CloisterandtheHearth 10080064

NOTE
ED I TO R S
C h a rle s R ea d e w a s born a t l p sd en i n
O xfor d s hir e i n 1 8 1 4 D u rin g h i s b oyh ood
h e w a s e d u ca t ed al m os t e nt ir ely a t h om e
.
b u t i n 1 8 3 1 h e p r oc eed ed t o O xfor d Th ere

.
h e h a d a brillia nt ca r ee r a nd w a s m a d e a
Fellow of hi s colle g e ( M a g d a le n) i a | 8 3 5
,
H i s fi r s t n ov el Peg Wofi n g t on w a s p ub
, .
l i sh ed i n | 8 5 3 a nd w a s f oll ow ed a lmos t
. .
i mmed ia t ely by C h r i s t i e j oh n s ton e a ta l e

,
of S c ot c h fi s h i n g li fe H i s fi r s t g r e a t s u c ce s s
,
wv
.
wa s , ho N ever T oo La t e t o
e er . I t is
w t
M an d a book hich fa s cina e d t h e r e a d in g
p ubli c a t onc e wt g
i h i t s th ri lli n r oman ce a nd
i ts vv pt
i id d e scri i on of convi ct life a nd
pi r s on s c e n es
1 8 6 | pp
.
I n d Th Cl i t
a e a re d th e o s er a n e
H th w h i h h
ea r b t t d by i ti
c as ee n s a e cr cs to
b h m t f i ti g f ll hi t i l v l
.
e t e os a s c na n o a s or ca no e s .
I n H d C h — p b li h l d i g 1 86 3
ar as u s ec ur n
Ch l R d
a r es v ly i ti i d h w y i
ea e se ere cr c se t e a n
wh i h l ti yl m w
c una c as d t d h t
u s e r e c on uc e at t a
t im A e. lt th
s a w r es u f l er e as a s u c ce s s u
a git ti i f v f l gi l ti
a on n a h
ou r o bj t e s a on on t e su ec
l t h w t G i fi i th G
.
Th y r ee ea r s a er t e ro e r a un
F m t hi tim h l th t g i p
,
ro s m d e e s ee e to os e a r
an d v i ilit y w h i h i
r h h c t i ti f s s uc a c a ra c er s c o
hi i vl
s e a r i er n o e s.
C h l R d w t m y pl y b w
a r es ea e ro e an a s, ut as
v f l wi t h t h m
n e e r s u cc e s s u H h d g t e e a a r ea
bilit i pl yw igh t d
.
b li f i h i
e e n s a es as a a r an
w ld v g f g g th t
.
ou e en o so ar a s to en a e a ea r e
an d mp y f
a co t if h w
an o bl a c or s e e re u na e
to o bt i a np f h i pl y
a cce t a nc e o s a
l l h A p il
.
H di d i L d
e e nh on on on t e t r .
1 88 4 . an d wa s b uried at Willes d e n .
THE C LO I ST E R A ND THE
H EAR T H
A T A LE O F T H E M I D D LE AG ES
‘
CHAPTE R I
N OT a d a y p asses over th e earth , b u t m en and wo men no of

note do gr eat deeds sp eak great words an d suff er nobl e , ,
sorrows Oi these ob scure h ero e s phil o sophers and martyrs

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, , ,
th e great er p art will n ever b e known till that hour when ,
m a ny that are great sh a ll b e smal l and the small great ; ,
b ut of o thers the worl d s knowl ed ge m ay b e s aid to s l eep z ’
their lives an d ch a r a cters lie hidden from nations in the

annals that record th em The gener a l reader cannot feel .
them they are presented s o cur t ly and col dl y : th ey are not

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lik e b reathing stories app ealing to his h eart b ut littl e ,
hist oric hail sto nes striking him but to gl ance off his b o som :
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nor can he understand them ; for ep itomes are not narrative s

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a s skel etons are no t human fi gu r es .
Thu s records of prim e truths remain a dead letter to

plain folk : t h e wr i t er s have left so mu ch to the i magination
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and imagination is s o rare a gi ft Here then th e wr iter .

, ,
of fi ct i on m ay b e of u s e to th e p ublic— as an interp reter .
There is a mu sty chronicle written in intolerabl e L atin , ,
and in it a ch a p t er wh ere every s entence holds a fact

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Here .
i s t ol d wi t h harsh b revity the strange history of a p ai r

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who lived 1 1 r1 t r u m p et e d a n d died unsung four hundre d , ,
years a go ; a n d lie now a s unp itied in that stern p age a s

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fo ssil s in a r ock Thu s livin g or dead Fate is still unj ust

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, ,
to them For i f I can b ut sho w yo u what lies b elow that

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dry chronicler s words m ethinks you wi ll correct th e i n

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di fference of centuries and give tho se two sore -tried so u l s ,
a place in your heart

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— for a day .
as ; p as t th e
P
m i ddl e of th e fi f t een t h century ; Louis

i
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It w
X I . wa s sovereign of France ; E d ward IV was wr ongful .
7
8 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
kin g of England ; and Philip the Go o d having by force ,
an d cunning disp ossess ed his cousin Jacqueline and broken ,
her heart reigned undisturb ed this m any years in Holl and

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where ou r tal e b e gins .
Elias and C atherine his wife lived in the littl e town of

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T orgo n . H e traded wholes al e and retail in cloth silk

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b rown holland and ab ove all in curried leather a m ateri al

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highly v al ued by the middl ing p eopl e b ecaus e it woul d ,
stand twenty years wear and turn an o rdinary kni fe no

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small virtu e in a j erkin of th at centu r y in which folk were so ,
lib eral of th eir steel ; even at dinner a man woul d leave his
meat awhil e and carve you h i s neighb o ur o n a very mo derate
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di fference of O pinion .
Th e coupl e were well to do and wo ul d h ave b een free ,
from all earthly care b ut for n i n e chil dren W hen th e s e

,
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were coming into the worl d one p er annum each wa s hail ed , ,
with rej o icings and the s aints were thanked not exp os t u
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late d with ; and when p arents and chil dren were all youn g
to gether th e latter were lo oked up o n as lovely littl e play
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th in gs invented by Heaven for the amusement j oy an d , ,
evening solace of p eopl e in bu siness .
But as the olive b ranch es shot u p and th e p arents grew ,
older and s a w with their own eyes the fate o f larg e fam ilies
, ,
mis givings and care mingl ed with their love They b elonged .
to a singularly wise and p rovident p eopl e : in Holl and

reckl ess p arents were as rar e a s disob edient ch i l d ren So .
now when the hu g e loaf cam e i n on a gi gantic trench er ,
lo oking lik e a fortres s in its mo at and t h e tour of th e tabl e , ,
o nce made 5 emed to have m elted away Elias and

, ,
Cath erine would lo ok at on e another and s a y W h o i s to ,
fi n d b read for them all when w e are gone ?

A t this ob servation the younger o nes n eed e d all their
fi l i a l resp ect to keep their littl e D utch countenances ; for
in thei r op inio n dinner and supp er cam e by nature l i k e s u n
rise and sunset and s o long as that luminary should travel
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round the earth s o long m u s t th e b ro wn lo af g o round their

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family circle and s et in their stomach s o nly to ris e again in

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th e family oven But th e rem ark awak ened th e national

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thoughtfulness of th e elder b oys and b eing often rep eated , ,
s et sever al of th e fam i ly think ing som e of th em go o d ,
thou ghts some ill thou ghts according to the nature of th e

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thinkers .
Kate the children grow s o this table wi ll so o n b e to o

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sm all.
We canno t a ff ord i t Eli replied C ath eri ne answer i n g

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n ot his words but his thou ghts after th e manner of women

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Their anxiety for th e future to ok at times a l ess dismal

but more mortifying turn The free burghers had th e i r
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THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH 9
prid e as well as the nobles ; and thes e two coul d n o t b ear

that any of their blo o d shoul d g o down in th e burgh after
their decease .
S o by prudence an d s elf denial they managed to cl othe-
all the littl e b o dies and feed all th e great mouths and yet
, ,
put by a small ho ard to m eet the future ; and a s it grew ,
and grew they felt a pl easure th e miser ho arding for him

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s elf knows not .
One day th e eldest b oy but on e aged nineteen came to , ,
h i s m other a n d with that outward comp o sure which h a s

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s o misled som e p ersons a s to th e re al nature of this p eopl e ,
b egged her to intercede with h i s father to send him to

Am sterdam and place him with a merchant
, It i s th e .
way of life that likes m e : m erchants are wealthy ; I a m

go o d at numb ers ; p rithee go o d m other tak e my p art in
, ,
this and I shall ever b e a s I a m now your deb tor

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Cath erine threw up her hands in dismay and increduli t y .
W hat ! l eave T er gou !

Wh at i s one street to m e m ore than another ? If I
can leave th e folk of T er g ou I can surely l eave the stones, .
What ! quit your p o or father now h e i s no longer

young ?
Mother if I can leave y ou I can leave h im
, , .
Wh at ! l eave your p o or b rothers and sisters that l ove ,
you s o dear ?
There are enou gh in th e hou s e without m e .
W h at m ean you Richart ? Wh o is more thou ght of

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than you ? Stay have I sp oken sharp to you ? Have I

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b een u nkind to you ?

N ever that I know oi ; and if you had you shoul d ,
n ever hear of it from me Mother said Rich a rt gravely

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b ut th e tear w a s in h i s eye it all lie s in a word and nothing

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can change my mind Th ere will b e on e mouth less for

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you to feed .
There now s ee what my ton gu e h a s done

, said ,
C ath erine an d th e next mom ent s h e b egan to cry For

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s h e s a w her fi r s t young b ird o n th e edge of th e nest trying

his wings to fl y into th e worl d Richart had a calm strong
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W il l and s h e knew h e n ever waste d a word

, .
It ended a s nature has willed all such discours e shall

end : young Richart went to Amsterdam with a face s o
lon g and s a d a s it had n ever b een seen b efore and a he a rt ,
like granite .
That afterno on at supp er there wa s on e mouth less .
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Catherine lo oked at Richart s chair and wept b itterly .
Ou this Elias shouted rou ghly and an grily to the children ,
S it wider can t y e : s i t wider ! and turn ed his head away

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over th e b ack of h i s seat awhile and wa s silent , .

1 0 TH E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
Richart was launched an d never co st th em another ,
p enny ; but to fi t him out an d plac e him in the hous e of

V ander Stegen the m erchant to ok a l l the littl e hoar d but
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one gol d crown They b egan a gain Two y ears p assed

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Richart found a nich e i n co mmerce for his broth er Ja cob ,
and Jacob left T orgon d irectly af ter di nner which was at ,
el even in the foreno on A t supp er that day Elias rem em b er e d .
what had happ ened the last tim e ; s o it was in a low whisp er
h e sai d Sit wider d e a r s l
,
N ow until that m oment , ,
C atherine wou l d not see th e gap at t ab l e for h er dau ghter ,
Cath erine had b esou ght h er not to grieve to ”night and s h e

had said No sweeth eart 1 promis e I will not since it
, , , ,
vex e s my chil dren But when El i a s whisp ered S it .
w ider ! says s h e Ay l the t a bl e wi ll so o n b e t oo b ig for

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th e ch il d r en a n d y ou thou ght it wo ul d b e to o sm a ll ;
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and havin g d elivered this with forced cal mness sh e put up ,
her apron the n ext mom ent an d wept sore , .
”
Tis the b est that le ave s u s sobb e d sh e ;
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that i s th e ,
”
cru el p a rt .
Nay ! nay ! s ai d El i as our chil dren ar e go o d , .
chil dren and all are de ar to u s alik e

, Heed her not ! What
,
.
Go d takes from u s still s eem s b etter th an what H e sp ar es to

us ; that is to a y m en ar e by nature unthankful an d
s — ,
women sill y .
An d I s a y Rich art and Jaco b were t h e fl ow er of the

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fl ock ,sob b ed C atheri ne .
The littl e co f f e r was empty again and to fi l l it they

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gath ered lik e ants In tho se days sp ec u l ation wa s p retty .
mu ch c onfi n ed to th e card and dice b usin es s Eli as kn ew - -

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no way to wealth but th e slow and sure one A p enny .
saved i s a p enny gained was his hu m bl e cree d Al l that , .
was not required for the b u siness an d th e necess arie s of

l i fe went into t h e littl e c ofi er with steel b ands an d fl or i d
key . They denied th emselve s i n turn the humbl est luxuries ,
’
and then cat c hing on e another s l o oks smil ed ; p erhap s
, ,
with a g reater j oy than self — indulgence has to b estow A nd .
s o in thre e years more they had gl ean ed enou gh to s et up

their four t h s on a s a master tai lo r an d their eld est dau ghter -
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as a r ob em ak er in T er gou Here were two rrrb r e provided

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f or : th eir own trad e woul d enabl e them to throw wor k into

the hands of this p ai r But th e c ofi er was drained to the .
dregs an d th is tim e th e shop t oo bl ed a little in go o d s if not

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in com .
Al as ! there remained on han d t wo that were unab l e to

get the i r bread an d two that were unwi l l ing Th e unable
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ones were 1 Giles a dwarf of the wrong so r t hal f stupidity

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h a lf malice all head and claws a n d voi c e run f r om by d o gs

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a n d unpre j udiced fe m al es a n d si d ed with throu gh thick .

THE C L O ISTER AN D TH E HEARTH 1 1
and thin b y h i s m other ; 2 Littl e C atherine a p o or little , ,
girl that could o nly m ove on crutches Sh e lived in p ain .

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b ut sm i l ed throu gh i t with h er m a rbl e face and viol et eyes

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a n d lon g silky lash es ; and fretful or rep inin g word never

came from her lip s Th e unwil ling ones were S y b r a n d t the
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youngest a n e er do weel to o m u ch in love with play to

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work : and C orn elis the el dest who had made cal culations
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—
and stuck to th e hearth waiting for dea d m en s sho es ’
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Almo st worn out b y the i r rep eated e fforts and a b ove al l

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dispirited by the moral and physic al i n fi r m i t i e s of th o s e that

now remained o n hand t h e anxiou s couple would often s a y , ,
Wh at wil l b ecom e of all these when we shal l b e n o lo nger

here t o t a k e care of them ? B ut wh en they had said thi s
a go o d many tim es su ddenly the dom esti c horizo n cleared
, ,
an d then they u sed stil l to s a y i t b ecaus e a hab it is a habit , ,
but th ey uttered it half mechanically now and added brightly ,
and cheerfully But thank s to S t B avo n and al l the saints

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there s Gerard .
Youn g Gerard wa s for m any years of his life a s on ap a rt

and distinct obj ect of n o fears and no g reat h op es
, No .
fears for h e w a s going into th e C hurch and the C hurch

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could always m aintain h er ch i ldren b y h o ok or by cro ok in

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tho se days ; no great hop es b ecaus e h i s family had no ,
i ntere st with the great to get him a b en efi ce and th e young ,
man s ovvn h a b i t s w er e f r i v ol ou s a n d indeed su ch as ou r

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cloth merch ant wo u ld no t have put up with in anyone but

a cl erk that wa s to b e His trivialities were reading and .
p enmanship and h e w a s s o wrapp ed up in them that often

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h e c ould har dly b e got away to his m eals Th e day was

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n ever long enough for h i m ; and h e carri ed ever a tinder

b ox and brimston e m atches and b egged ends of candles ,
of th e neighb ours which h e lighted at unreason a bl e hours

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ay ,
ey en at eight of th e clo ck at nigh t in winter when th e ,
very b urgomaster wa s ab ed Endured at hom e h i s .

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practices were encoura ged by the mo nk s of a neighb ouring

co nvent .They had tau ght him p enmanship and con ,
tinn ed to teach him u ntil on e day th ey discovered in th e ,
middl e of i a l esso n that he was teaching them , They .
p ointed this ou t to him in a merry way : h e hun g his h ead

and blushed : h e had susp ected as much himself but m i s ,
tru sted h i s j udgment in s o del i cate a matter But my .

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s on ,
said an elderly monk how is it that you to wh om , ,
G od h a s given an eye s o tru e a han d s o subtl e yet fi r m and , ,
a 1 h ea r t l t o love these b eautiful crafts how is it you do n ot

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c olour as well as wr ite ? A scroll lo oks but b arren unless a

b order of fruit and l eaves an d rich arab esques s u rround
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the go o d words and charm the sens e as thos e do th e soul

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1 2 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
and understan di n g to s a y nothing of th e p ictures of holy
m en and wom en dep arted with which th e s everal chapters ,
sh oul d b e adorned and not al on e th e eye so oth ed with th e

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brave and sweetly bl ended colo urs but the h eart lif ted by ,
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th e ef fi gi es of the saints in glory Answer m e my s on .
, .
A t this Gerar d was co nfused a n d muttered that h e ,
had m ade several trial s at illuminating but had not s u c ,
c ee d e d well and thus th e m atter rested .
S o o n after this a fell ow -enthu siast cam e on the scene in

the unwonted form of an ol d lady Margar et sister and .
,
survivor of the b roth ers V an Eyck left Fl anders and cam e , ,
to end her days in h er native country Sh e b ou ght a smal l .
hous e near T er g ou In course of tim e sh e h eard of G erard

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and s a w som e of his handiwork : it please d h er s o well that

s h e s ent h er fem al e servant R eicht H ey n es to a s k h i m to
, ,
com e to her This l e d to an acquaintance : it coul d h ardly

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b e o therwi se for littl e T er g ou had never hel d s o m any a s

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two z ealots of this sort b efore A t fi r s t th e ol d l ady damp e d

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Gerard s courage terribly A t each visit s h e fi sh e d ou t of

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hol e s an d corn ers drawings an d p aintings som e of th em b y ,
her own hand that seemed to him unappro achabl e ; b ut

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if the artist ove r p owered him th e woman k ep t his heart ,
up . Sh e and R eicht so o n turned h i m inside out lik e a glove

among other thin gs they d rew fro m him what th e go o d
,
mo nk s had fail ed to hit up on the reaso n why h e di d not ,
ill uminate viz that h e co ul d not a f ford th e gold th e blu e

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and the red b ut only th e cheap e arth s ; and th at h e was

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afrai d to ask his moth er to b uy the choice colours and was ,
sure he sho ul d ask h er in vain Then Margaret V an Eyck .
gave h i m a little brush gol d and some vermilion and ultra

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m arine and a p iece of go o d ve l lum to lay them ou
, He . .
al mo st adored her As he left the house R eicht ran after him

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with a candl e and two qu arters : he quite k issed her But .
b etter even than th e gold and lapis lazuli to the ill uminator -
was th e symp athy to the isol ated enthusiast That sym p athy .
was always ready and a s h e returned i t an a ffection sp rung

, , ,
up b etween th e ol d p ainter and th e youn g cali grapher that

wa s doubly chara cteristi c of th e time For this w a s a .
century i n which the fi n e arts and the higher mechani ca l arts

were not separated by any distinct b oundary nor were ,
tho se who practised th em and it was an age in which ar tists

sought out and loved on e anoth er Shoul d this last state .
ment stagger a p ainter or wr iter of our day l et m e remind ,
him that even Christians loved one another at fi r s t starting .
Backe d by an acquaintance s o venerabl e and stren gth ,
ened by femal e symp athy Gerard advanced in learning and ,
skill .Hi s spirits t oo ro se vis i bly : h e still lo oked b ehin d

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him when dra gged to d inner in the mid dl e o f a n i ni tial G ;

TH E C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH 1 3
but on ce seated sh owed great so cial qualities ; lik ewise a ,
gay humour that had hitherto b ut p eep ed in him shone

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out and often h e s et th e tabl e in a ro ar and kep t it there

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sometimes with his own wit som etimes with j ests which ,
were glo ssy n ew to his fam i ly b eing drawn from antiquity , .
A s a return for all h e owe d his friends th e m onk s h e

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made them exquisite cop ies from two of th eir choicest MS S .

