Transcribed from the 1912 John Murray edition by David Price emailccx074coventryacukTHE GATHERING OF BROTHER HILARIUSPART ITHE SEEDCHAPTER IBLIND EYES IN THE FORESTHilarius stood at the Monastery gate looking away down the smoothwellkept road to the highway beyond  It lay quiet and serene inthe June sunshine the white way to the outer world and not even adust cloud on the horizon promised the approach of the train ofsumpter mules laden with meats for the bellies and cloth for thebacks of the good Brethren within  The Cellarer lacked wine thedrug stores in the farmery were running low last but not leastthe Precentor had bespoken precious colours rich gold costlyvellum and on these the thoughts of Hilarius tarried with anxiousexpectationOn his left lay the forest home of his longing imaginings  TheMonastery wall crept up one side of it and over the top the greattrees peered and beckoned with their tossing feathery branchesTwice had Hilarius walked there attending the Prior as he pacedslowly and silently along the mossy ways under the strongspringing pines and the occasions were stored in his memory withthe glories of St Benedicts Day and Our Ladys Festivals  Away tothe right within the great enclosure stretched the Monasterylands fair to the eye with orchard and fruitful field teemingwith glad unhurried labourAt a little elevation overlooking the whole domain rose thePriory buildings topped by the Church crown and heart of theplace signing the sign of the Cross over the daily life and workof the Brethren itself the centre of that life the object of thatwork ever unfinished because love knows not how to make an endTo the monks it was a page in the history of the life of the Orderwritten in stone blazoned with beauty of the worlds treasure apage on which each generation might spell out a word perchance adda line to the greater glory of God and St Benedict  They werealways at work on it stretching out eager hands for the rarestuffs and precious stones devout men brought from overseasfinding a place for the best of every ordered craft their shame anuncouth line or graceless arch their glory each completed pinnacleand fretted spire ever restoring enlarging repairingspendthrift of money and time in the service of the House of theLordThe sun shone hot on grey wall and green garth the spirit ofinsistent peace brooded over the place  The wheeling white pigeonscircling the cloister walls cried peace the sculptured saints intheir niches over the west door gave the blessing of peace an oldblind monk crossed the garth with the hesitating gait of habitlately acquiredon his face was great peace  It restedeverywhere this peace of prayerful service where the clang of theblacksmiths hammer smote the sound of the Office bellHilarius at the gate questioned the road again and again for signof the belated train  It was vexatious the Priors lips wouldtake a thinner line for the mules were already some days overdueand it was ill to keep the Prior waiting  The soft June wind sweptthe fragrance of Marys lilies across to the lad he turned hisdreamy blue eyes from the highway to the forest  The scent of thepinewoods rushed to meet his sudden thought  Should he dare hebreak cloister and taste the wondrous delight of an unwalledworld  It were a sin a grave sin in a newlymade novicecloisterbred  The sweet pungent smell overpowered him the treesbeckoned with their long arms and slender fingers the voice of theforest called and Hilarius answering walked swiftly away withbowed head and beating heart between the sunburnt pinebolesAt last he ventured to stop and look around him his fair hairaflame in the sunlight his eyes full of awe of this arched andpillared city of mystery and wonderIt was very silent  Here and there a coney peeped out and fledand a woodpecker toiled with sharp effective stroke  Hilariuseyes shone as he lifted his head and caught sight of the sunlitblue between the great greenfringed branches  it was as if OurLady trailed her gracious robe across the treetops  Then as hebathed his thirsty soul in the great sea of light and shade cooldepths and shifting colours the sense of his wrongdoing slippedfrom him and joy replaced itjoy so great that his heart achedwith it  He went on his way singing Lauda Syon his eyesfollowing the pineboles and presently coming out into an openglade halted in amazementA flower incarnate stood before him stoodnay danced in thewind  Over the sunny sward two little scarletclad feet chasedeach other in rhythmic maze dainty little brown hands spread thefolds of the deep blue skirt a bodice silverlaced served asstalk on which balanced lightly swaying the flower of flowersitself  Hilarius eyes travelled upwards and rested there  Cheekslike a sunburnt peach lips a scarlet bow shimmering tenderlaughing grey eyes curtained by long curling lashes soft tendrilsof curly hair blue black in the shadows hiding the low levelbrow  A sight for gods but not for monks above all not foruntutored novices such as HilariusHis sin had found him out it was the Devil the lovely lady of StBenedict he drew breath and crossed himself hastily with amurmured Apage SataasThe dancer stopped conscious perhaps of a chill in the windO what a pretty boy she cried gaily  Playing truant I darewager  Come and danceHilarius crimsoned with shame and horror  Woman he said andhis voice trembled somewhat art thou not shamed to deck thyselfin this devils guiseThe dancer bit her lip and stamped her little red shoe angrilyNo more devils guise than thine own she retorted eyeing hissemimonastic garb with scant favour  Can a poor maid notpractise her steps in the heart of a forest but a cloisterbredyoungster must cry devils guiseAs she spoke her anger vanished like a summer cloud and she brokeinto peal on peal of joyous laughter  Poor lad with thy talk ofdevils hast thou never looked a maid in the eyes beforeShrewdly hit mistress never before has Hilarius