new…found treasure on the bed by her mother。
The woman was half…asleep； but started awake。
〃Art thou going？〃 she said； and despair gazed at him from her eyes。
〃Nay； nay； surely not until we all go together；〃 he said soothingly。 〃I
would but kindle a fire； for the cold is bitter。〃
Wood was plentiful； and soon a bright fire blazed on the hearth。 The
poor woman； heartened by her meal； rose and came to sit by it； and
stretching out her thin hands to the grateful warmth； told her tale。
〃'Twas Gammer Harden's son who first heard tell of a strange new
sickness at Caxton's； and then Jocell had speech with a herd from those
parts； who was fleeing to a free town； because of some ill he had done。
Next day Jocell fell sick with vomitings； and bleeding； and breaking out of
boils； and in three days he lay dead； and Gammer Harden fell sick and
died likewise。 Then one cried 'twas the Plague； and the wrath of God；
and they fled … the women to the nuns at Bungay； and the men to seek
work or shelter on the Manor； but us they left； for I was with child。〃
〃And thy husband？' said Hilarius。
〃Nay； he was not my husband； but these are his children； his and mine。
Some hold 'tis a sin to live thus； and perhaps because of it this evil hath
fallen upon me。〃
She looked at the babe lying on her lap； its waxen face drawn and
shrunk with the stress of its short life。
Hilarius spoke gently：…
〃It is indeed a grievous sin against God and His Church to live
together out of holy wedlock； and perchance 'tis true that for this very
thing thou hast been afflicted； even as David the great King。 But since
thou didst sin ignorantly the Lord in His mercy sent me to serve thee in
thy sore need； ay； and in very truth； Our Lady herself showed me where
the coney lay snared。 Let us pray God by His dear Mother to forgive us
our sins and to have mercy on these little ones。〃
And kneeling there in the firelight he besought the great Father for his
new…found family。
Five days passed； and despite extreme care victuals were short。
54
… Page 55…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
Hilarius dug up roots from the hedgerows； and went hungry； but at last the
pinch came； the woman was too weak and ill to walk； the babe scarce in
life … there could be no thought of flight … and the little maid grew white；
and wan and silent。 Then it came to Hilarius that he would once again
beg food in the village where he had sought help before。
He went slowly； for he had eaten little that his maid might be the better
fed； and he was very sad。 When he reached the village he found his
errand like to be vain。 News of the Plague was coming from many parts；
and each man feared for his own skin。 At every house they questioned
him： 〃Art thou from a hamlet where the Plague hath been？〃 and when he
answered 〃Yea；〃 the door was shut。
Very soon men； angry and afraid； came to drive him from the place。
He gained the village cross； and prayed them for love of the Saviour and
His holy Rood to give him bread for his little maid and her mother。 Let
them set it in the street； he would take it and cross no man's threshold。
Surely they could not； for shame； let a little child die of want？
〃Nay； 'tis better they die； so are we safe；〃 cried a voice； then they fell
upon him and beat him； and drove him from the village with blows and
curses。
Bruised and panting； he ran from them； and at last the chase ceased；
breathless and exhausted he flung himself under a hedge。
A hawk swooped； struck near him； and rose again with its prey。
Hilarius shuddered； but perhaps the hawk had nestlings waiting open…
mouthed for food？ His little maid！ His eyes filled with tears as he
thought of those who awaited him。 He picked up a stone； and watched if
perchance a coney might show itself。 He had never killed； but were not
his nestlings agape？
Nothing stirred； but along the road came a waggon of strange shape
and gaily painted。
He rose to his feet； praying the great Mother to send him help in his
awful need。
The waggon drew near； the driver sat asleep upon the shaft； the horse
took his own pace。 It passed him before he could pluck up heart to ask
an alms； and from the back dangled a small sack and a hen。 If he begged
55
… Page 56…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
and was refused his little maid must die。 A minute later the sack and the
hen had changed owners … but not unobserved； a clear voice called a halt；
the waggon stood fast； two figures sprang out； a girl and a boy： and
Hilarius stood before them on the white highway … a thief。
〃Seize the knave！〃 cried the girl sharply。
Hilarius stared at her and she at him。 It was his dancer； and she knew
him； ay； despite the change of dress and scene； she knew him。
〃What！ The worthy novice turned worldling and thief！ Nay； 'tis a
rare jest。 What of thy fine sermons now； good preacher？〃
But Hilarius answered never a word； overcome by shame； grief； and
hunger； sudden darkness fell upon him。
When he came to himself he was sitting propped against the hedge； the
waggon was drawn up by the roadside； and the dancer and her brother
stood watching him。
〃Fetch bread and wine；〃 said the girl； and to Hilarius who tried to
speak； 〃Peace； 'til thou hast eaten。〃
Hilarius ate eagerly； and when he had made an end the dancer said：…
〃Now tell thy tale。 Prithee； since when didst thou leave thy Saints
and thy nursery for such an ill trade as this？〃
Hilarius told her all； and when he had finished he wept because of his
little maid； and his were not the only tears。
The dancer went to the waggon and came back with much food taken
from her store； to which she added the hen； the sack held but fodder。
〃But； Gia；〃 grumbled her brother； 〃there will be naught for us to…
night。〃
〃Thou canst eat bread； or else go hungry；〃 she retorted； and filled a
small sack with the victuals。
Hilarius watched her； hardly daring to hope。 She held it out to him：
〃Now up and off to thy little maid。〃
Hilarius took the sack； but only to lay it down again。 Kneeling； he
took both her little brown hands； and his tears fell fast as he kissed them。
〃Maid； maid； canst forgive my theft； ay； and my hard words in the
forest？ God help me for a poor； blind fool！〃
〃Nay；〃 she answered； 〃there is naught to forgive； and see； thou hast
56
… Page 57…
THE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUS
learnt to hunger and to love！ Farewell； little brother； we pass here again
a fortnight hence； and I would fain have word of thy little maid。 Ay； and
shouldst thou need a home for her； bring her to us； my