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vi z th e life of their founder and their Com edies of Terence

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th e monastery fi n d i n g th e vell um .
The high and puissant Prince Philip the G o o d D uk e , ,
of B urgundy Luxemburg and Brab ant E arl of Holl and

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a nd Z eal and L ord o f Frieslan d C ount o f F land ers Artois

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and Hainault L ord of S alins and Ma ck l y n — wa s versatile

, .
H e coul d fi gh t as well as any king going ; and h e coul d

lie a s well a s any excep t th e Kin g of France H e was a , .
mighty hunter and coul d read and write His taste s were
, .
w i d e a n d a rdent
. H e loved j ewel s like a wom an and .
,
gorgeous app arel H e d early loved m aids of honour and .

,
indee d p aintings gener al ly ; in pro of of wh i ch h e ennobled '
Jan V an Eyck H e had al so a rage for giants dwarfs.

, ,
and Turks '

These l ast stoo d ever planted ab out him
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turb aned and blazing with j ewel s His agents inveigl ed .
them from I stamb oul with fair promises ; but th e m oment

h e -had got them he b aptiz ed th em by b rute force in a l arge ,
tub ; a nd this do ne l et th em squat with their faces towards ,
Mecca and invok e Mahound a s mu ch a s th ey pl eased

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l aughing in h i s sle eve at their simplicity i n f a n cy i n g they '
were stil l i n fi d el s H e had lions in cages and fl eet l eop ards

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trained b y Oriental s to run down hares and deer I n sh ort .

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he r el i s h ed Tal l rarities excep t the humdrum virtu es For , .
any thing singularly pretty or diab olically u gly this was

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your cu stomer Th e b est of him w a s h e was O p en handed

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to the p o or ; and th e next b est was he fo stered the arts

1
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in earnest : w hereof h e now gave a signal proof H e

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o ffered prizes for the b est sp ecimens of orf evr er i e in two

kinds religi ou s and secular : item f or the b est p aintings in
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white of egg oil s an d temp era ; thes e to b e on p anel silk

, , , ,
or m et al as t h e artists cho se : item for th e b est transp arent

, ,
p ainting on glass : item for th e b est il luminating and ,
b order p ainting on vellum : item for th e fairest writin g on

-
,
vellum The b urgom asters of the s everal towns were

.
c om m a n d e d t o aid al l th e p o orer comp etitors by receiving

'
their sp ecimens and sending them with du e care to Rotter

dam at th e exp ense of the i r several b urghs \Vhen this .
w a s cried by the b ellman through the streets of T er gou a ,
thousand mouth s O p ened and one heart b eat Gerard s — ,

’
.
H e told h i s family timidly h e shoul d try for two of t ho se

prize s Th ey stared i n sil ence for their breath was gone
.
'
,
1 4 THE CL O ISTER ?A N D THE HEARTH '
a his audac i ty ; b ut on e horrid lau gh explo ded o n the fl oor

t
l ike a p etard Gerar d lo oked down and there w a s th e
.
,
dw a rf slit and fanged fro m e ar to ear at his expense a n d

, ,
Nature rel enting at h a vi n g m a d e

'
l aughi ng lik e a l ion .

,
Giles so sm all h ad given him as a s et ofi the b i g gest vo ice

,
-
on record .His very whisp er was a b asso o n H e w a s like .
tho se stunted wide mouth e d p ieces of ordnan c e w e see o n

f or t i fi ca t i ons ; more l ik e a fl ow er p o t than a canno n ; but -
.
o d s t y mp an a how th ey b ell ow !
Gerard turned red wi th anger the m ore s o as th e others ,
b egan to titter Wh i te Cather i ne s a w an d a p in k t i nge

. .
, .
cam e on h er ch eek Sh e said softly Why d o yo u l au gh ?

.
,
Is it b ecau s e h e is our brother yo u -thi nk h e ca n n ot b e '
.
‘
cap ab le ? Yes Gerard try with the res t ,

M any s a y y ou , .
are skilful ; and mo ther and I w i ll p ray th e V ir gi n to guide

yo ur h and .
Tha n k you l ittl e K ate You shal l pray to o ur Lady

, .
,
and our m oth er shall buy m e vellum and the c ol our S t o '
ill uminate with

What will they co st my l ad ?
.
T w ogol d crown s ( ab out thre e sh i ll in g san d fo urp e nce

'
’’
English mo ney ) .
What ! screamed th e housewif e wh en the b ushel ,
of rye co s t s b ut a gr e at ! What ! m e sp end a m o nth s m e al ’
and meat and fi r e on such vani ty as that : t h e li ghtni n g

from H eaven wo u l d fal l o n me an d my ch il dre n woul d al l ,
b e b eggar s ”
.
“
M ot h er l s i gh ed l i t t l e C atherine i m p l or i n gl y u fl
'
. ,
”
O h I it is in vain K at e sai d Gerard with a si gh .
:I
, , .
shall h ave to give it u p or a s k th e d am e V an Ey ck

.
S he , .
wo ul d gi ve it m e b u t I think sham e to b e for ev er ta k ing

,
~
.
”
from h er .
It i s no t h er a ffai r sai d C atherine very sh a rply ;

what h as s h e to do coming b etween m e and my s on ?
, ,
and s h e l eft th e ro om wi th a red face : Littl e Ca th erin e

smil ed Presently th e hou sewif e ret u rned with a graci ou s
'
'
’
.
,
a fi ec t i on a t e air and two littl e gol d p ieces in her hand )

, .
” ’
Th ere sweethea r t , said s h e yo u won t hav e to , .
, .
'
troubl e d a m e or d emo isell e for two p al try cro wns ;
But on th i s Gerard fell a -thinkin g h ow he co u l d sp are

h er p u r s e .
One will do m o ther

'
I wi l l a s k the go o d mo nk s to l et
, .
m e s end my copy of their Terence it i s on sno wy vell u m ,
and I can write no b etter : s o then I shall o nly n ee d s i x ,
sh eets of vel lum fo r my b o rders an d m i niatures a n d gol d ,
—
for my ground and p rime colours on e cro wn wi l l d o
,
”
.
”
Never tyne th e ship for want of a bit of tar G e r a r d ,
.
said his change a bl e moth er But s h e adde d Well there .

, ,
THE C L O IS T E R A ND THE HE ARTH 1 5
I will put th e crown i n m y p o cket That won t b e lik e '
.
’
p u t t i n g i t b ack in th e b ox Goin g t o t h e b ox to tak e ou t .
in stead of p utting i n it i s lik e go in g t o my h eart with a ,
knife for s o m any drop s oi blo o d You w ill b e sure to -

.
want i t Gerard , The hou s e is n ever built fo r less th an

.
th e buil der counte d on .
Sure enou gh when th e tim e cam e Gerard lon ge d to g o

, ,
t o Rotterdam an d see the D uk e and ab ove al l t o s ee th e

’
,
work of his comp etitors an d s o get a l ess en fro m defea t , .
And the crown cam e ou t of th e ho u s ewife s p ock et w i t h ’

'
a very go o d gr ace Gerard woul d so o n b e a p riest It ‘ ‘
. .
see me d h ard i t h e might n ot enj o y th e worl d a littl e b efore

sep arating him self fro m it for lif e .
Th e night b efore he wen t Margaret V an E yck aske d him ,
to take a l etter for her an d wh en h e cam e to l o ok at i t to , ,
h i s surprise h e foun d it was a ddres s ed to th e Prince ss Marie ,
at t h e S t a d t h ou s e in Rotterdam .
Th e d a y b ef or e th e prizes were to b e distrib uted Gerard

'
started f or Ro tterdam in his holiday su it to wit a d oubl et , ,
of silver g rey cloth w ith sleeve s and a j erkin o f th e sam e

-
, ,
ov e r i t but without sl eeves

, From his waist to his heels ;
h e w a s cl ad in a p air of tight fi t t i n g b u ckskin ho se fastened

.
-
b y l ace s ( c al l ed p oints ) to h i s do ublet His sho e s were

'
p ointe d in mo deration and secure d by a strap that p assed

, ,
under th e hollow of th e fo ot Ou his head an d the b ack of. .
h i s ne ck h e w or e h i s fl ow i n g hair ; an d p inne d to his b ack

.
b et w e en h i s should ers was his hat : it wa s further secured by a

u
pu rple silk ribb o n littl e K ate ha d p asse d round him fro m the
side s of the hat au d k n ot t e d n ea t l y o n his b reast ; b elow his
,
‘
- ~
hat attached to the upp er rim of h i s b ro ad wa ist b elt w a s his

,
-
,
l e a t h er n iw a l l et When h e go t within a le agu e of Rotterdam

.
h e wa s pretty tired b ut he so o n fell in with a p air that were ,

'
m ere -s o H e foun d a n ol d m an sittin g by th e ro adside

t
'
quit e worn ou t an d a comely yo un g woman holding h i s,

t
han d with a f a c e b r i m f u l of con cern

, Th e cou ntry p eopl e
'
tru dged b y and notice d nothin g amiss ; but Gerard a s

, ,
h e p assed d r ew conclu sion s

, Even dress tell s a tal e to tho s e .
wh o study it s o clo sel y a s h e did b ein g an illuminator Th e , .
ol d man w e r e a gown ; an d a fur tipp et an d a velvet cap , ,
sure si gn s of dignity ; b u t th e trian g ular purs e at his girdl e

’
w as lean ; t h e gown ru sty th e f ur worn sure s igns of p overty , .

, .
Th e y eung Woman w a s dresse d in pl ain ru sset cloth : y et

snow white l awn cov ere d that part of h er neck th e gown
,
- '
left visibl e and ended half way up h er white thro at i n a

,
f
.
li ttl e b an d of g ol d em b r oi d er y ; an d her head dress was new

' -
to Gerard : instead of h i d i n g h er hair in a p il e of l i n en or

'
'
l awn s h e wore an op en n et wor k of s ilver cord with silver

,
sp angl e s a t t h e i n t er s t i ces i z i n this h er glo ssy auburn hair

‘
1 6 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH '
was rolle d i n front into two solid waves and supp orte d ,
b ehind in a luxuriou s and shap ely m ass His quick eye .
to ok in a l l this an d th e old man s p allor and th e tears in

,
’
the youn g woman s eyes S e when h e had p assed them a

’
.
few yards ; b e refl e cted and turned b ack and came towards , ,
th em b ashfully .
Father I fear you are tire d

, .
”
Indeed my s on I a m , replied th e old m an , , ,
”
faint for lack of fo o d .
Gerard s address did n ot app ear s o a greeabl e to th e gi rl

’
a s to th e ol d man Sh e seem e d ashamed and with much

.
,
reserve in h er manner said that it w a s her fault— sh e had , ,

-
underrated the distance and imprudently all owed her father ,
to start to o l ate in th e day .
No 1 1 0 1 said th e ol d man ;
, i t i s not the distan ce fi
,
”
it is th e want of nourishment .
The gi rl p ut her arms round his neck with tender concern ,
but to ok that opp ortunity of whisp erin g Father a , ,
stranger— a young man !

But it w a s t oo l ate G er a r d wi t h simplicity and quite .
y ,
a s a matter of course fell to gath erin g sticks with great

‘
exp edition This do ne h e to ok down his wallet ou t with

.
, ,
the m anch et of b read an d the iron fl a sk his careful mother

had put u p an d his everlastin g tinder b ox ; lighted a m atch
,
-
,
then a candl e end then the sti ck s ; and put h i s iron fl a s k

‘
-
,
on i t .Then down h e went on h i s s tomach an d t ook i a ,
go o d blow : then l ook i n g u p h e s a w the gi r l s f a c e had ’
,
’
thawed an d s h e wa s lo okin g down at him and h i s energy

,
with a demure smile ; H e lau ghed b ack to h er Mind .
’ ’
th e p ot said h e
, and don t l et it spill for Heaven s sak e :
, ,
there s a cl eft stick to hol d it s a fe wi th ;

’
and with this h e
s et 0 11 ru nning towards a co rn -fi el d at som e distance .
Whilst h e was gone th ere cam e b y on a mule with rich , ,
purpl e housings an old man redol ent of weal th

, The purs e .
at his girdl e wa s pl ethoric th e fur o n his tipp et wa s erm ine , ,
bro ad and new .
I t was Gh y s b r ech t V a n S wi et en th e burgomaster of

. .
,
T er g ou H e was ol d an d his face furrowed

. H e was a
, .
n otoriou s miser and lo oked o ne generally

,
- But th e idea .
of supp in g with th e D uk e raised him j ust now into m anifest

complacency Yet at the sight of t h e faded ol d man and
.
his bright dau ghter sitting b y a fi r e of sticks th e smil e died ,
ou t of his face and h e wore a stran ge l o ok of p ain and u n

,
easiness H e reined in his mul e Why Peter

'
.
, ,
Margaret said h e almo st fi er c el y

, what mummery i s
, ,
this ? P eter was go in g to answer but Margaret inter ,
po sed h astily and said : ,My fath er wa s exhau sted s o I ,
a m warmin g somethin g to give him str en gth b efor e we g o

C HAP TER II
TH E s oup i s ho t said Gerar d , .
But how are we to get it to our mouth s ? inquire d

th e senior desp ondingly , .
Father the you ng m an h as b r ou ght u s straws

'
, An d .
Margaret s mi l ed slily .
A y ay l said th e ol d man ;
, but my p oo r b ones are
sti ff and inde ed th e fi r e i s t oo hot f or a b o d y to kneel over
,
with thes e short s traws . S t “ John th e Baptist but the . .

,
'
youn g man i s a d r oi t l
F or whil e h e state d his di ffi cu l t y Gerard rem ove d it ; ,
H e u ntied in a moment th e knot on h i s br east took his hat

'
,
'
off ; p ut a stone into each corn er o f i t then wrapp ing his , ,
h an d in t h e t a i l Of his j erkin whipp ed th e flask oil th e fi r e

' '
, ,
wed ged it in b etween t h e s t on e s an d pu t the hat under '
th e ol d m an s n ose w i t h a m erry sm i l e Th e o t h er tremul

’
.
ou sl y insert ed th e p ip e of rye straw an d su ck ed L o and -

.
b ehold h i s w a n d r a wn face wa s s een t o l i gh t up more and

, , .
more t i ll it qu ite glo wed ; an d a s so on as h e h a d drawn a

,
‘
lon g b reath :
Hipp o crates and Gal en ! h e cri ed ti s a s o u p e d a ,
-
'
v i n — t h e re storative of restoratives Blesse d b e th e natio n

th at invented i t an d th e woman that ma de i t and th e yo un g
,
‘
m an that brin gs it to faintin g folk f H a v e a su ck my g i rl .

