- MARY'S LILIES
IT came to pass upon a certain day scarce a se'nnight later, that Prior Stephen was troubled in his mind by reason of a dream which came to him.
It happened on this wise. He was sitting by his window after the noon repast, musing, as he was wont, on his dear son. The song of the bees busy in the herb-garden was very pleasant to his ear, the warm, still air overcame him, and he slept. Suddenly he heard a voice calling - a voice he knew in every fibre of his being and yet could set no name to, for it was the voice of God. He arose in haste and went out into the garth, and lo! under the lilies Hilarius lay sleeping. The Prior stood fast in great wonder, his heart leaping for joy; yet he could not cross the little piece of grass that lay between the cloister and the farmery door.
As he watched, a woman, light of foot and of great beauty, came swiftly from the gate to where Hilarius slept; and the Prior was grieved, and marvelled that the porter had opened to such an one; for it was a grave scandal that a woman should set foot within the Monastery precincts. He strove to cry, but his voice died on his lips, and his feet were as lead.
The woman stayed when she came to the sleeping lad, and stooped to arouse him, but he slept on. She called him, and her voice was as the calling of the summer sea on a shelving beach; but Hilarius gave no heed. Then, in great impatience, she caught at the white lilies under which he lay; and, as she broke the flower-crowned stems, Hilarius stirred and cried out in his sleep, whereat she plucked the faster. Of a sudden Prior Stephen was as one set free.
He strode to the woman's side: there was but one lily left. He laid his hand on her shoulder, for speech was still far from him: and she fell back from the one remaining blossom with a cry of fear - and Prior Stephen awoke, for behold! it was a dream; but he was sore troubled.
"Maybe," said he, "evil threatens the lad, such evil as slew his mother, on whom God have mercy!" And sighing heavily he took his way to the great Rood and made supplication for his son.
Far away, under a southern sky, in one of the great palaces of Florence, there stood a woman of fair stature, with tight-clenched hands, whose many jewels bit the tender flesh. Her russet eyes flashed under threatening brows, her teeth held fast the curling upper lip. Great, alack! was her fame: men crept to her knee like spaniels craving favour. Great was her wealth: a golden piece for every ruddy strand that hung a shimmering mantle to her knee. Her beauty - nay, men had slain themselves gladly to escape the torment of her look. She stood in the curtained doorway, a heavy purple hanging at her back; and the man who awaited her paled as he saw her vengeful face.
It was Hilarius. He drew himself up to the full of his slender height, and bowed.
Panting a little, the woman came towards him across the many-hued marble floors; and, as she passed, a vase of great white lilies caught in her draperies of cramoisie and fell. She gave no heed, but swept on, and faced him in the sunny silence. Across the pause the Angelus sounded from a church hard by: Hilarius crossed himself devoutly; and the stillness fled before a woman's scornful laugh.
"Nay, then, Signor," she cried mockingly, "is ours to be a war of signs and silence? I have heard thy lips were ready enough with judgment, though they halt at a love-phrase. By Our Lady, if all that is said of thee be true, I will e'en have thee whipped at the gibbet for thy gibes! Speak, fool, while thy tongue is left thee;'tis a last asking. Wilt thou paint this face of mine that is, it seems, so little to thy liking? Strain not my patience over much -'tis a slender cord at best, and somewhat tried already. Speak, is it yea or nay?"
Hilarius looked away to where Mary's flowers lay bruised and scattered on the flag of blood-red marble; his answer came low and clear:-"'It is nay.'"
She thrust her head forward, and looked at him wondering; there was a stain where her teeth had been busy.
