the gathering of brother hilarius(希拉里兄的收集)-第11章
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Hilarius entered the village discreetly； and adding the little money he
had to the woman's scanty store； bought bread； a flask of wine； flour and
beans； and a jug of milk。
〃'Tis for a sick child；〃 he said when he asked for it； and the woman
pushed back the money； bidding him God…speed。
The return journey was accomplished much more slowly； because of
his precious burden； and as he crossed a field； there； dead in a snare； lay a
fine coney。
〃Now hath Our Lady herself had thought for the poor mother！〃 cried
Hilarius joyously； and added it to his store。
When he reached the cottage； and the woman saw the food； she broke
into loud weeping； for her need had been great； then； as if giving up the
struggle to another and a stronger； she sank on the bed with her fast…failing
babe in her arms。
Hilarius fed her carefully with bread and wine … not for nothing had he
served the Infirmarian when blood…letting had proved too severe for some
weak Brother … and then turned his attention to the little maid who sat
patient； eyeing the food。
For her； bread and milk。 He sat down on a low stool； and taking the
child on his knee slowly supplied the gaping； bird…like mouth。 At last the
little maid heaved a sigh of content； leant her flaxen head against her
nurse's shoulder； and fell fast asleep。
Hilarius； cradling her carefully in gentle arms； crooned softly to her；
thrilling with tenderness。 She was his own； his little sister； the child he
had found and saved。 Surely Our Lady had guided him to her； and her
great Mother…love would shield this little one from a foul and horrid death。
In that dirty； neglected room； the child warm against his breast； Hilarius
lived the happiest moments of his life。
Presently he rose； for there was much to be done； kissed the little pale
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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。
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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
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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
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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 old grandam is in
the other waggon and she will care for her。〃
Hilarius ran across the fields； full of sorrow for his sin； and yet greatly
glad because of the wonderful goodness of God。
When he got back his little maid sat alone by the fire。 He hastened to
make food ready； but the child was far spent and would scarcely eat。
Then he went out to find the woman。
He saw her standing in the doorway of an empty hovel； and she cried
to him to keep back。
〃My babe is dead； and I feel the sickness on me。 I went to the houses
seeking meal； even to Gammer Harden's； and I must die。 As for thee；
thou shalt not come near me； but bide with the child； so maybe God will
spare the innocent。〃
Hilarius besought her long that she would at least suffer him to bring
her food； but she would not。
〃Nay； I could not eat； the fever burns in my