, ,
whil e I relate to ou r -youn g ho st the histo ry and virtu es of

this his sovereign comp ound This co r rob orative youn g .
‘
was unkn own t o a n ci ent s : w e fi n d it neith er i n t h ei r

'
sir
' ‘
1
.
,
treatises of m edicin e nor in tho se p opular narratives which , ,
reveal m any of their remedi e s b oth in ch i rurgery and

1
,
“
m edicine prop er Hector in the Ilias if my m emory do es

.
, ,
n ot play m e fal se
M ’
[ a r g a r et Alas ! h e 5 o ff . 1
was invited by on e o f th e ladies of th e p o em to

drink a drau ght of wine ; but h e declined on th e ple a that ,
h e was j u st goin g into b attl e and mu st not take au ght to ,
weaken h i s p owers -
Now i f th e s ou p e o u vi n had b een
.
,
k nown in Troy it is clear that in declinin g vi n u m m er u m

,
up on that score h e woul d have added in th e next h exameter

, ,
But a s c a p e a u vi n m adam e I wi ll de gu st and gratefull y

, , , .
’
Not only woul d this h ave b een but commo n civility— a vi rt u e

no p erfe ct commander is wantin g i n— but not to h ave do ne
it woul d have p roved him a shallow and improvident p erson
u n fi t to b e tru ste d wi th th e condu ct of a war ; for m en
going into a b attle need su stenance an d all p o ssible supp ort ,
TH E C L O ISTER A ND THE HEARTH 1 9
as is proved by this th at fo olish general s b rin ging hun gry , ,
s oldiers to blows with full o nes have b een defeated in all , ,
a ges b y inferior numb ers

, The R oman s lo st a great b attl e .
in the north of It al y to Hannib al the C arthaginian by this , ,
negle ct alone Now thi s divine elixir g ives in on e moment

.
,
force to th e limb s and ardour to th e sp irits ; and tak en into

'
H e ct or s b od y at the nick of ti me would b y th e aid of

’
, ,
Ph oebus V enus and the blesse d saints ; have m os t likely

, ,
pro cured the Greeks a d efeat F or no te h ow faint and .
wea r y and heart sick I wa s a m inute a go ; well , I su ck this:

- i
c el esti al cordial and now b ehold m e b rave as Achilles an d

,
”
strong as an eagle .
Oh father now ? an eagle al a ck l

, , ,
G i r l I defy thee and a l l th e worl d R eady I s a y l i k e '
,
.
, ,
a fo aming charger to d evo ur th e sp a c e b etween thi s and ,
Ro tterdam a n d strong t o co mb at th e ills o f life even

”
.
, ,
p o verty and ol d a ge which last phil o sophers h ave call ed ,
th e s u mm u m m a l u m N e g a t u r ; unles s th e m an s life h as
’
.
b een i ll sp ent— which b y th e b y e i t g enerally h a s

-
Now ,
- -
,
~
.
for th e mo derns ! .
F ath er ! de a r f a t h er i
Fear : m e not girl ; I will b e brief unreaso nabl y , , .
a n d z u n s ea s on a b l y b r ief Th e s ou p e a u p i n o ccurs no t in .
-is o nly on e p ro o f more

,
m do ern s cience b t t h i if p r o of '
; u s .
,
we r e ; n ee d e d that for t h e l a s t few hundre d year s physicians

,
ha ve b e en idiots with their chicken b ro th and th e i r d e ,

- ~
co ctio n oi gold wh ereby th ey attrib u te the high est qual iti es

_ ,
.
to th at meat which h a s th e least j uice of any m eat an d to , .
th a t m et al whi ch h a s l es s chemical qual ities than al l th e

m etals ; m ou n t eb a n k s l d u n ee s l homicid es ! S ince then , ,
from th es e no light is to b e gathere d g o we t o the chroniclers ; ,
a n d fi r s t we fi n d that D u gu es cl i n a French k n i gh t b ei n g , , _
~
ab ou t to j oin b attle with the E nglish masters at that — , ,
time of half France a n d sturdy strik ers b y s e a and 1 and

, , .
drank n ot on e b ut three s ou p es a u vi n in ho nour of th e

,
'
bl essed T rinity This do ne h e charged th e islanders ; and

.
, ,
a s might -
have b een foretold kill ed a multitu de and drove , ,
th e rest into th e s ea B u t h e was o nly the fi r s t of a long .
list of holy an d h ard hitting on es who have b y this divine -

,
resto rative b een s u s t en a t e d f or t ifi e d corrob orated and

, , , ,
”
co nsol ed .
D ear father prith ee a dd thys elf to that venerabl e ,
company ere th e s oup co ols And Margaret held the h at .
imploringly in b oth hands t ill h e inserted the straw o nce -

.
more .
sp ared them t h e mo dern instances and gave '
,
'
G erard an opp ortunity of t elling Margaret h ow proud his ‘
m o t h e r wo uld b e h er soup ha d p r ofi t ed a man of l earning .

Ay l b u t s a id Margar et , it would lik e her il l to s ee ,
her s on give all and take no ne himself Why brought you .
but two straws ?

Fair mistress I hop ed you would l et m e p ut my lip s
to yo ur straw there b eing but two
, .
Margaret smiled an d blushed Never b eg that you .
”
may command said she Th e straw is no t mine t i s
, .
,
’
”
yours : you cut it in yo nder fi el d .
I cut i t and that m ad e it m ine ; b ut after that your

, ,
lip tou ch ed i t and that m ade it yours

,
.
D id t ? Then I will lend it you

i
”
—
There now it i s .
yo urs aga i n : y our lip has tou ched i t .
No it b elongs to u s b oth now

, L et u s divid e i t . .
B y al l m eans ; y ou have a knife .
No I wi ll n ot cut i t — that woul d b e unl ucky

, I ll .
’
b ite i t . There ! I shall k eep my hal f : yo u wi ll burn yours ,
o nce yo u get hom e I doubt , .
You know m e not I waste nothing It is o dds b ut

. .
I mak e a ha i rp in of it or som ething .
This answer dash ed th e novice Gerard instead of pro ,
y okin g h im to fresh e f forts and h e was sil ent

, And now , .
,
th e bread and s oup b eing disp o sed oi th e ol d scholar ,
prep ared to continu e his j ourney Then c a m e a little d i th .
culty : Gerard the a droit coul d not tie his ribb o n a gai n a s
C atherin e had tied i t Margaret after sl i ly eyein g his .
,
efi or t s for som e tim e off ered to h elp him ; for at her age
,
girl s love to b e coy and tender s au cy and gentle by turns , , ,
an d s h e s a w sh e had put him ou t of countenance but now .
Then a fair head with its stately crown of auburn h air

, ,
glo ssy an d glowing throu gh s ilver b owed sweetly towar d s ,
him ; and whil e it ravished his eye two white supple hands
, ,
played delicately up on th e stub bo rn ribb on and moulde d ,
it with soft and airy touches Then a heavenl y thrill ran .
throu gh the inno cent young man and vagu e glimp ses of a ,
new worl d of feeling and sentim ent op ened o n him An d .
these new and exquisite s ensati ons Margar et unwittin gly

prolonged : it i s not natural to her sex to hurry au ght that
p ertai ns to th e sacred toil et Nay when th e tap er fi n g er s .
,
had at last subj ugated th e ends of th e knot her m in d was ,
not quite easy till by a m an oeuvre p ecul iar to the fem ale
, ,
hand sh e had made her p al m convex an d s o applied it wi th

, ,
a gentl e p ressure to the centre of the knot— a sweet littl e

co axin g hand kiss as mu ch as to s a y
-
Now b e a go o d
, ,
knot and stay s o

, The p alm kiss was b estowed on the
.
ribb on but the wearer s heart leap ed to meet i t

,
’
.
There that is how it was

, said Margaret and drew , ,
b ack to tak e one last keen survey of her work ; then looking ,
up for simpl e approval of her skill received full in her eyes ,

»
THE C L O ISTER A ND THE HEARTH 21
a lo ngin g gaz e of su ch ardent a doration as made h er l ower ,
them quickly and colour all over A h indescrib able tremor .
s eiz ed her and s h e retreated with downcast lash es an d tell

,
tal e ch eeks and to ok her father s arm on th e opp o site side

,
’
.
Gerard blu shin g at having s cared her away with his eyes
, ,
to ok the o ther arm ; and s o th e two young things went

downcast and conscious and propp ed th e eagl e al o n g in ,
silence .
They entered Rotterdam by the S ch i e d a m z e Po ort ; and ,
a s Gerard wa s unacquainted with th e town P eter dire cte d ,
him th e way to th e Ho o ch S t r a et in which the Stadtho u se ,
was . H e himself wa s going with Margaret to h i s cousin in ,
th e O o ster Waagen Stract s o al mo st o n entering th e gate

-
, , ,
the i r ro ads lay ap a rt They b ad e each o th er a friendly

.
a dieu and Gerard dived into the great town

, A p rofound .
s ens e of solitu de fell up o n him yet the stre ets were crowded , .
Then h e lamented t oo l ate that out of delica cy h e had no t , ,
ask ed h i s l ate comp anions who they were an d where th ey

lived .
B eshrew my s h a m ef a ce d n es s l sai d h e But their .
words an d th eir breeding were ab ove their m eans and ,
something did whisp er m e th ey woul d no t b e kno wn I .
sh all never s ee h er m ore O h ! weary worl d I h ate y ou and

.
,
your ways To think I must m eet b eauty and go o dnes s

.
— —
and learning three p earls o price and never s ee th em
f
more !
Fall ing into this s a d reverie and letting h i s b o dy g o ,
where it would h e lo st h i s way ; b ut presently m eeting a

,
crowd of p ersons all movin g in on e dir e ction h e mingl ed ,
with them for h e argu ed th ey mu st b e making f or th e

,
Stadthouse S o o n th e noisy tro op that co ntained th e

.
mo o dy Gerard emerged not up o n th e S tadthou se b ut up on , ,
a large m eadow b y th e side o f the Maas ; and then th e

attractio n was reveal ed Gam es of all sorts were go in g e n z
.
wrestling th e gam e of p alm th e quintain l egerdemain

, , , ,
arch ery tumbling in which art I blush to s a y women a s

, , , ,
well as m en p erformed to the great del ectatio n of th e ,
comp any There was al so a trained b ear wh o sto o d on

.
,
his h ead and m arch ed upright and b owed with pro digiou s
, ,
gravity to h i s master ; an d a hare that b eat a drum and a ,
co ck th at strutted on littl e stilts disdainfully Thes e things .
mad e Gerard lau gh n ow an d then ; b u t th e gay s cene could

n ot r eally enliven i t for his h eart was not in tune wi th i t
, .
S e hearing a young man s a y to his fell ow that th e D uk e

had b een in the meadow b ut was gone to the Stadthouse ,
to entertain the burgomasters and a l dermen and the com

p et i t or s for the prizes and their friends h e su
, ddenly ,
rememb ered h e was hungry and shoul d l i ke to s u p with ,

a prince H e left the river side and thi s t i m e h e found th e
.
-
,
Hoo ch S tract and it sp eedil y l ed him to th e Sta dthou se

, .
But when h e go t there h e w as refus ed fi r s t at on e do or then , ,
at ano ther till h e cam e to th e great gate of th e courtyard

,
.
It wa s k ep t b y soldi ers and sup erintende d by a pomp ous

'
maj or domo gl i t t er i n g i n an emb roid ere d collar and a gol d

-
,
'
chai n of o th ee and h oldi ng a white staff with a gold knob

,
.
Th ere was a crowd of p ersons at th e gate end eavouring

to soften this offi ci al ro ck Th ey cam e up in turn l i ke ripples .
'
,
and retired as su ch in tur n It co st G erard a str n g gl e to get .
n ear him and wh en h e was within f our heads of th e gate

, ‘
,
he saw som ethin g that m ade his heart b e a t ; t h er e w a s P eter ‘

.
with Mar garet on h i s arm solicitin g hu mbly for entrance , .
My cousin the al derman i s not at hom e ; th ey s a y h e

i s h ere .
Wh at i s that to m e ol d man ? ,
'
If you will no t let u s p ass in to him at l east tak e this ,
l eaf from my tab let to my cousin S ee I have written hi s .

,
”
nam e : h e wil l com e out to u s .
For what do you tak e m e ? I c ar r y n o m essage s I .
keep th e gate -
.
H e then b awl ed i n a stent orian voice in exorably, ,
No strangers enter here b ut th e comp etitors and ,

”
their comp ani es .
C ome ol d m an cried a vo ice ”in th e cr owd you

, ,
'
have gotten yo ur answer ; mak e way .
Margar et turned h alf round im plorin gly :

'
Go o d p eople we ar e come f r om f ar an d my fath er i s

,
'
,
’
ol d ; and my cousin has a new se r vant that knows u s n ot 1

'
and would mo t l et u s s i t in ou r cou sin s house

'
’
.
A t this th e crowd l aughed ho a rs ely M argaret shra nk .
as -i i they had stru ck her A t that m om ent a hand grasp ed .
h ers— a ma gi c grasp ; it felt l i k e he a rt meeting h eart or ,
ma gn et steel She turn ed qui ck ly roun d at i t and it wa s

.
,
G erard .Su ch a l ittl e cry of j oy an d app eal cam e from h er

b o som and sh e b egan to whimp er p rettily
, .
They had hustled her and fri ghtened h er f or on e th ing ; ,

’
and her cousin s th ough tl essness in not even telling h i s ,
servant th ey were co m ing was cru el ; and the s ervant s ,

’
caution however wi se and faithf ul to her m aster was

, ,
b i t terly mo rt ifying to her father an d her And to h er s o .
m or t ifi e d and anxious and j o stled cam e sudde nly thi s

, ,
”
kind h and and face H i n c i l l ae l acrim ae . .
Al l is wel l now rem arked a co ars e humouri st ;

,
”
hath go tten her sweetheart .
Haw ! haw ! haw ! went th e crowd .
’
Sh e dropp ed Ger a rd s hand directly and turned roun d , ,
with eye s flashing throug h h er t ea r s : .

THE C L O ISTER A N D TH E : H E A R T H 1
«
23
have no sweeth eart y ou ru de m en

1
I -
But I a m fri end , .
l e ss in your b oorish town and this i s a f r i en d ; and on e who ,
knows what you know not how to treat th e aged and the
, ,
weak .
T h e crowd w a s dea d sil ent They had o nly b een th ou ght .
l ess an d n ow felt th e rebuke thou gh severe w a s j ust

, Th e , , .
sil ence enabl e d Gerard to treat with th e p orter .
”
1I a m a comp etitor s i r
‘‘
, .
“
W h a t i s yo ur nam e ? and th e m an eye d him s u s
f
p i ci ou s l y .
Gerard th e s on of Elias , .
Th e j anitor insp ecte d a slip of p archm ent h e h el d in his

hand :
“
Gerard E l i a s s oen can enter
‘
With my comp any th es e two ? ,
N ay ; tho se a r e not y ou r c om p a n y : th ey cam e b efore

.
w
Wh at ’
m atter ?
”
'
They are my f rien ds , and without
th em I go n o t i n .
1
Stay Without th en
That wil l I n ot .
That w e wi ll s ee .
W e will an d sp eedil y And with this Ge r ard raised

, .
,
a vo ice of a s t ou n d i n g volume and p ower an d shouted s o

‘
that th e whol e stre et rang :

H o l PH I L I P E A R L O F H O LLA N D ! ,
Are you mad ? cried the p orter .
H ER E I S O N E OF Y O U R V A R L E T S D E F I E S Y O U
. .
H ush hu sh ! ,
A ND I W I LL N OT LE T O
Y U R G U E ST S P S S I A N .
Hush ! murder ! Th e D uke s ’

there I m
’
d ea d ,
cried
the j anitor qu aking , .
Th en su ddenly tryin g to over p ower Gerard s thunder ’
h e shoute d with all his lungs :

1 .
O PE N T H E G A T E Y E KN A V E S l W A Y T H E R E F OR G ER A R D ,
E LI A S S O E N AN D H I S C O M PA N Y ! ( Th e fi en d s go with him ! )
'
Th e gate swung op en as by m a gic Eight sol diers . .
lowered their p ik es h al f way an d mad e an arch un der -

,
-
,
which th e Victoriou s thre e march ed in triumphant Th e .
mom ent they had p assed th e p i kes clash ed t o gether ,
horizont al ly to b ar th e gateway and a l l but p inned an ,
ab dominal citiz en that sou ght to we dge in along with them

'
O nce p ast the gu a rd ed p ortal a few step s brought the ,
trio u p o n a scene of Orient al luxury The courtyard was .
l aid ou t in tabl es lo aded with rich m eats and p i l ed with

gorgeo u s plate Gu ests in rich an d variou s co stum es sat
.
b eneath a l eafy canopy of fresh cut b ran ch es fastened -
ta stefu l ly to gold en silver an d b lu e silken cords that , .

,
24 TH E C L O IST E R A ND THE HEART H
traversed the area ; and fruits of m any hu es in cluding ,
s om e a r t i fi c i a l ones of gol d s ilver and wax hun g p endant , , ,
or p eep ed like fair eyes am ong the green l eaves of pl ane tre es -
and lime trees The D uk e 5 minstrels swept th eir lutes at

.
’
interval s an d a fountai n pl ayed red Burgundy in s i x j ets

,
that met and b attl ed in the a i r Th e evenin g sun d arte d .
its fi r es throu gh tho s e bright and purpl e wine sp outs ,
mak ing them j ets and cascades of molten rub ies then ,
p assing e m tinged with th e blo o d of the grap e she d crimso n

, ,
gl ories here and th ere on fair faces snowy b eards velvet , , ,
satin j ewell ed h i lts glowing gol d gl eaming silver an d

, , , ,
sp arkl ing glass Gerar d and h i s friend s sto o d d azzl ed

.
,
sp ellb ound Presently a whisp er b u z z ed round them

.
,
S al ute the D uk e ! S al ute th e D u k e ! Th ey l ooked u p ,
an d there on high under th e d ai s wa s the i r sovereign

, , ,
b idding them welcom e with a kindly wave o f the hand .
Th e m en b owed l ow and Margaret curtsie d with a deep ,
and graceful ob eisance The D uk e s hand b eing u p h e .

’
gave it another turn and p ointe d th e n ew comers ou t to ,

-
a kno t of val ets Instantly s even of his p eopl e with an

.
,
ob edient start went headl ong at ou r friends seated them

, ,
at a tabl e and put fi f t een many col oure d soup s b efore them
,
-
,
in littl e s i lver b owls an d a s many wines in crystal vases

, .
Nay father l et u s no t eat until w e h ave thank ed our go o d

, ,
friend said Ma r g a r et mow fi r s t recoveri ng from all this bus tl e

,
”
.
”
Girl h e is our guardi an an gel
, .
Gerard put h i s face into h i s hands .
Tell m e when y ou have done s aid h e and I wi l l , ,
reapp ear and have my supp er for I a m hun gry I k no w , .
which of u s three is th e happ iest at m e eting again .
Me ? inqu i red Margaret .
”
No : gu ess again .
Father ?
No .
Th en I h ave n o gu es s which it can b e ; and s h e gave

a littl e cr e w of happ iness an d gaiety The soup was tasted .
,
and vanished in a twirl of fourteen h ands and fi s h cam e ,
o n the tabl e in a dozen fo rm s with p atties of lob ster and ,
almonds mixed and of almonds an d cream and an immens e

, ,
variety of bro u ets known to u s as r i s s ol es Th e next tri ne .
w a s a wil d b o ar which smelt divine , Why then did .

, ,
Marg a ret start away from it with two shrieks of dismay ,
and p inch s o go o d a friend a s Gerard ? B e caus e th e D uke s ’
c u i s i n i er h ad b een t oo cl ever ; had made this excellent

dish t oo captivatin g to the sight a s well a s taste H e ha d .
restored to th e animal by elab orate mimicr y with burnt ,
su gar an d other edibl e colou rs th e hair and bristl es h e ,
had robb ed him of by fi r e and water To mak e him still .

