the gathering of brother hilarius-第4章
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This one was too quick for him； with uplifted staff and a mouthful of oaths； sorely at variance with his habit； he snatched it back； flung the bag across his shoulder； and made off at a round pace down the road； while Martin roared after him to wait an alms laid on with a cudgel。
Hilarius gazed horrified from the retreating figure to his laughing companion； who answered the unspoken question。
〃A rascal； lad； yon carrion； and no holy father。 They are the pest of every country…side； these lazy rogues； who never do a hand's turn and yet live better than many a squire。 I warrant he has good stuff in that larder of his to make merry with。〃
Hilarius walked on for some time in silence with bent head。
〃I fear the world is an ill place and far from godliness；〃 he said at last。
〃It will look thus to one cloister…bred； and 'tis true enough that godliness is far from most men； but if a hermit's robe may cover a rascal； often enough a good heart lies under an ill…favoured face and tongue。 See； lad；〃 as another turn in the road brought them in sight of Westminster； 〃there lies thy new world； God keep thee in it！〃
He pointed to a grey…walled city rising from the water's edge； with roof and pinnacle； gable and turret； aflame in the light of the western sky； in front flowed the river like a stream of molten gold。
Hilarius gave a little cry。
〃'Tis like the New Jerusalem！〃 he said； and Martin smiled grimly。
An hour later they stood within the walls of Westminster city； and Hilarius； amazed and weary； clung close to Martin's side。 Around him he saw russet…clad archers； grooms； men on horseback； pedlars； pages； falconers； scullions with meats； gallant knights； gaily dressed ladies； it was like a tangled dream。 The gabled fronts of the houses were richly blazoned or hung with scarlet cloth； it was a shifting scene of colour； life； and movement； and to Hilarius' untutored eyes； wild confusion。 Outside the taverns clustered all sorts and conditions of men； drinking； gossiping； singing； for the day's work was done。 In the courtyard of the 〃Black Boar〃 a chained bear padded restlessly to and fro； and Hilarius crossed himself anxiously … was the devil about to beset him under all guises at once？ He raised a fervent Ora pro me to St Benedict as he hurried past。 A string of pack…horses in the narrow street sent folk flying for refuge to the low dark doorways； and a buxom wench； seeing the pretty lad； bussed him soundly。 This was too much； only the man in him stayed the indignant tears。 〃Martin； Martin！〃 he cried； but the minstrel was on his own ground now； and was hailed everywhere with acclamations； and news given and demanded in a breath。 Hilarius； shrinking； aghast； his ears scourged with rough oaths and rude jests； his eyes offended by the easy manners round him； his cheek hot from the late salute； took refuge under a low archway； and waited with anxious heart until the minstrel should have done with the crowd。
Martin did not forget him。
〃Hole； lad！〃 he cried； 〃see how they welcome the King's bird back to his cage！ As for thee； thou hast gone straight to thy cot like a homing pigeon； through that archway； lad； lies thy journey's end。〃 Then； apprehending for the first time Hilarius' white face and piteous eyes； Martin strode across； swept him under the archway into a quiet courtyard where a fountain rippled； and； having handed him over to Sir John's steward； left him with a friendly slap on the back and the promise of speedy meeting。
Hilarius delivered the Prior's letter； and followed the steward into a rush…strewn hall where scullions and serving…men were busy with preparations for the evening meal； and sat there； lonely and dejected； his curiosity quenched； his heart sore； his whole being crying out for the busied peace and silent orderliness of his cloister home。 The servants gibed at him； but he was too weary to heed； indeed he hardly noticed when the household swept in to supper； until a page…boy tweaked him slyly by the ear and bade him come to table。 He ate and drank thankfully； too dazed to take note of the meal； and the pages and squires among whom he sat left him alone； abashed at his gentleness。 At last； something restored by the much…needed food； Hilarius looked round the hall。
It reminded him of the Refectory at home； save that it was far loftier 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 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。
PART II … THE FLOWER
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 E