26 THE C L O ISTER AN D TH E H EARTH
b ended knee gol den trou ghs of ro sewater and o range -water
to k eep th e gu es ts hands co ol and p erfumed
’
.
But long b efore our p arty arrived a t this fi n al s ta ge

app etite had succu m b ed and Gerard had sudde n ly r e , .
m emb ered h e was th e b earer of a l etter to th e Princess Mari e ,
and in an undertone h ad asked o ne of th e s ervants if h e

, ,
wo ul d und ertak e to deliver i t Th e m an to o k it with a de ep .
ob eisan ce : H e co ul d not del iver it himself b ut wo ul d ,
instantly give it on e of th e Pr i nces s s suite s ever al of whom ’
,
”
were ab out .
It may b e rem emb ered that P eter an d Margaret came

here not to din e b ut to fi n d th e i r cou sin
, Well th e ol d .
,
gentleman ate h eartily and b e i n g mu ch fati gu ed dropp ed

, ,
asl eep and forgo t al l ab o ut his cou sin

, Margaret di d not .
remind h im ; we shall b ear why .
Meantime that cou sin was seated within a few feet of

,
th em at their b acks and dis covered th em when M arg aret

, ,
turned round and s cream ed at th e b o ar B ut h e forb ore .
to sp eak to them for municip al reasons , Marg a ret w a s .
very pl ai nl y dr ess ed a n d Peter inclined to threa db are

‘
, .
S o th e al derman said to h i ms elf :

Twill b e tim e to m a ke up to th em w h en the s u n sets
’
and the comp any disp ers es : then I wil l tak e my p o or .
”
relat i ons to m y house a n d n on e will b e th e wiser
'
.
,
Half t h e c ours es were lo st o n Gerard and M a rgaret , .
Th ey were no great eaters and j ust now were fee d i ng on ,
sweet thou ghts that h ave ever b een unfavourab l e to app eti te .
But th ere i s a deli cate kind of s ensual ity to who se infl uence ,
these two were p erhap s more s ensitive than any oth er p ai r

in that assembly— the delights of colour mu sic and p erfume , , ,
all of which bl end ed s o fascinatin gly here .
Margar et l eaned b ack and half clo sed h er eyes a n d ,
murmured to Gerar d Wh at a lovely s cene ! th e warm

sun the green shade th e rich dresses th e bright mu sic of th e
, , ,
lut es and th e co ol mu sic of th e fountain and all face s s o ,
happy and gay ! and th en it is to y ou we ow e it ,
Ger a rd was sil ent al l b ut his eyes ; ob servi ng which

”
Now sp eak not to m e
, said M a rgaret l an gui dly ; ,
let m e li sten to t h e fountain : what are y ou a comp et ito r

for ?
H e tol d h er .
V ery well ! You will g a i n on e priz e at l east , .
W h ich ? which ? have you se en any of my work ?

”
I ? no But you wil l gain a priz e
. .
I hop e s o ; b ut what mak es you think 5 0 ?

”
B ecaus e you were s o go o d to my fath er .
Gerard sm i l ed at th e feminine l o gi c and hung h i s h ead at ,
the sweet pr a ise and was s i l ent , .

Sp eak n ot murm u red Margaret Th ey s a y thi s ,

.
i s a worl d of sin a n d misery Can that b e ? Wh at i s your .
O p inio n ?
N o ! that i s al l a silly ol d s ong expl aine d G erard , .
T i s a byword ou r el d er s k eep rep eating out of cu stom '
,
”
it i s no t tru e .
How can y ou know ? You are bu t a c hil d said ,
Margaret with p ensive dignity

‘
.
,
Wh y o nl y l o ok ro u n d ! A n d th en I thou ght I ha d l o st
,
'
you f or ever ; and y ou are by my sid e ; and now th e minstrel s

S in and misery ? S t u fi a n d n on
'
are go in g to play a gain

'
s ense l 1
T h e lutes b urst ou t Th e cou r t yar d ran g a gain with .
their delicate harm o ny
Wh at do you admire m o st
”
of al l th es e b eautiful things ,
Gerard ?
You know my nam e ? How i s th at ?
”
Whit e magic I a m a witch .
1
.
’
An gel s are n ever wi tche s Bu t I can t think how .
you
Fo olish b oy ! wa s it not cried a t th e ga t e l ou d enou gh .
'
to d eav e on e ?
S e it w a s
. Wh ere i s my hea d ? What d o I a d m l r e .
m o st ? : If yo u will s i t a i littl e m ore that way I l l i tell

.
1
,
’
y ou 1
Thi s way ?
s o that th e li ght m a y fall on you Th ere ! I -'
.
s ee ma ny fair thin gs h ere fairer th an I coul d have c on

'
c ei v e d ; b ut th e fairest of all to my eye is your l ovely hair

'
.
, ,
in i t s s il v en f r a m e and th e settin g s u n k i s s i n g i t It mind s

'
, .
m e of wh a t th e V ul gate p r a i s es i f or b eauty a n a p p l e of g ol d
'
,
'
i n a n et wor k of s i l ver
’
an d oh wh at a p ity I did not k now , ,
you b efore I sent in m y p o o r end eavo urs a t il l u m i n a t i n g l .
I coul d illuminate s o mu ch b etter n ow I coul d do every . .
thin g b etter T h er e n ow t h e s u n i s full on i t it i s l ike an

‘
s
.
, ,
aureol e n S o ou r L ady lo ok ed a n d n on e -since h er until 1 0

‘ ‘
d ay 1
Oh fi e ! it i s wick e d to talk s e
, C omp are a p o or . .
co ars e favoured girl l ik e m e with th e Q u een of Heaven ? Oh

-
,
G er a r d t I t h ou gh t y ou were a go o d y oi mg -m a n fi An d
'
'
’ '
1
.
M a rgaret wa s sho cked app arently .
Gerard trie d to expl ain I a m no wors e tha n th e re st ; .
b u t h ow can I h elp having eyes and a hear t— Ma r g a r et l ,
Gerard ! 1
B e not an gry now !

N ow i s it lik ely ? ,
I l ov e y o u .
28 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
Oh f or sham e ! you mu st no t s a y th at to m e
, and ,
Margaret coloure d furio usly at this su dd en assault .
”
I can t help i t I love you
’
I l ove you . . .
’
Hush hu sh ! for p ity s s ak e ! I mu st no t l isten to such
,
words from a stranger I a m un grateful to call you a .
stran ger O h how o n e m ay b e mistaken ! I f I h ad known

.
,
’
you were s o b ol d An d M a rgaret s b o som b egan to
heave and her cheeks were co vere d with blush es and s h e
, ,
lo oked towards her sl eep ing father very mu ch l ik e a timid ,
thing that m editates actu al fli ght .
Th en Gerard was fri ghtened at th e al arm h e cau sed .
”
Forgive m e said h e impl oringly , How co ul d any o n e .
h elp loving you ?

, ,
—
Well s i r I will tr y and forgive yo u yo u are s o go o d in
o ther resp ects ; b ut then yo u mu st promi s e m e n ever to s a y
—
you to s a y th a t a gain ”
.
’
Give m e yo ur h an d th en or y ou do n t forgive ,
She hesitated ; b ut eventu al ly put out h er h and a very

l ittl e way very sl owly and with seeming relu ctance
, He , .
to ok i t and hel d it priso ner

, Wh en s h e th ou ght it had b een .
there lon g enou gh s h e trie d gently to draw it away , He .
hel d it tight : it submitted quite p atiently to fo rce Wh at .
i s th e u se resisting force ? Sh e turned her head away an d ,
her l ong eyelashes dro op ed sweetly Gerard l o st nothing b y .
h i s promis e Word s were not h eed ed h ere ; an d sil ence w a s

.
more el o qu ent N ature wa s in that day wh at sh e i s in ours

.
but m anners were s om ewhat freer Then a s now virgins .

, ,
drew b ack al arm e d at th e fi r s t words of l ove b ut of p ru dery

and ar t i fi ci al co qu etry th ere was littl e and th e young so o n ,
’ ’
rea d on e another s hearts Everythin g was o n Gerar d s .
side his go o d l o oks her b elief in his go o dness her gratitu de ;

, , ,
and opp ortunity : for at th e D uk e s b anqu et this m ell ow ’
summer eve all things disp o sed th e fem al e nature to tender

,
ness : the avenu es to th e heart l ay O p en ; the s ense s were s o

s oothe d and sub due d with l ovely col ours gentl e sounds , ,
and delicate o dours ; th e s u n gently sinking th e warm

‘
air , the green canopy th e co ol mu sic of th e n ow viol et ,
founta i n .
Gerard and Margaret s a t hand in hand in s il ence ; and

Gerard s eye s sou ght h ers l ovingly ; and h ers n ow an d then
’
turne d on him timidly an d imploringly ; and presently two

sweet unreasonabl e tears rolle d down h er cheeks and she ,
smil ed deliciously whil e they were drying : yet th ey did no t

t ak e l on g .
And th e sun d eclin ed ; and the air co ol ed ; a nd the

THE C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH 29
'
fountain pl ashe d m ore gently ; a n d th e p air throbb ed in

uniso n an d sil ence an d this weary worl d lo ok e d heaven t o
,
th em .
Oh , t h e m er -r y d a y s , t h e m er -r y d a y s wh en w e wer e y oun g .
-
9
Oh , t h e m er -r y d a y s , t h e m er -r y d ay s wh en we w er e
y oun g .
C HAPTER III
A G R AV E white haire d senes chal cam e to th eir tabl e

-
, and
inquire d cou rteou sly wh ether Gerard E l i a s s oe n w a s of th eir
U p o n Ger ard s answer h e said :
’
comp any .
,
The Princess Mari e woul d confer with you youn g S l I ,

‘
I a m to con du ct yo u to h er p res ence ”

.
Instantly all faces within h e a ring turn e d sharp round ,
and were b ent with curio sity and envy on the m an that wa s
to g o to a princes s .
G erard ro s e to ob ey .
I wager we shal l not s ee you a gain sai d Margaret ,
calmly b ut col o u rin g a littl e

, .
”
f That will y ou
‘
w a s th e reply : th en h e whisp ered in
,
her ear” : This i s my go o d p rinces s ; b ut you are my

qu e en . H e a dde d al o u d Wait for m e I pray you I , ,
will p resently return .
Ay ay l , said P eter awaking and sp eaking at on e an d

,
t h e s a m e m om ent .
G erard gon e t h e p a i r wh o s e dress w a s s o hom ely y et

, ,
,
th ey were with t h e man whom th e Prince ss sent for b ecam e ,

”
th e cyno sure of neighb ouring eye s ob s erving which ,
William J oh n s on came forward acte d surp ri s e and cl aime d , ,

h i s rel ations .
And to thin k that there w a s I at your b ack s an d you ,

s a w m e not !
“
N ay cou sin Johnson I s a w you lo ng syne
, , ,
Margaret col dly .
You s a w m e an d S p ok e not t o m e ?
,
C ou sin it was for you t o wel come u s to R otterd am

,
,
a s it i s f or u s to wel com e
y ou at S evenb ergen Yo ur ser vant .
d em e d u s a s eat in your hou se .
Th e idiot !
30 THE C L O ISTER A ND THE HEARTH
An d
I h ad a min d to s ee wheth er it wa s lik e maid
lik e master f or th ere i s so o th i n byw ords .
Will iam John son blushed pu rpl e H e s a w M argaret .
wa s keen and su sp ecte d him

,
H e di d th e wi sest thin g und er .
th e c i rcum stances tru ste d to d eeds n ot word s , H e in .
sisted o n their comin g hom e wi th him at on ce and h e wo ul d ,
s h ow t h em whether th ey were wel c om e to R otter d am or

n ot .
Wh o doubt s i t co s in
u ? Wh o d oub ts i t ? s aid t h e
, .
scholar .
Margaret thank e d him graciou sly but d emurre d t o g o ,
j u st now : said sh e wanted t o h ear th e minstrel s a gain .
In ab out a quarter of an hour J oh n s on ren ewed his p rop o sal ,
an d b ade her ob serve th at m any of th e guests had l eft .
Then h er real reaso n cam e ou t ,

It were ill mann ers to ou r fr i end ; and h e wil l lo s e u s ‘
H e knows not wh ere w e l o dge in R otterd am an d th e city is ,
l arge and we have p arte d comp any once already

, .
Oh ! said Johnson w e wil l p ro vi d e for that ,My .
youn g m an a h em l I m ean my s ecretary shal l s i t h ere and

, ,
wai t and bring him on to my h ou s e : h e shall l o d ge with m e

,
”
and with n o other .
C ou sin we shall b e t oo burden som e “

,
Nay nay ; you sh al l s ee whether you are wel com e or

,
’
’
not you an d your friends an d your friends fri ends if n e ed
, , ,
b e ; an d I shall h ear wh at th e Princes s woul d w ith him .
Margaret felt a thrill of j oy that Gerard shoul d b e l o d ge d

u nd er th e sam e ro o t with her ; then sh e had a sl ight mis
givin g .But if your youn g m an shou l d b e th ou ghtless ,
an d g o play and Gerard m i s s him ? ,
H e g o pl ay ? H e l eave that sp ot whe r e I put him an d ,
b id him stay ? H o ! stan d forth Han s Cl ot er m a n , .
A fi gu r e cla d in bl ack serge and dark vi o l et h os e aro se ,
an d to ok two step s an d sto o d b efore th em without m ovin g

a mu scl e : a solemn precise youn g m an th e very statu e , ,
of gr avity an d starch ed propriety A t his asp ect Margaret , .
b ein g very happy coul d hardly k eep her countena nc e ,
Bu t s h e whisp ered Jo h n son I woul d pu t my han d l n th e fi r e ,
for him W e are at your comm and cou s i n a s so on a s y ou

.
, ,
h ave given him his orders .
Hans wa s then instructe d to s i t at th e tabl e an d wait for

Gerard and conduct him to O o ster Waagen S t r ae t
,
He -
.
repl ied not in words but by calmly takin g th e seat i n

, ,
’
d i c a t e d an d Margaret P eter and William John son went

, , ,
away to gether .
And indeed it i s tim e you were ab ed father a ft er a ll

, , , ,
'
your travel said Margaret ,

This had b e en i n her mind all .
al on g .
TH E C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH
‘
31
Hans m
Cl ot er a n s a t waiting for Gerard , sol emn and
b u s i n es s i l i k e T h e minutes fl ew b y , but excited no i m p a t i
.
ence i n 3t h at p erf ect yo ung m an J oh n s on did h i m n 0 m or e

‘
.
' 1
than j u s t i c e wh en h e l au gh ed to s corn th e i dea of his s ecre

tary l e a vin g -h i s p o st or n egl ecting his duty in p ursuit of
s p ort or o ut of youthful hil arity and frivolity .
As Gerard was l ong in coming , the p ati ent Hans—éh i s

e m pl oyer 3 eye b eing no l onger o n
’
improve d th e tim e him —
b y q u a ffi n g sol emnly sil ent ly and at sho rt b ut accurately , ,
m easured in t erv al s gobl ets of C orsican wine Th e wine , .
w a s s tro ng so was Cl ot er m a n 3 h ead ; and Gerard had b een

’
gone a go o d h our ere th e m o d el s ecretary imb ib ed t h e n o tio n

th at C reation exp ected Cl ot er m a n to drink th e h ealth of al l
' '
go o d fel l ows and n omm em en l oi th e D uke of Burgundy

,
.
there present With this View b e fi l l e d b ump er n i ne and ,
ro se gingerly b ut sol e mnly an d sl owly Having reach ed h i s .
full h eigh t h e instantly roll e d u p o n th e grass gobl et in

, ,
h and spil l ing the col d liquo r oh more than on e ankl e

’
who se owners frisk e d— but no t disturb ing a muscl e in his own

'
Ici ng face ; which ; in th e to t al eclip s e of reason retaine d i t s ,
gravity p rimnes s a n d inf al lib il ity

‘
-
.
, ,
Th sene sch al l ed G erard throu gh s ever al p assages to t h e

e
do or of the p a vi l ion wh ere som e young n obl em en ern
‘
, ,
b ro i dere d and feath ered s a t s entinel guardin g th e heir , ,
app arent and playin g cards b y th e re d l i ght of torch es

,
th eir servants hel d A whisp er fro m th e s enesch al and on e .

’
of th em ro s e relu ctantly stared a t Gerard with h au ghty

'
,
'
surprise and e ntered the p avilio n

, H e p resently returned .
,
and b ecko ning th e p air 1 e d th em throu gh a p assa ge er t wo

, ,
and l anded th em in an ante chamb er wh ei e s a t thre e m ore ,
youn g gentl emen feathe red furred and embro i dered , , ,
l ik e p ieces of fancy -Work and d eep in that instructive a n d ,
e difyin g b r anch of l e a 1 n 1 n g dice , .
Y ou c a n t s ee — ’
th e Prince ss i t is to o l ate said o ne , .
Anb t h er foll owe d suit :

Sh e p ass ed this way b ut n ew with her nurs e Sh e l s ‘
D eu ce a ee a gain !
.
’
t o b ed doll and all

'
’
g on e -
.
,
Gerard p rep ared to retire Th e s eneschal with an .

,
incredulou s smil e replie d : ,
Th e young m an i s h ere b y th e Countess s o rders ; b e s o ’
”
go o d a s condu ct him to h er l adies .
Ou this a sup erb Ado nis ro se with an inj ured l o ok ,
and l e d Gerard int o a ro o m where s a t o r loll op ed el everi

,
'
'
l adies chattering like m a gp ies

, Two more indu striou s than .
,
the rest W er e pl aying cat s cr adl e wi th fi n g er s aS n i m b l e ’

'
'
'
a s their to ngues A t t h e sight of a Stranger al l t h e t on g h es

'
1 1
.
st e pp ed like on e p iece of complicated m achinery and all th e ,

32 T HE C L O ISTER AN D THE HE ARTH
e yes turne d o n Gerard as if th e same strin g that checke d ,
th e tongues had turne d the eye s on Gerar d w a s 1 1 1 at ea se .
b efore but this b attery o f eyes discountenanced him and

, ,
down went h i s eye s on the gro und Then th e coward s .
fi n d i n g l ik e th e h are who ran by th e p o nd and th e fro gs

,
scuttl ed into th e water that th ere was a creature they coul d ,
frighten giggl ed and enj oye d their prowes s

, Then a .
duenna said s everely M es d a m e s l and ,th ey were a ll

ab ashed at once a s thou gh a mo desty string ha d b een p ul l ed .
Thi s s am e du enna to ok Gerard and m a rche d b efore h im in ,
sol emn s i lence Th e young m an s h e a rt s ank and h e ha d

.
’
h alf a min d to turn an d run ou t of th e pl ace What mu st .
princes b e h e thou ght , wh en their courtiers ar e s o f r eez

,
in g ? D oubtl ess they tak e their breedin g fro m him th ey

s erve . These r efl ect i on s were interrupted by th e duenna
su ddenly intro duc in g him i nto a ro om wh ere thre e ladies
s a t workin g and a pretty littl e g i rl tunin g a lute
, Th e .
l adies were richly b ut not showil y dre sse d and the duenna ,
went up to th e one who was h emmin g a kerchief and s ai d a ,
few words in a low to ne This l ady th en turned tow ard s .
Gerard with a smil e and b ecko ne d h i m to com e near h er

, .
She did not rise b ut sh e l aid asi de h er work and her manner
, ,
of turnin g towards him slight as th e m ovement was w a s , ,
ful l of gra ce an d e ase and courtesy Sh e b e gan a conversa .
tio n at o nce .
Marg a ret V an Eyck i s an ol d friend of mine s i r and I , ,
a m right gl ad to have a l etter from her hand and thankful ,
t o you s i r for bringing it to m e s afely

, ,
Marie my love .
, ,
thi s is th e youn g gentl eman who b rou ght you that p retty
miniature .
S ir I thank you a thousan d time s said th e young lady

, , .
I am gl ad you feel her debto r swe eth eart for our ; ,

”
friend wo ul d have u s to d o him a l ittl e ser vice in return .
I wil l do anythin g on earth for h i m replied th e young ,
l ady with ardour .
Anything on earth i s nothing in th e worl d said th e ,

'
C ountes s of Ch a r ol oi s qu ietly .
Well then I will,

Wh at woul d you have m e to do
, ,
Gerard ha d j ust found ou t what hi gh so ciety h e was i n .
”
My sovereign d emoisell e said h e gently and a littl e , ,
tremul ously wh ere there have b een no p ains th ere needs

, ,
no rewar d .
But we must ob ey mamma All the wo rl d mu st o b ey .
mamma .
That is tru e Th en ou r demoisell e reward m e if yo u

.
, , ,
w i ll b y l etting m e h ear th e stave you were going to sin g a n d

,
”
I did interr upt i t .
34 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H
o nl y a lector ; but n ext month I sh al l b e an exorcist and ,
”
b efore l o ng an acolyth .
Well Monsieur Gerard w1 t h y our accomplishm ents

, ,
y ou can so on p ass throu gh th e inferior orders And let m e .
b eg y ou to do s o F or the day after you have sai d your

.
fi r s t mass I sh a ll have t h e pl easure of app o inting you to a

”
b e n efi ce .
Oh madam ! ,
And Marie rem emb er I mak e this promis e in yo ur

, ,
name as well as my own .

’
Fear not m amma : I will not forget

,
But if he will .
tak e my advice what h e wil l b e i s B i shop of Li ege

, Th e .
Bishop of Li ege i s a b eaut i fu l b ishop Wh at ! do you not .
rememb er h im mamma th at d a y we were at Li ege ? h e was

, ,
b raver than grandp ap a h i rri s el i H e h ad on a crown a .

’
,
high on e and it was cut in th e middl e and it w a s full of oh !

, ,
such b eaut i ful j ewel s ; and hi s gown sti ff with gol d ; and h i s
mantl e to o ; and it had a b ro ad b ord er al l p ictures ; b ut
, , ,
ab ove al l his gl oves ; you have no su ch gl oves m amm a

'
.
, ,
They were emb roidered and covered with j ewel s and ,
scented with such lovely scent ; I sm elt th em all the tim e

h e was giv i n g m e his bl essing on my h ead with them D ear .
ol d m an ! I dare say h e will die so on— mo st ol d p eopl e

d o— and th en s i r you can b e b ishop yo u know and
, , , ,
wear
Gently Marie gently : b ishopr i cs a r e fo r ol d gentl e
, ,
”
men ; and this IS a young gentl eman .
Ma mma l h e i s not s o very young .
Not comp are d with you Mari e ; eh ?

H e is a go o d b igth dear mamma ; and I a m s ure h e 1 8
,
'
,
”
g ood en ou gh for a b ishop .
Alas ! m ad emo isell e y ou are mistak en ,

.
I kno w not that Monsieur Ger a rd ; b ut I a m a littl e ,
puzzl ed to know 0 1 1 what ground s mademois ell e there

”
p ro nounce s your character s o b ol d ly
Al a s ! mamma
.
“ ” '
s a i d t h e Princess y ou h a ve n ot
'
t
, ,
l ooked at his face then ; and s h e raised her eyeb rows at

,
h er m other s simplicity
’
.
I b e g your p ardo n said th e C ountess

'
I have Well , ,
1
.
,
sir if I cannot go quite s o fa st as my dau ghter attr i bute it

, ,
to my age not to a want of i n t er es t i n your welf are A

'
.
,
b ene fi ce wi l l do to b e gin yo u r car eer with ; an d I mu st tak e

care it is not to o far from — what call y d u th e place ? ‘
“ ”
Ter g ou madam , .
A priest gives up much continued th e Cou nte ss ; ,
often I fear h e l earns to o late how mu ch ;

, ,
and h er
woman s eye rested a m oment on Gerard with m ild p ity and
’
half surp ris e at his resigning her s ex a nd all the h eaven they
c anb es to w ; an d t h e great p arental j oys : at l east y ou sh al l

b e near y our friend s Have yo u a mother ? .
Yes m adam thank s b e to Go d !

, , 1
Go o d ! Yo u sh all hav e a church near T er gou Sh e .
will th ank m e And n ow s i r we mu st no t detain y ou t oo

.
, ,
lo n g from tho s e who have a b ett er claim o n your so ciety

than we have D uch ess oblige m e by b idding on e of th e
.
,
p a ges co ndu ct him to the h al l of b anquet ; the way i s hard

to fi n d .
Ger a rd b owed l ow to th e C ounte ss and th e Princes s .

,
and b acked towards th e d o o r .
I hop e it wil l b e a n i ce b en efi ce said th e Princess to ,
him with a pretty smil e as h e w a s goin g out ; then sh akin g

, , , ,
her hea d with an air of sol emn misgiving but you had ,
”
b etter have b een Bishop of Li ege .
Gerard foll owe d h i s new co ndu ctor h i s heart warm w ith ,
gratitu de ; b ut ere h e reache d the b anq u et hall a chill cam e -
o ver him Th e mind of on e who h a s l ed a quiet uneventful

.
,
life is n ot ap t to t ak e in co ntradicto ry feelings at th e sam e

m om ent and b al an ce them b ut rather to b e ove r p owered ,
by each i n turn Whil e Gerard w a s w i th th e Countes s

. .
,
t h e excitem ent of s o n ew a situ ation th e unlo ok ed for ,

-
promis e the j oy and prid e it woul d cau se at hom e p o ssessed

, ,
h i m wholly ; b ut now it was p assio n s turn t o b e heard again

’
.
What ! give up Margaret wh o s e soft hand he still felt in his , ,
and her d eep eyes in his heart ? resi gn her and all th e worl d
of l ove and j oy s h e had op ened o n him t o day ? The ‘
-
f
r evu l s i on when it did com e was s o stro ng that he hasti ly
, ,
resolved to s a y no thin g at hom e ab out th e o ff ere d b en efi c e .
Th e C ountes s i s s o go o d thou ght h e

”
s h e ha s a hundr ed , ,
’
ways of aiding a young m an s fortune : sh e will not comp el
m e to b e a priest wh en s h e sh al l l earn I l ove on e of h er s ex :
on e woul d a lmo st think s h e do es know i t f or s h e c a s t a
’
strange lo ok on m e and said A priest gives up mu ch t oo , , ,

”
mu ch I dare s a y s h e wil l give m e a place ab out the p al ace
.
’
.
And w i t h t h i s hop eful r efl ect i on his mind was eas ed and

'
, ,
b eing now at th e entrance of th e b anqu eting hall he thank ed -

,
h i s conductor and ran hastily with j oyful eye s to Margaret

, .
H e cam e in sight of th e tabl e— she was gone P eter was .
gon e t oo Nob o dy was at the tabl e at all ; o nl y a citiz en

.
in sob er garments had j u st tumble d under it d ead drunk ,
and s everal p ersons were raising him to carry him away /

.
Ge rard n ever gu essed how imp ortant this sol emn drunk ard
”
wa s t o him : he w a s l o oking fo r B eauty and l et th e ,
B east lie H e ran wil dl y round the hall which w a s n ow

.
,
comp aratively empty S h e was not there H e l eft th e .
pal ace : outs ide he found a crowd gaping at two great fan
lights j ust lighted over the gate H e asked them e arn estly .
if they had seen an ol d man in a gown an d a l ovely girl ,
p ass ou t Th ey l au gh e d at th e qu estion
. Th ey were .
staring at th ese new lights that turn night into day They .
didn t troubl e their h eads ab out ol d men and youn g wenches

’
,
”
every -day sights From another group h e l earn ed there
.
wa s a Mystery b eing pl aye d under canvas h ard b y an d all ,
th e worl d gone to s e e i t This revi ve d his h op es an d h e .

,
went and s a w th e Mystery In this representation divin e .
p ersonages to o sacred for m e to nam e here cam e clums ily

, ,
do wn from heaven to tal k sop h istry with th e cardin al

V irtu es th e nine Mu ses an d the seven deadly S ins all
, , ,
present in human sh ap e and not unl i k e on e another To , .
enliven which weary stu ff in rattl ed th e Prince of th e p ower

of th e air an d an imp that k ep t mol estin g him and b u fi et i n g
,
him with a bl adder at each thwack of which th e crowd were ,
in ecstasies Wh en th e V ices ha d uttered go o d store of

'
ob scenity an d th e V irtues twaddl e th e cel estial s inclu din g , ,
the nine Muses went gingerly b ack to heaven on e b y on e ;

,
for there was but on e clou d ; an d two a r tisans worke d it

up with its sup ernatural frei ght an d worked it do w n with ,
a winch in full sight of th e au dience

, Th ese disp o sed oi .
,
th e b ottoml ess p it O p ened and fl a m e d in th e centre of th e

stage ; th e carp enters and V irtu es shove d th e V ices i n and ,
th e V irtu es and B eelz ebub and his torm entor danced merrily
round th e pl ace of etern al torture to th e fi f e a n d tab o r .
This entertainment was writ by th e B ish op of Gh ent for

th e diff usio n of rel igiou s sentim ent by th e ai d of th e senses ,
and wa s an average sp ecimen of th eatrical exh i b ition s so

lo ng as they were in th e h ands of th e clergy But in course .
,
of t i me th e l aity condu cte d plays and s o th e theatre I

, , ,
l earn from the pulp it has b ecom e profane , .
M argaret was nowhere in th e crowd and Gerard could ,
not enj oy th e p erform ance ; h e actu ally went away in Act 2 ,
in th e midst of a much admired p iece of dial o gu e in which -

,
Ju stice ou t qu i b bl ed S atan -
H e walked throu gh many .
streets b ut coul d not fi n d h er he sou ght A t last fa i rly

, .
,
worn ou t h e went to a ho stelry an d sl ept till daybreak

, .
All that day heavy and heartsick h e sou ght her but coul d
, , ,
never fall in with her or her father nor ever obtain th e ,
slightest cl u e Then h e felt s h e wa s fal se or had change d

.
her mind H e wa s irritated now a s well as s a d

. More , .
go o d fortun e fell on him ; h e almo st hated i t A t last on .

,
the third day after h e h ad once m ore b een throu gh every

,
street h e said
, Sh e is not in th e town an d I shall n ever s e e
, ,
”
her a gain I will g o hom e
. H e start e d for T er g ou with .
royal favour promised with fi f t een gol den angel s in hi s ,
purse a golden m edal on his b o som and a heart like a lump

, ,
of l ea d .
TH E C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH 37
C HA P TER IV
I T wa s ea r fou r o cl o ck in th e afterno on
n
’
Eli was in th e .
shop H i s el dest and youn gest so ns were ab ro ad Cath erine

. .
a n d her littl e crippl ed d au ghter had l o ng b een anxiou s ab out

Gerard an d now th ey were go n e a l ittl e way down th e ro ad
, ,
t o s ee if by go o d lu ck h e might b e visibl e in th e distance ;

a n d Gil es w a s al o ne in th e sittin g -ro om which I will sketch , ,
furniture and dwarf inclu ded .
Th e Holl and ers were always an original and l eadin g

p eopl e Th ey claim to h ave invented p rinting ( wo o den
.
il
typ e ) o p ainting lib erty b ankin g gardening etc
,
-
, Ab o ve , , , .
all years b efore my tal e th ey invented cl eanliness

, So , .
,
whil e th e English gentry in velvet j erkins and chicken to ed ,

-
s ho es tro d e flo ors of stal e ru sh es foul receptacl e o f b o nes

, , ,
decomp o sin g mors els sp ittl e d o gs e ggs and all ab omina , , , ,
tio ns this ho sier s s ittin g -ro om at T er g ou w a s fl oor ed with

,
’
D utch til es s o highly glaz ed an d constantly washe d that

, ,
you coul d eat off them There w a s o n e l arge window ; th e .
cro s s sto ne work in th e centre of it w a s very ma ssive and

-
,
sto o d in relief lo okin g lik e an a ctu al cro ss to th e inmates

,
'
and wa s eyed as such in th eir d evotio ns Th e p an es w ere .
very small and l oz enge shap ed an d sol dered to on e ano th er -

,
with strip s of lead : th e lik e you may see to this day in ou r

rural cottages The ch airs were ru de an d p rimitive all bu t
.
,
th e arm -ch air who s e b ack at right angl e s with i t s s eat

, , ,
wa s s o high that th e sitter s h ead stopp e d two feet sh ort o f

’
th e top This ch air was of o ak and carve d at th e summit

.
, .
There wa s a copp er p ail that went in at the waist holding , ,
holy water and a l ittl e h and b esom to sprinkl e it far an d

,
-
wide ; an d a lon g narrow but m assive o ak tabl e and a , , ,
dwarf stickin g to its rim by his teeth h i s eye s glaring an d , ,
h i s cl aws in th e air lik e a p ouncin g vampire Nature it .

,
woul d seem did n ot m ak e Gil e s a dwarf o ut of m alice

,
p rep ense ; s h e constru cte d a h ea d and torso with her u su al

care ; b ut j u st then her attention wa s distra cted an d s h e ,
l eft th e rest to chance ; th e result was a human wed ge an ,
inverted cone H e might j u stly have taken her to ta sk

.
in th e term s o f Horace
Am phora c oepi t
I ns t 1 tu1 cu r r en t e r ot a c u r u r c e u s e xi t
H iscentre was anythin g b ut his ce ntre of gravity Bisected .

,
upp er Gil es woul d h ave outweigh e d three l ower Gil es But .
this very disprop ortion enabl ed him to d o feats that woul d

have b a ffl e d Mil o Hi s b rawny arm s h ad no weight to draw
.
after them ; so h e coul d g o up a vertical p ol e like a squirrel ,
and han g f or hours from a b ou gh by on e ha nd l i ke a ch erry

by i t s stalk If h e coul d have mad e a vacuum with hi s
.
hands a s th e liz ard i s s aid to do with i t s feet h e woul d

, ,
have gon e al on g a ceiling Now th i s p o ck et ath l ete w a s .

,
-
insanely fond of gripp in g th e dinner tabl e wi th b oth hands -

,
and s o swin ging ; an d then— clim ax of d elight ! h e woul d

seiz e it with his teeth an d t a ki ng 0 11 h i s hand s hold on , , ,
like grim death by his hu ge ivories .
But al l ou r j oys how ever el evating s u fi er interruption

, , .
Littl e Kate cau ght S a m p s on et in this po sture and st oo d ,
a ghast Sh e was h er m other s dau ghter an d her h eart w a s

.
’
,
with th e f u rniture n ot with th e 1 2 m o gym nast , .
Oh Gil es ! h ow can you ? Moth er i s at han d It

, .
dents th e tabl e .
Go and tell h er littl e tal e -b e arer snarl ed Gil es

, , .
”
Yo u are th e on e for m aking mis chief .
Am I ? inquire d Kate cal ml y ; th at i s n ews t o m e a .
The b iggest in T er g ou growl e d G i l e s f a s t en i n g b n , ,
a gain .
Oh ind eed ! s aid Kate drily

, .
Th i s p ie ce of unwo nte d s atire l aun che d an d Gil e s n o t ,
visibly bl asted s h e s a t down quietly an d c r i ed

, .
Her m other cam e in al m o st at that m om ent a n d Gil es ,
hurl ed h i m self u nd er th e t abl e and th ere gl are d , .
Wh at is to do now ? s aid the dam e sha r ply Th en .
turnin g her exp erience d eye s from Kate to Gil es an d oh ,
s erving th e p o sition he had tak en u p and a sh eepish ex ,
p ression s h e hinte d at cu ffing of ears

,
-
”
Nay mother said th e gi r l ;
, it w a s b ut a fo ol ish
,
word Gil es sp ok e I had not notice d it at ano ther time ;

.
b ut I wa s tir ed and in care for G er a r d y ou know , ,

.
”
L et n o on e b e in car e for m e s aid a faint voice at th e ,
-
d o or an d in tottere d Gerard p al e dusty and worn ou t ;
, , , ,
and amidst uplifte d hands and crie s of d elight curio sity and , , ,
anxiety min gle d dropp ed exhau st ed into th e nearest chair

, .
B eatin g Rotterdam like a covert f or Mar gar et and the , , ,
l on g j ourney afterwards had fairly kno cke d G erard u p , .
But el astic youth so on revived and b ehol d him th e centre ,
of an eager circl e F irst of al l they mu st hear ab out th e

.
prizes . Then Gerard tol d them he had b een admitted

to s ee th e comp etitors works all l ai d ou t in an eno r mou s ’
hall b efore th e j ud ges p ronounced Oh m other ! oh .

, ,
Kate ! when I s a w th e gol dsmith s work I had liked to ’

,
have fal len on th e fl o or I th ou ght n ot all the gold smith s .
o n earth had s o mu ch gold s ilver j ewels an d craft of d e si gn , , ,

”
and facture But in so oth all th e arts are divi ne
.
, , .
TH E C L O I STER AN D TH E HEARTH 39
Then to pl e ase th e femal e s he descri b ed to th em th e

,
.
reliquaries f ereto ries calices cro siers cro sses pyxes m o n

'
, , , , , ,
s t r a n c es and other wo nders e c cl esiastical and th e gobl ets

, , ,
hanap s watches clo cks chains b ro o ch es etc so that

‘
.
, , , , , ,
their mouth s watered .
But K ate when I cam e to th e i lluminate d work fro m

, ,
Gh ent and Bru ges my heart sank Mine wa s di rt b y th e

, .
sid e of i t F or th e fi r s t minute I coul d al mo st have cried ;

.
but I p raye d for a b etter sp irit and pre sently I was abl e to ,
enj oy th em and th ank Go d for tho s e l ovely works an d

, ,
f or tho s e sk il ful p atient craftsm en whom I own my masters, , .
W ell th e coloured work wa s so b ea u t i f u l I forgot all ab out

‘
th e black and white But next day wh en all th e oth er .

,
p riz es had b een given th ey cam e to th e writing an d who s e , ,
nam e think yo u wa s call e d fi r s t ?

Yours said Kate , .
Th e oth ers l au gh ed h er to scorn .
Yo u m ay well l au gh said Gerard but for all that , , ,
Gerard E l i a s s oen of T er g ou wa s th e nam e th e h er al d sh outed .
I sto o d stup id ; th ey thrust m e fo rward Everythin g .
swam b efore my eyes I found mys elf kneeling on a cu shio n .
at th e feet of th e D uke
'
H e said som ething to m e b ut I .
,
w as s o fl u t t er e d I coul d no t answer him S o th en h e p ut .
h i s han d to his sid e and did no t draw a gl aive and cut off ,
my dull h ead b ut gave m e a gol d m ed al and t h er e i t i s

, , .
1
There wa s a yell and alm o st a scrambl e A nd th en h e .
gave m e fi f t e en gr eat b right gol den angel s I had s e en on e .
”
b efore b ut I never handle d o ne
, H ere th ey are . .
Oh Gerard ! oh G erar d !
, ,
Th ere i s on e for you ou r el dest ; and one for you , ,
S y b r a n d t a n d for you Littl e Mis chief ; and two for th ee Littl e

'
, , ,
Lily b ecau se Go d hath a ffl i ct e d th ee ; and on e for my s elf

,
'
to b uy col ours and vellum ; an d nine for h er that nurs ed u s

’ ‘
a l l and riske d th e two crowns up o n p o or Gerard s h and

’
, .
Th e gol d drew ou t their characters C ornelis and .
Sy b r a n d t clutch ed eac h h i s co in with on e glare of greedines s

an d anoth er glar e o f en vy at K ate who ha d got two p ie ce s , .
Gil e s seiz ed h i s an d roll e d it al o ng th e flo or an d gamb oll ed

after i t Kate p ut down h er crutch es an d s a t d own and
.
,
h el d ou t her littl e arm s to Gerard with a h eavenl y gesture

of l ove and tendern ess ; an d t h e m ot h er fairly b enumb e d / ,
at fi r s t b y th e sh ower of gol d that fell on her apro n now ,
cried ou t L eave kissin g him K ate ; h e i s my s on no t

, , ,
yours Ah Gerard ! rny b oy l I have not l ove d y ou a s

‘
.
,
you deserv ed .
Then Gerard threw himself on h i s knee s b esid e her _

,
and s h e fl u n g h er arm s round him an d wept for j oy and

pride up o n h i s neck .
G o o d l ad ! go o d l a d l cried th e ho sier with som e ,
emo tion . I mu st g o and tell th e n eighb ours Lend m e .
’
th e medal G erard ; I ll show it my go o d friend P eter
,
H uysk ens ; h e i s ever reg aling m e with h ow his s on Jo rian

wo n the tin mu g a sho oting at the b utts .
A y do my m an ; and show P eter B u y s k en s o ne of

, ,
th e angel s Tell him there are fo urte en mo re where that

.
cam e from Mind you b ring it m e b ack i

.
Stay a minute fath er ; th ere i s b etter n ews b ehind

, ,
s aid Gerard fl u s h i n g with j oy at th e j oy h e caused

, .
B etter ! b ett er than this !

Then Gerard tol d his interview with the C o untess a n d ,
the hou se rang with j oy .
Now G o d bl ess th e go o d lady and bl ess th e dam e

, ,
V an Eyc k ! A h en efi c e ? ou r s on ! My cares are at a n

end . Eli my go o d friend and m aster now we two can die
, ,
happy wh enever ou r tim e c o mes This d ear b oy will tak e .
o u r pl ace and no ne of thes e l oved o ne s will want a hom e or

,
”
a friend .
From th at hou r G erard wa s lo oked up on as th e stay of

th e family H e was a s on ap art but in ano th er sense
.
, .
H e w a s always in th e right and no thing to o go o d for him , .
C ornel is and S y b r a n d t b ecam e more and more j eal ou s of

h i m and l on ged for th e day h e sho ul d g o to h i s b en efi ce ;
,
th ey woul d get rid of th e favourite and h i s reverence s ,

’
purs e woul d b e O p en to them With th es e views h e c o .
O p erated Th e wound love h ad given him throb b e d dull er

.
an d dull er His succes s and th e a ffection and admiratio n

.
of his p arents mad e him think m ore highly of him self and ,
’
resent with more sp i rit Margaret s in gratitud e and d i s
co u rtesy . For all that s h e had p ower to co ol h im toward s
,
th e rest of h er s ex an d now for every rea so n h e wish ed t o

,
b e ordained priest a s so o n a s h e coul d p ass th e interm e d i at e

o rders . H e knew th e V ul gate al ready b etter than m o st
of the cl ergy and studied th e rubric and th e d o gmas of th e
,
Church with his friends th e m onks ; and the fi r s t time th e ,

”
b ishop cam e that way h e applied to b e admitted exorcist
, ,
th e third step in h oly orders Th e b ishop qu estioned him .

,
and ordained him at once H e had to kneel and after a

.
, ,
short prayer th e b ishop d elivered to him a littl e MS full

, .
of exorcism s an d said : , Take this Gerard and have , ,
p ower to lay hands o n th e po sse ssed wheth er b aptized or ,
ca t e ch u m en s l and h e to ok it reverently and went hom e ,
invested by the C hurch with p ower to cast out d emons .
R eturning hom e from th e church h e w a s m et by littl e ,
K ate on her crutches .
Oh Gerard ! who t hink you hath sent to ou r hou s e

, , ,
see k ing y ou ? — the burgomaster him self ”

.
Ay ,
at S evenb ergen .
Now this wa s what in m o dern days i s call e d a d raw

, .
It was a gu ess p ut b oldl y forth a s fact to elicit by th e young

, ,
man 5 answer wh ether h e h a d b een th ere lately or not

’
.
Th e resul t of th e a r t i fi c e su rprised th e c rafty on e .
G erard started up in a strange state of n ervou s excitement .
”
Burgomaster s ai d h e with tremb lin g voi ce ,I have , ,
not b een at S evenb ergen thes e thre e years and I know not ,
th e nam e of tho s e y ou s a w m e with nor wh ere th ey dwelt ; ,
b ut as my time is pre cio us thou gh you val u e it n ot give

, , ,
”
y ou go o d day And h e dart e d out with his eyes sp arkl ing
. .
G h y s b r ec h t started up in hu ge ire ; b ut h e sank into his

ch air a gain .
H e fears m e not H e knows som ething if not a l l .

, .
Then h e call e d hastily to his tru sty s ervant an d al mo st ,
dragged him to a window .
S ee you yo n m an ? h e cried Haste ! foll ow him ! .
But l et him not s ee you H e is youn g but ol d in craft .

, .
K e ep him in sight all day L et m e know whither he go es .

,
”
an d what h e do es
'
It wa s ni ght when th e servant returned .
Well ? well ? crie d V an S wi et en eagerly .
Master th e youn g man went f rom you to S even

,
.
”
b ergen .
Gh y s b r ech t gro aned .
To th e hou se of P eter th e Magician .
C HAPTER V I
L O O K into your own heart and write said Herr C ant ;
and earth s cu cko o s e cho e d t h e cry
’
Lo ok into the Rhine .
where it is deep est and th e Thames where it is thick est , ,
and p aint th e b ottom Lower a bu cket into a well of s elf .
deception and what comes up mu st b e immortal truth

, ,
’
mu stn t i t ? Now in th e fi r s t pl ace n o s on of Adam ever
, ,
read s his own heart at all excep t by the habit a cqu i red , ,
’
and the light gain ed from som e years p eru s al of other ,
hearts ; and even th en with his acquired sagacity and ,
refl ected light h e can but sp ell and decipher his ow n h e a r t

, , ,
not r ea d i t fl u en t l y Half way to S eve nb ergen Gerard

,
.
.
lo ok ed into hi s ow n h eart and asked it why he was going ,
to S evenb ergen His heart replied with out a moment s

.
’
hesitation We are goin g ou t of curio sity to know why s h e

,
j ilted u s and to show h er it has not b roken our he arts an d

, ,
THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H 43
that we are quit e co ntent with our ho nours and our b en efi c e

‘
”
i n p r os p ec t a and don t want h er nor any of h er fi c k l e sex
’
.
,
’
H e so o n foun d out P eter Brandt s cotta ge ; and there
’
'
s a t a girl in th e do orway plyin g h er ne edl e and a stalwart

'
, ,
fi gu r e leaned on a l b n g b ow and t a l k e d t o h er
'
Gerard felt .
an unaccountabl e p ang at th e sight of him However th e .

,
m an turne d out to b e p ast fi f t y ye a rs of age an ol d soldier , ,
whom Gerard rem emb ere d to h ave seen sho ot at th e b utt s

'
with adm i rabl e force an d skill ; Another minute and the

youth sto o d b efor e them Margaret lo ok ed up and dr opp e d .
h er Work and uttered a faint cr y and was white an d red

, ,
b y turns But thes e signs of em otion were swiftly dismissed

.
,
and sh e turn ed f ar more chil l and indiff erent than sh e woul d

if s h e h ad not b etraye d this a gitation .
What ! i s it you Master Gerard ? Wh at on earth ,
b rings you h ere I wo nder ? ,
I wa s p assin g b y and s a w yo u ; s o I thou ght I wo uld

”
give you good d a y and ask after your fath er ,
.
My father i s well H e will b e here anon . .
”
Th en I m ay a s well stay t il l h e com es .
A s you will Go o d Martin step into th e vill age and

.
,
”
tell my father here is a friend of his .
A n d n ot of yours ?
My fath er s friends are min e ’

.
Th at is doub tful It was n ot like a fri end to pro mis e

’
.
to wa i t for m e and th en m ak e off th e mom ent my b ack was

,
turn ed C ru el Margaret ! y ou littl e know how I s earche d

.
th e town for you ; how for w ant of yo u nothing wa s p leasant

”
to m e .
Thes e are idl e words ; if yo u had desired my fath er s ’
c ompa ny or mine you woul d have com e b ack There I

,
.
’
had a b ed l aid for you sir at my cou sin s and h e woul d , , ,
h ave m ade mu ch of y ou and who knows I migh t have

~
mad e mu ch of you t oo I was in the -hum our th at day

, , ,
. .
Yo u will not catch m e in th e sam e mind a gain neith er y ou ,
n or any youn g m an I warrant m e

’
, .
Margaret I cam e b ack th e m om ent th e C ountess l et

,
m e go ; b ut you were n ot th ere .
Nay you did not or y ou had s een H an s Cl ot er m a n at

, ,
”
ou r tabl e we l eft him to b rin g y ou on
'
I s a w no on e th ere b ut only a drunk en man th at ha d , ,

”
j ust tumbl ed down .
A t ou r tabl e ? How w a s h e clad ?

N ay I to ok littl e h ee d : in s a d —coloured garb
, .
A t this Margaret s face gradually warm ed ; b ut p res ently

’
assuming incredulity and severity sh e put many shrewd ,
qu estions all of which G erard answered mo st l oyally

‘
.
,
Finally the clou ds cl eare d and they gu esse d how th e

'
, ,
misundersta nding h ad com e ab out Then cam e a revul sion .
of tenderness al l th e more p owerful that they had do ne

,
each oth er wrong ; and then more dangerous st i l l cam e , ,
mutual confession N eith er had b e en happy since ;

.
n either ever woul d have b een h appy b ut for this fo rtunate

m e etin g .
And Gerard found a MS V ul gate lying op en o n th e table .

,
and p ounced up on it lik e a hawk MS S were his deligh t ; . .
but b efore h e coul d get to it two white hand s quickly cam e

fl at up on th e p age an d a red fa ce o ver them , .
Nay tak e away your h ands M arg a ret th at I m ay s ee

, “
, ,
wh ere y ou are readin g and I will read there to o at hom e ; ,
s o shal l my soul m eet yours in th e sa cre d p age Yo u wi ll .
not ? Nay then I mu st kiss them away

, And h e k iss e d .
th em s o o ften that f or very sham e th ey were fain t o with

,
draw and lo ! th e sacred b o ok lay o p en at

, ,
An a
pple of
g l d in
o a
. ne t w or k of s il ve r .
There now said s h e I h ad b een hunting for it ever

, ,
s o lon g an d found it but even now— and to b e cau ght !

,
and with a to u ch of inconsistency s h e p ointe d it ou t to

Gerard with h er white fi n g er .
”
Ay s aid h e
, b ut to day it is all hidden in that great
,
-
It is a comely cap I m tol d by som e ,

’
.
Mayb e ; b ut what it hides i s b eautiful .
”
It is not ; it is hideou s .
Well it w a s b eautiful at R o tterdam

, .
A y everythin g was b eautiful that day

, ( with a littl e
s igh )
.
An d n ow Peter came in and wel come d Gerard cordially ,
and wo ul d h ave him to stay supp er An d M argaret dis .
app ear e d ; and Gerard h ad a nice learne d chat with P eter ;

and Margaret reapp eared with her ha i r in h er sil ver net ,
and shot a gl ance h alf arch half coy and glided ab out them , , ,
an d spread supp er and b eam ed b right with gaiety and

happ iness And in th e co ol evening Gerard co axed h er ou t
.
,
and s h e o bj ected and came ; and co axed her o n to th e ro ad

to T er g ou and she declined and cam e ; and there they
, ,
stroll ed up and down hand in hand ; and when h e must g o ,
they pl ed ged each other never to qu arrel o r misunderstand

on e another again ; and they seal e d th e p romise with a l ong
l oving kiss an d G erard went home o n wings
, .
From that day Gerard sp ent m o st of his eveni n gs with

Margaret and th e attachment deep ened and d eep ened on
,
b oth sides till th e h ours th ey sp ent to gether were the hours

,
th ey l ived ; the rest they co unte d and underwent And .

at th e o uts e t of this deep attachm ent al l went smo o thly .
Ob stacles there were b ut th ey s eemed distant and small

,
to th e eye s of hop e youth an d l ove Th e feelings and

, .
p assions of s o m any p ersons that this atta chm ent wo ul d ,
thwart gave no war n ing smok e to show th eir vol canic

,
nature and p ower The cours e of tru e l ove ran sm o othly

.
,
placidly until it had drawn thes e two young heart s into

,
i t s current for ever .
And th en
C HA P TER VII
ON E b right m orning unwo nte d velvet sho ne u nwo nte d ,
feath ers w aved and hors es ho ofs glinted and ran through
,
’
the stre ets of T e r g ou an d th e window s an d b al co nie s were

,
stu dde d with wo ndering fa ce s The French amb assador .
wa s ridin g throu gh to sp ort in th e n eighb ouring forest .
B esi de s h i s own su ite h e was attend e d by s everal ,
servants of th e D uk e of B u r gu n d y 1 en t to do him h o nour an d ,
minister to hi s pl easure Th e D uk e s tumbl er ro d e b efore

.
’
him with a grave s edate m aj esty that m ade h i s more nobl e

, ,
comp anions s eem light frivol ou s p ers o ns B ut ever an d

, .
anon wh en resp e ct and awe neare d th e opp re ssive h e

, ,
roll e d off his h ors e s o i gnobly and funnily th at even th e ,
amb assado r w a s fain to b urst ou t l au ghin g H e al s o .
climb ed up again by th e ta i l in a way p ro vo cative of mirth ,
and s o he pl aye d his p art Toward s th e rear of th e p a gent.
ro d e on e that excite d mo re attentio n still th e D uk e s

— ’
l eop ard A huntsman m ounte d o n a Fl emish hors e of

.
,
p ro digiou s siz e and p ower carrie d a lo n g b ox fa s tene d to ,

’
th e rider s l o ins by strap s curiou sly co ntrive d and o n thi s ,
b ox s a t a bright l eop ard cro u ching Sh e was chained t o .
th e huntsm an Th e p eopl e admired h er gl o ssy hide and

.
sp ots an d presse d n ear an d on e or two w ere f or fe elin g

, ,
her and pull in g h er tail ; th en th e huntsman shoute d in a

,
terribl e vo i ce B eware ! A t Antwerp on e did b ut throw

,
a h andful of du st at her an d the D uke m ade du st of him ,

”
.
G r a m er c y l
I sp eak so oth The go o d D uk e s hut him up in priso n
.
,
in a cell under ground and the rats cl ean ed th e fl esh off h i s

,
b o nes in a night S erved him right fo r m ol estin g th e p o o r

.
”
thing . Th ere w a s a murmur of fear and th e T er g ovi a n s ,
shrank from ticklin g th e l eop ard of th e i r s overei gn .
B ut an incident followe d th at raise d th e i r sp irits again .
Th e D uke s giant a H un gar i an s even feet four inches high

’
, ,
46 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE H EARTH
brou ght up th e rear Th is eno rm ous creature had lik e .

,
some oth er giants a trebl e fluty vo ice of littl e p ower, He , .
was a vain fel low and not co n scio us of th is nor any defect
, .
Now it h app en ed h e cau ght sight of Gil es sittin g on th e

top of th e b al cony ; s o h e stopp e d and b egan to m ak e fun
of h im .
Hal lo ! b ro ther ! s q u e a ked h e I had near ly p ass e d ,
w ith out seeing the e .
You are pl ain enou gh to s ee b ell owed Gil es in h i s ,
b ass tones .
Com e on my sh o ul der brother squ e ak ed Tit an an d , , ,
held o ut a shoul der of mutton fi s t to h el p h i m down .
If I do I 1 1 cu f f yo u r ears ro are d the dwarf

’
, .
Th e giant saw th e homunc ul e was irascibl e an d played ,
up on h im b eing encouraged th ereto by th e shout s of

,
la u ghter F or h e di d not s ee th at th e p eopl e were lau gh i n g

.
not at his wit b ut at th e ridicul ous in con gr uity of th e two

,
vo ices— th e gi gantic feebl e fi f e a n d th e p etty d eep loud , ,
drum the mountain d elivered of a squeak ; and th e mol e

,
hill b el ching thunder .
T h e s in gul ar duet came to a s s in gular an end Gil es .
lo st all p atien ce and self command a n d b ein g a creature -

,
d evo id of f e ar a n d in a rage to b o ot h e ac tu al ly dropp ed

, ,
up on th e giant s neck s e i z ed h i s h ai r with o ne h an d and

’
, ,
p unch ed his h ead wi th th e oth er Th e giant s fi r s t im p ul s e

’
.
was to lau gh but the weight an d rap idity of th e blows

,
so on correcte d that incl inatio n .
“
He l h e ! Ah ! ha l hal l o ! oh ! oh ! Holy saints !
h ere ! h el p l or I mu st throttl e th e imp I can t ! I ll .
’ ’
S pl it your sk u ll a gainst the an d h e mad e a w il d r u n

b ackwards at th e b al co ny Gil es s a w h i s dan ger s eiz e d .
,
th e b al cony i n time with b oth h and s a n d whipp e d over it ,
j u st as th e giant s h ea d cam e a gainst it with a stu nnin g crack

’
.
Th e p eopl e roared with l au ghter and exul tatio n at th e ad dres s

of th e ir littl e champ ion Th e in d i gnant gi ant s eiz e d tw o of
.
th e l au ghers kno ck ed th em to geth er l i k e dumb -b ell s sh oo k

, ,
th em and strewed them fl a t ( Cath erine sh r iek ed a n d threw -
h er apro n over Gil es ) —then stro d e wrathfu l l y away aft er

th e p arty This incident had con sequ ences n o on e then
.
presen t foresaw I t s imme d iate resul ts were a gre ea bl e

. .
Th e T er g ovi a n s tu rned p rou d of Gil es and listen ed with ,
more aff ab ility to his p rayers f or p archment For h e d rove .
a re gular trad e with hi s b roth er G erard in t h i s articl e .
\Vent a b out and b egged it gratis and Gerar d gave h i m ,
C opp ers f or i t .
the aftern o on of th e sam e d a y Cath eri ne and h r

Oh ,
e
daughter were ch attin g to g ether ab out the i r fa vourit e

THE C L O ISTER AN D T HE HEARTH 47
th em e Gerard h i s go o dness h i s b en efi c e an d th e b righten ed

, , , ,
pro sp e cts of th e whol e famil y .
Their go o d lu ck ha d com e to th em in th e very shap e

'
th ey wo ul d have cho sen ; b esides th e advantage s of a b ene

fi c e su ch a s the C ountess Ch a r ol oi s woul d not disdain to
give t here was th e feminin e deli ght at ha y in g a priest a
, ,
,
holy m an in their ow n fam il y , H e will m arry Cornelis .
and S y b r a n d t : for they c an we d ( go o d hou sewives ) now

‘
.
, ,
if they will Gerard wil l tak e care of you and Gil es wh en

.
,
we are go ne .
Yes moth er an d we c an confes s to him instead of to

, ,
a stran ger sai d K ate , .
A y girl ! and he c a n gi ve th e sacr e d oi l to your fa t h er

,
an d m e and clo s e ou r eyes wh en ou r tim e com es

, ,
.
Oh m o ther ! ; n ot f or m any many years I d o p ray

,
‘
, ,
Heaven Pray sp eak not of that it always mak es m e s a d

.
, .
I hop e to go before you mo th er d ear No ; l et u s b e gay , .
to day -
I am ou t oi p ain m o th er quite ou t of all p ain
.
. , , ,
it do e s s e em s o strange ; an d I feel s o b right an d happy ,
that— mo ther can you keep a s ecret ? ,
N ob o dy b etter chil d
. Why you know I can ; , .
,
Th en I will sh ow yo u som ethin g s o b eau tiful You

never s a w th e lik e I tro w O nly Gerard mu st n ever know ; , .
for sure h e m eans to surp ris e u s with i t ; h e covers it up s o ,
an d som etim e s h e carr i es it away al to geth er ”

.
K ate to ok h er crutch e s a nd moved slowly away l ea v ing , ,
her m other in an exalted state of curio s ity Sh e so o n .

_
r eturne d with som ethin g in a c loth un covere d i t an d , ,
there w a s a lo vely p icture of th e V irgin with al l h er insignia , ,
an d w earin g h er tiara o ver a we al th of b ea u tiful h air which ,
fl ow e d lo o s e o ver her shoul d ers C ath erine at fi r s t wa s .

, ,
s t r u ck w i t h awe .
It is herself s h e ; cr i ed ;
, it is th e Q u een of H eaven , .
Ln ev er s a w on e lik e her to my min d b efore .
And her eyes m oth er : lifte d to th e s k y a s i f they , ,
b elon ge d there and not t o a m ort al creature An d her

, .
b eautif ul hair of b urnin g gol d .
And to thi n k I have a s on that can m ak e th e saints

live again up o n a p iece of w oo d !
Th e reaso n is h e i s a youn g saint himself mo th er , , .
H e i s t oo go o d for this worl d ; h e i s here to p ortray the

bl ess ed and th en to g o away a nd b e with th em for ever
, .
Ere they had half don e admirin g i t a stran ge vo ice wa s .

,
heard at the do or B y on e of th e furtive instin cts of th eir

'
s ex they h a s t il y h i d th e p icture in th e cloth thou gh th er e ,
W a s no ne ed An d th e next m om ent in cam e casting hi s

’
'
. . .
,
ey es furtively aroun d a m an t h a t h a d no t entered th e hou s e

’
this ten ye ars — Gh y s b r e ch t V an S w i et en .

48 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEAR T H
Th two wom en were s o tak en by su rprise that they
e ,
merely stare d at him an d at o ne anoth er and said Th e , ,
b u r gom a s t er l in a ton e s o expressive that Gh y s b r ech t ,
felt comp ell e d to answer i t .
Ye s ! I own th e last time I cam e h ere was n ot on a

friendly errand Men l ove th eir own interest— El i s and
.
’
mine were contrary Well l et this visit atone th e l ast

.
, .
To d ay I com e on your b u siness an d n one of mine

-
, .
Catherine and her dau ghter exchan ge d a swift gl ance of

co ntemptu ou s incred u lity They knew th e man b etter than .
h e thou ght .
It i s ab out yo ur s on Gerard .
Ay l ay l y ou want him to work for the town all fo r

”
nothin g H e tol d u s. .
I come o n no su ch errand It i s to l et you know h e h a s .
”
fallen into b ad hands .
Now Heaven and th e s aints forb id ! Man torture not ,
a mother ! Sp eak ou t and quickly : sp eak ere yo u have ,
tim e to coin fal seho o d : we know th ee .
Gh y s b r ech t turned p al e at this a ff ro nt an d sp ite mingl ed ,
with th e o ther motives th at b rou ght him h ere Thu s it .
”
i s then said h e grindin g h i s teeth and sp eaking very fast
, , , .
Your s on Gerard i s m ore l ik e to b e fath er of a family than

a p riest : h e i s fo r ever with Margaret P eter Brandt s red ,
’
”
haired girl and l ove s h er lik e a cow h er c alf
, .
Mother and d au ghter b oth b urst ou t lau ghing Gh y s .
brecht st a re d at them .
Wh at ! you knew i t ?
Carry this tal e to tho s e who k now not my s on Gerard .
”
Women a r e nought to him .
Oth er women m ayhap But this on e i s th e appl e o f

, .
his eye to him or will b e if you p art th em not and so o n

, , , .
Come d am e m ak e m e n ot waste tim e an d friendly counsel

, ,
my s ervant h as s een them to gether a score times handed

and reading b ab ies in on e another s eye s lik e— you know
, ,
’
dam e— you have b e en youn g to o

,
”
.
Girl I a m ill at eas e

, Yea I h ave b een youn g and .
, ,
know h ow blind and fo olish th e yo ung are My he art ! h e .
”
has turn ed m e sick in a moment K ate if it shoul d b e tru e ? .
,
Nay nay ! cried K at e eagerly

, Gerard might l ove .
’
a youn g woman : al l youn g m en do : I can t fi n d what th ey
s e e in them to l ove s o ; but if h e did he woul d l et u s kno w ; ,
h e woul d n o t de ceive u s You wicked m an ! N o de ar .

,
m oth er l o ok not s o l Gerard i s t oo go o d to l ove a creatur e

,
of earth His love i s for our Lady and th e saints

. Ah ! .
I will sh ow you th e p icture— there : i f his heart wa s earthly

—
coul d h e p aint th e Q ueen of Heaven l ik e that l ook l l ook !
a n d s h e hel d th e picture ou t triumphantly and m ore , ,
50 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
Man a l ive ! C an t you op en
your great j aws and j ust ’
,
S p eak a wen ch s name plain ou t to oblige thre e p eopl e ?

’ ‘
I d do a gr eat de al m ore to o blige on e of you than that

’
burgomaster If it i sn t a s natural as l ife !

.
’
—
Curs e th e man ! h e won t h e won t curs e h i m l ’
,
’
Why what have I done now ?,
Oh s i r ! said littl e Kate

,
for pity s sake tell u s ; ,
’
are thes e th e features of a livin g wom an oi — oi — Margar et ,
Brandt ?
A m i rr or i s n ot truer my littl e m aid , .
But is it sh e s i r f or very cert a in ? , ,
W h y who el se shoul d it b e ?
,
’
Now why coul dn t you s a y s o at o nce ?
, snarl e d .
.
Gh y s b r ech t .
I did s a y s o a s pl ain as I coul d sp eak snapp e d P eter ;

, ,
and th ey growled over this smal l b on e of contention s o

z e al ously that th ey did n o t s e e C ath erin e and h er dau ghter
,
ha d thrown their apron s over th eir h eads and were ro cking ,
t o and fro in d eep di stress Th e next mom ent Elias cam e in .
from th e s h Op an d sto o d a ghast C ath erine thou gh her

, .
,
fa ce wa s covered knew his fo otstep , .
’’
That i s my p o or man s h e sobb ed T ell him go o d , .
,
P eter B u y s k en s for I h ave n ot th e courage , .
Elias turn ed p al e Th e pres ence of the burgom aster i n . .
hi s h ou se after s o many ye ars of co olness co u pl ed with his

, ,
wife s and dau ghter s distress m ade him fear som e heavy
’ ’
misfortun e .
R i ch ar t l Jacob i h e gasp ed .
No 1 1 0 ! said the b urgomaster ;

, it i s n earer hom e ,
and nob o dy is dead or dyin g ol d fri end , .
Go d bl ess you burgomaster ! Ah ! som ethin g ha s gon e ,
oil my breast that was l ik e to ch oke m e Now what i s t h e .

,
m atter ?
Gh y s b r e ch t th en tol d him all that he tol d th e wom en ,
an d showe d the p icture in evidence .

1
“
Is th at al l ? s ai d Eli profoundly rel ieve d VVh a t , . .
ar e y e ro arin g an d b el l o win g f or ? I t i s vexin g— i t is an ger .
ing but it is not lik e death not even sickn es s

, B oy s w il l , . ,
b e b oys H e wil l outgrow that disea s e : t i s but sk in

’
.
”
d eep .
But when Gh y s b r e ch t tol d him that M argaret was a girl

of go o d character ; that it was not to b e sup p os ed sh e wo ul d
b e s o intimate if marria ge had not b een S p oken of b etween
them his b row darkened
, .
Marriage ; that shall never b e sai d h e sternl y I ll , .

’
stay that ; a y b y force if need b e— as I woul d h i s hand l i fted

, ,
t o cut his thro at I d do what ol d J oh n K oes t ei n d i d t other

’ ’
.
d ay J
’
THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH 51
A nd
’
what is that i n Heaven s nam e ? ask ed th e ,
mother sud denly removing h er ap ro n

, .
It w a s th e b urgo ma ster who replied :

H e mad e m e shut you n g Alb ert K oes t ei n up in th e
prison of th e St a dth o us e til l h e kno cked under It was no t .
l ong : forty — eight h ours all al on e on b read and water co ol ed , ,
h i s hot stomach T ell my fath er I a m h i s h u m b l e s er va n t

.
'
,
’
says h e —
and l et m e into th e su n o nce more the s u n is
,
W orth all th e w enches in th e worl d

’
.
Oh the cru elty of m en !

, si gh ed C ath erine .
A s t o that th e b urgom aster h a s no cho ice : it i s th e

,
’
l aw. And if a fath er says Burgomaster l o ck up my s on , , ,
h e mu st do i t A fi n e thin g it woul d b e if a fath er m ight

.
not l o ck up h i s own s on .
Well well ! it wo n t com e to th at with m e an d my s on

,
’
.
H e n ever disob eyed m e in his life : h e n ever sh all Where .
i s b e ? It i s p ast supp er tim e W h ere is h e K ate ? -

.
,
Al as ! I know not fath er , .
I know said Gh y s b r e ch t ;
, , h e i s at S evenb ergen -
.
My servant m et him on the ro ad .
Sup p er p asse d in gl o o my sil ence Evening d es c en d e d .
-
no Gerard ! Eight o cl o ck cam e— no G erard ! Then th e ’
father sent all to b e d excep t C ath erin e ,

.
You an d I w ill walk ab ro ad wife and t al k o ver thi s , ,

’
new care .
Abro a d my man at this tim e ? W h ither ?

, ,
”
Why on th e roa d to S evenb ergen
, .
O h n o ; no h asty” wo rds fath er P o or G erard ! h e

, ,
.
n ever v exed you b efore .
F ear m e n ot But it mu st en d ! and I a m n ot on e that

.
” ’
tru sts to morrow with t o d ay s work
-
.
Th e ol d p a i r walke d han d in h and ; for stran ge a s it ,
m ay app ear to som e of my readers th e u s e of th e elb ow ,
to coupl es w al kin g w a s no t discovered in Europ e till centuri e s ”
after this Th ey sauntere d o n a l on g tim e in sil en ce

. Th e .
nigh t Wa s cl ear and b almy Su ch nights calm an d s i l ent .

, ,
r ec al l th e p ast from the d ead .
It i s a m any years sin ce we walk ed s o late my m an , ,
said C ath erine softly .
Ay sweetheart more than we sh all s ee a gain ( Is —

, ,
he n ever com i ng I wo nd er ,
N ot since our courting d ays Eli ,

.
No A y you were a b uxo m l as s th en

.
,
.
A n d yo u were a com ely la d as ever a girl s eye stol e a

’
lo ok a t. I d o supp o se G erard is with h er now a s y ou u se d ,
to b e wi th m e N atur e i s strong and th e sam e i h all o ur

.
,
‘
”
g enerations .
52 THE C LO ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
N ay
I hop e h e ha s l eft her by now confound her or
,
”
, ,
w e sh all b e h ere all night .
Eli ,
C‘
Well Kate ? ,
I h ave b e en happy with you sweeth eart for al l ou r , ,
— —
rub s mu ch happ ier I trow than i f I had b een a a — — , ,
nun You wo n t sp e a k harshly to the p o o r ch i l d ? One

’
.
can b e fi r m without b eing h a rsh .
”
Surely .
Have yo u b een happy wi th me my p o or Eli ? ,
W h y you know I have Friends I have known but

,
.
,
none l i ke thee Bus s m e wife ! .

,
A h ear t to share j oy and grief with i s a great comfort to

Isn t i t El i ?
’
m an or woman .
,
It is s o my l ass ,
.
I t d ot h j oy d ou b l e,
A n d h a l v et h t r ou b l e ,
’
runs the byword And s o I have fou nd i t sweethear t

.
,
.
”
Ah ! here come s th e young fo ol .
C atherine trem bl ed and h el d her husb and s hand tight ,

’
.
The mo o n was bright b ut th ey were in th e sh adow of som e ,
trees and t heir s on did not s e e them

,
H e came singing in .
th e mo o nli ght an d his fac e shining ,

.
C HAPTER VII I
W H I LE th e burgomaster was exp o sin g Ger a rd at T er gou ,
Margaret had a troubl e of h er ow n at S evenb ergen It was .
a hous ewife s distress b ut deep er than we can wel l conceive

’
, .
Sh e cam e t o Martin XVi t t en h a a g en th e ol d sol dier with , ,
tear s in h er eyes .
’
Martin th ere s nothin g in the hou s e a n d Gerard i s
, ,
coming and h e i s s o thou ghtl es s

, H e forget s to s u p at hom e . .
When he gives o ver work then h e runs to m e straight p o or , ,
soul ; and o ften h e com es quite faint An d to think I have .
nothin g to s e t b efore my s ervant that l oves m e s o d ear .
Martin s cratched his h ead What can I do ? .
It is Thursday ; it is your day to sho ot ; so oth to say ,

”
I counte d on y ou to day -
.
”
Nay said the sol dier
, I m ay not sho o t when the ,
D uk e or” his friends are at the chase ; read el se I a m no .
s chol ar And h e took ou t of his p ouch a p archm ent with

.
a grand seal It p urp orted to b e a stip end and a licence

.
given by Philip D uk e of Burgu ndy to Martin Witte n, ,

THE C L O IS T ER AN D THE HEARTH 53
haa gen o ne of h i s arch ers in return fo r s ervice s in th e wars

, , ,
and f or a woun d re ceived at th e D uke s side Th e stip end ’

.
was four m erks y early to b e p aid b y th e D uk e s al mo ner ,

’
and th e l icence wa s to sho ot thre e arrows o nce a week v i z , .

,
on Thursday and no other day in any of th e D uk e s forests

’
, ,
in Holland at any gam e b ut a s even -year ol d b u ck o r a do e

,
-
c arry ing fawn ; p roviso that th e D uk e shoul d not b e hunt ,
ing o n that day or any of his friends In this cas e Martin

, .
was not to g o an d disturb th e wo o ds on p eril of his sal ary

and his h ead an d a fi n e of a p enny , .
Margaret sigh ed and wa s s il ent .
Com e che er u p mistres s , said b e ; for you r sak e

, ,
’
I ll p eril my carcass ; I h ave do ne that for many a o ne that
was no t worth your f or efi n g er It i s no su ch mighty risk .
’
e ith er I ll b ut step into th e skirts of th e forest h ere
. It is .
o dds b ut th ey drive a hare o r a fawn within reach o f my

”
arro w .
W ell if I l et yo u g o yo u mu st promis e m e no t to g o
, ,
f ar an d no t to b e seen ! far b etter Gerard went supp erl e ss

,
than ill shoul d com e to you faithful Martin , .
Th e requ ire d p ro mi se given Martin to ok his b o w an d ,
three arrows an d stol e cautiou sly into the wo o d ; it w a s

,
s carce a furl ong distant Th e h orns w ere heard faintly .
in the distance and all th e gam e w a s afo ot , C om e .

,
th ou ght Martin I shall so o n nll th e p ot and no o ne b e th e

, ,
wiser H e to ok his stan d b ehin d a thi ck oa k that com

.
m a n d ed a vi ew of an op en glade an d strung his h ow a truly , ,
formidabl e weap o n It w a s of English yew s i x fe et two

.
,
inch es high and thick in p rop orti o n ; and Martin b ro ad

, ,
chested with arm s all iro n and cord and u se d to th e b ow

, ,
from infancy coul d draw a thre e fo o t arrow to th e h ead

,
-
,
and wh en it fl ew th e ey e coul d s carce follow i t and th e

, , ,
b owstring twanged a s m u sic al a s a harp This h ow had l aid .
m any a stout s ol dier l ow i n t h e wars of th e B o e ck s and t
Ga b b el j aws In tho se days a b a t t l efi el d w a s no t a cl ou d

-
.
of smoke ; th e comb atants were few b ut th e d eath s m any

—
,
f or they s a w what th ey were ab o ut ; and fewer bl o o dl e ss

arrows fl ew than blo o dl es s b ull ets now A hare cam e .
cantering th en s a t sprightly an d her ears ma de a cap ital

, ,
V . Martin l evell ed his trem en dou s w eap o n at h er Th e .
arrow fl ew th e string twanged ; b ut Martin h ad b een in

,
a hurry to p o t h er and l o s t h er b y a n inch : th e arrow s eem e d

,
to hit her but it struck th e ground cl o s e to h er and p ass ed

, ,
under h er b elly l i ke a fl a s h and hisse d al o ng th e sh ort gras s ,
and disapp eare d Sh e j ump ed thre e feet p erp endicul a r an d

.
away at th e top of h er sp eed Bun gl er ! s aid Martin . .
A sure pro of h e was not an hab itu al b ungl er or h e woul d ,
h ave blame d th e hare H e h a d scarcely fi t t e d ano th er .

arro w to his string when a wo o d p igeo n settl e d o n th e very -
tree h e sto o d und er Aha l thought h e you are sm al l

.
, ,
”
but dainty This time h e to ok more p ains ; drew his arrow
.
carefully lo o sed it smo othly an d saw i t to a ll app earance g o

, , , ,
cl ean throu gh the b ird carrying feathers skyward lik e du st , .
Instead of f al ling at his feet th e b ird who se b reast was torn , , ,
n ot fairly pierced fl u t t er e d feebly away and by a gre at

, , ,
efi or t ro se ab ove the tre es fl ew som e fi f t y yards an d fell

, , ,
dea d at last ; b ut where he coul d no t s e e for the thick foliage ,

.
”
Lu ck is a gainst m e said h e de sp ondin gly But h e ,
.
fi t t e d another arrow an d eye d th e gl ade keenl y Presently

‘
.
,
h e heard a b ustl e b ehind him an d turne d roun d j ust in tim e ,
to s ee a nobl e b uck cro ss th e op en b ut to o l ate to sho ot at ,
him . H e dash ed his b ow down with an imprecatio n At .
that mom ent a l ong sp otte d animal glid ed swiftly acro ss after
th e de er ; its b elly seem ed t o tou ch the ground as it went .
Martin to ok up his b ow h astily : b e reco gnise d th e D uk e 5 ’
l e 0 pard Th e hunters will not b e far from her said h e , ,
and I m ust n ot b e seen Gerard must g o supp erless this .
night .
H e p lunged into th e wo od foll owin g th e bu ck an d ,
le op ard for th at wa s his way h om e

, H e ha d no t gone far .
when he h eard an u nu sual soun d ahea d of h m l eave s i —

ru s t lin g viol ently and th e groun d trampl ed H e hurrie d .
H e found th e l e 0 p ar d on th e buck s b ack

’
in th e d irectio n .
,
tearing h im with teeth an d claw and th e bu ck running in a ,
circl e a nd b ounding conv ul sively with th e b l o o d p ourin g ,
down h is hide Th en Martin form e d a desp er a te resolutio n

.
t o have th e ve niso n for Margaret

'
H e drew his arrow to .
the head and buried it in th e d eer who Sp ite of th e creatu re

, , ,
o n his b ack b ounded high into the air and fell dea d
, Th e , .
le 0 p ard w ent on teari ng him a s i f noth in g had happ ened .
Martin hop ed that th e creature woul d gorge itself with

bl o o d an d th en l et him tak e th e m eat ; H e wait ed som e
,
m in u tes th en w al ked resolutely u p and l aid his ha nd on th e

, ,
bu ck s l e g
’
The l eop ard gave a frightful growl and l eft off
.
,
su ckin g blo o d Sh e s a w Martin s game and was sulky an d

.
’
,
on her g uard W h at wa s to b e do ne ? M artin ha d h eard

.
that wil d creature s cannot stand th e hu m an eye Accord .
i ngl y he sto o d erect an d fi x e d his on th e l eop ard : the

, ,
leopard return ed a sava ge gl ance and never to ok h er eye ,
o ff Martin Then Martin continuin g to l o ok th e b east

.
.
down th e l eopard b rutally ignorant of natur al history

, , ,
fl ew at his h ead with a frightful y ell fl a min g eyes an d j aw s , ,
and cl aws distended H e had b ut j u st time to catch her by

.
th e thro at b efore h er teeth coul d cru sh his face ; one of her

,
claws s eized his shoulder and rent i t t h e oth er aimed at his , ,
cheek wo u l d have b een m ore deadly st i ll but Martin wa s

, ,
ol d -
fashioned an d wore n o hat b u t a s cap ulary of th e sam e
, ,
stu ff a s hi s j erkin and this scapulary h e ha d b rou ght o ver his

,
’
hea d lik e a ho o d ; th e b rute s claw cau ght in t h e l oo s e
leather Martin k ep t h er te eth off h i s fa ce wi th great
.
di ffi cul ty an d g rip ed h er thro at fi er c el y an d s h e kept ren d

, ,
in g h i s shoul der It w a s lik e blunt reapin g ho oks grindin g

.
-
and tearin g Th e p ain wa s fearful ; b ut instea d of cowing

‘
.
,
th e ol d soldier it p u t hi s bl o o d u p and he gnashe d his teeth

, ,
with ra ge al mo st a s fi er c e a s hers an d squ eez e d h er n eck ,
with iro n force The two p air of eyes fl are d at on e an other

.
an d now th e m an s were almo st a s furiou s a s th e brute s ’ ’

.
Sh e foun d h e was throttlin g her an d m ade a w il d attemp t

to fre e hers elf in whi ch s h e dra gge d his cowl all o ver his fac e
,
an d bli nd e d him an d tore her cl aw ou t of h i s sho u l der ,

'
fl esh an d al l ; b ut still h e th rottl ed h er with h and an d arm

of iron Presently her lon g tail that was hi gh in th e air
.
, ,
went down Aha ! crie d Martin j oyfully an d grip e d her

.
, ,
lik e d eath ; n ext h er b o dy l o st its el asticity a nd h e h el d a

, ,
choke d and p owerl es s thin g : h e grip e d it still till al l m otio n ,
ceased t h en da she d it to th e earth ; th en p antin g rem o ve d

, , ,
hi s cowl : th e l eop ard lay mute at his feet with ton gu e

p rotru ding a n d bl o o dy p aw ; and for th e fi r s t tim e terror
fell o n Martin I a m a dea d m an : I h ave slain the D uk e s
.
’
”
l eop ard H e hastily s eiz e d a few han dful s of l eave s an d
.
threw th em over h er ; th en shoul dered th e b u ck an d ,
sta ggere d away l eavin g a trail of bl o o d al l th e way— his

,
ow n and th e bu ck s
’ ’
H e b urst into P eter s hou s e a h orribl e .
fi gu r e bl eeding an d blo o dstained and flun g th e d e er s ’

, ,
carcass down .
Th ere —n o qu estio ns said h e b ut b ro il m e a s t eak , ,

”
on t for I a m faint
’
.
,
Margaret d i d no t s ee h e wa s wo unded ; s h e th ou ght th e

bl o o d w a s all from th e deer .
Sh e b u sie d herself at th e fi r e an d th e stout sol dier ‘

,
stan ch ed and b ound his own wo un d ap art ; an d so o n h e an d

G er a r d a n d M argaret were s u p p i n g royally on b ro il ed Venison
‘
The y were very m erry ; an d Gerard with wo nderful ,
th ou ghtfulness h a d b rou ght a fl ask of S chiedam an d un der

, ,
its i n fl u en c e Martin revived and told th em how th e veniso n ,
w a s go t ; an d th ey all m ad e m erry o ver th e explo it .
’
Their mirth was stran gely inte rrup te d Margaret s .
eye b ecam e fi x e d an d fa scinated a n d h er ch eek p al e with ,
fear . Sh e ga sp ed and coul d not sp eak b ut p ointed to th e , ,
window with trembling fi n g er Th eir eyes followe d hers .

,
and th ere in the twil ight crou ch ed a dark form with eye s
lik e gloww orm s .
It w a s the l eop ard

Whil e they sto o d p et r ifi e d f a scinate d b y th e eyes o f ,
56 THE C L O ISTER A ND THE HEARTH
green fi r e th ere sounde d in th e wo o d a singl e deep b ay
,
.
Martin trembl ed at i t .
They have l os t h er a n d l a i d mu zzl ed bl o o dhounds on her

,
scent ; they will fi nd h er h ere an d th e venison Go o d bye , .

-
,
friends Mar t in W i t t enh a a g en ends here

,
”
.
’
Gerard seiz ed his b ow and p ut it into th e sol dier s h and s
,
.
B e a m an h e cried ;
,
sh o ot h er and fl i n g h er into ,
th e wo o d ere they com e u p Who will know ? .
More voices of hound s b rok e ou t and nearer , .
Curse h er l crie d Martin ; I Sp ared h er o nce ; now

s h e mu st die o r I or b oth m ore likely ;
, ,
an d h e reare d h i s
b ow and drew hi s arrow to th e h ead
,
.
”
Nay ! nay ! cried Margaret an d s eize d the arrow , .
It b rok e in h alf : th e p iece s fell on each sid e th e h ow Th e .
air at th e sam e tim e fi l l e d with th e ton gu es of th e hound s

they w ere hot up on th e scent .
Wh at have you don ”

e wen ch ? You have p ut th e ,
halter round my thro at .
”
No l cried Margaret I have save d you : stand.
b ack from th e window b oth ! Your knife qu ick !, ,
Sh e s eiz ed his l ong p o inted k nife almo st tore it ou t of h i s

-
,
gir d l e and dart ed fro m th e ro om

,
Th e hou se wa s now .
surrounded with h ayin g do gs and shouting m en .
Th e gl owworm eye s moved not .
C HAPTER IX
M A R G A R E T cut oil a hu ge p iece of venison a n d ran to th e ,
window and th rew it out to th e green eyes of fi r e They .
d arte d on to it with a savage snarl and there wa s a so und o f

rending and crunchin g : at this m om ent a b ound uttere d ,
a b ay s o near and lou d it ran g throu gh the hous e ; and th e

thre e at th e window shrank to gether Then th e l e 0 p ard .
feare d for her supp er an d glide d swiftly and ste a lth il y

,
away with it to wards th e wo o ds an d th e ve r y n ext m om ent ,
horse s an d m en and do gs cam e helter sk elter pa st th e -
window and followed her full cry

, Martin and his co m .
p anions breath e d a gain : th e leop a rd was swift and woul d ,
not b e cau ght within a l ea gu e of their hou se They grasp ed .
hands . Margaret seized this O pp ortunity and cried a l ittl e ; ,
Gerard kissed th e tears away .
’
To tabl e on ce m ore , and Gerard dr ank to woman s wit
’ ”
Tis stron ger than m an s force said h e ’
, .
“ ”
Ay said Margaret
, when th o se s h e loves are i n
,
dan ger ; no t else .

C LO I S T E R AN D T H E HEARTH
'
58 TH E
wa s t h e u niversal p et Bu t s h e gave him no enco u ragem ent
.
s h e turn ed h er head away from him and sai d

D ear dear Gerard pray to H ea ven t o cure y ou of this
, ,
'
Wh at are y ou a gainst m e to o ?
,
said Gerard sadly ; ,
and h e ro se with a deep sigh and left th e house and went to ,
S evenb ergen .
The b eginning of a quarrel wh ere th e p artie s are b oun d ,
by affection thou gh opp o sed in interest and sentiment is ,
comp aratively inno cent : b o th are p erhap s in the right at

fi r s t starting an d th en it is th at a calm j udicio u s friend
, , ,
cap abl e of seeing b oth sides is a gift from Heaven Fo r , .
th e longer th e d issension endures th e wider and deep er it ,
g row s by th e fallib ility and irascib il ity of human nature

thes e are not c on fi n ed to either si de and fi n a l l y th e i n va r i ,
—
abl e en d is reach ed b oth in th e wro ng .
Th e comb atants were u nequ ally match ed : Elias w a s

an gry Cornelis and S y b r a n d t sp itef u l ; but Gerard having
, ,
a l arger and mo re cultivated mind saw b oth sides wh ere ,
they s a w but o ne and had fi t s of irresolution and was n ot

, ,
wroth b ut unhappy
, H e was lo nely t oo in this stru ggl e
.
, , .
H e co u ld op en his he a rt to no on e
.
Margaret was a high .
S pirited girl : h e dare not tell h er what h e had to endure at

hom e ; sh e was cap abl e of siding with his relatio ns b y r e
signing him thou gh at the co st of h er own happ ines s
, .
Margaret V an Eyck had b een a great comfo rt to h i m o n

anoth er o ccasio n ; but now h e dare d not mak e her his
c on fi d a n t H er own histo ry was well kno wn
.
-
In early .
life s h e had m any ofi er s of marri age ; b ut refuse d them a l l

’
for th e sak e of that art to which a wife s and m other s ,
’
duties are so fatal : thu s s h e remain ed sin gl e and p ainted

with h er b roth ers How coul d h e tell h er that h e declined
.
t h e b e n efi c e s h e h ad got him and d eclined it for th e sak e o f ,
th at which at his a ge sh e had d esp is ed and s a cr i fi c e d so

lightly .
Gerard at this p erio d b ade fa i r to su ccumb : But th e

oth er side h a d a horr i bl e al ly in Catherine senior This , .
goo d h earted b ut unedu cated woman coul d not like h er

-
,
dau ghter act quietly and fi r m l y : still l ess coul d s h e a c t

'
up o n a plan She i rritate d Gerard at times and s o help ed

.
,
h i m ; f or anger is a great s usta i ner of th e coura ge : at others

she turn ed rou nd in a moment and made o nslau ghts on her
own forces T o tak e a singl e instance out of m any : on e
.
day that they were al l at h ome Catherin e and al l Cornelis , ,
Ou r Gerard wed Margaret Bra ndt ? W h y it i s

'
said : ,
”
hunger marryin g thirst .
An d what will it b e when you m arry ? cried Catherin e .
Gerard can paint Gerard can write but what can you d o
, ,
THE C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH 59
to k eep a wom an y e laz y l o on ? N ou ght b ut wait for your ,
fath er s sho o n ’
O h w e can s ee why y ou an d S y b r a n d t
.
,
wo ul d not have th e p o or b oy to marry Yo u are afrai d he .
will com e to u s for a share of our sub stance An d say that .
’
h e do es and s a y that w e give it him it i sn t yourn w e p art
,
“
,
”
from an d m ayhap n ever will b e
,
.
Ou thes e o ccasio ns Gerard smil e d slily and p ick e d up ,
he ar t an d temp orary conf u sio n fell on C atherin e s u n f or t u n

,
’
a t e al lies But at l ast after m o re than s i x m onths of

.
,
ir ritation cam e th e clim ax ,

Th e fath er tol d th e s on b efore .
th e whol e family h e had ord er e d the b urgomas ter to i m

p rison him in th e S ta dthous e rather than l et him m arry
'
Margaret Gerard turned p al e with anger at this b ut by a

.
,
g reat e f fo rt h el d his p ea ce H i s fath er went o n to s a y .

,
And a p r i est you sh all b e b efo re th e year i s ou t n i l l y ,
willy .
I s it s o? cried G erard Then hear m e al l By .

, , .
Go d an d S t B avo n I swear I will n ever b e a priest wh il e

.
Margaret lives S ince force i s to d ecide i t and n ot l ove an d

.
,
duty try force fath er ; b ut force sh all n o t serve y ou for

, , ,
t h e day I s ee th e b urgom aster com e fo r m e I l eave T er g ou ,

’
for ever an d Holl an d to o an d my father s hou s e wh ere it
, , ,
s eem s I have b een v al u ed all th ese years not for mys elf , ,
”
b ut fo r what i s to b e go t ou t of m e .
An d h e flun g ou t of th e ro om white with an ger an d

d esp eration .
There ! cried C ath erine that com es of drivin g youn g ,
folk s to o hard But m en are cru ell er than ti gers even t o

.
,
their own fl esh an d bl o o d N ow Heaven forb id h e shoul d .

,
”
ever l eave u s m arrie d o r singl e , .
A s Gerard cam e ou t o f th e hou se hi s che ek s p al e an d his ,
heart p anting h e m et R eicht H ey n es : s h e had a message for

,
him : Margaret V an Eyck d esired to s ee him H e found th e .
ol d l ady s eate d grim as a j u d ge Sh e wasted no tim e i n .
p reliminaries but inquired coldly why he ha d n ot visited

,
h er of l ate : b efore h e coul d answer s h e s a i d i n a s arcastic ,

”
‘
ton e ,
I thou ght w e had b een frien ds yo un g s i r , .
A t this Gerard l o ok ed th e p icture of doub t an d con

s t er n a t i on .
It is b ecau se you n ever tol d her y ou were in l ove ,
sai d R eicht H ey n e s p ityin g his co nfu sio n , .
Sil ence wench ! Why should h e tell u s h i s aff airs ?

,
W e ar e n ot h i s friends : we have no t d eserve d h i s c on fi

‘
”
dence .
Al as ! my s econ d m other said G erard I did no t , ,
dare to tell you my fol ly ”

.
Wh at folly ? I s it folly to l ove ? .

‘
I a m tol d s o every d a y of m y life

60 THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
You n ee d not have b een afraid to tell my mistress ,
s h e is always kind to tru e l overs .
Madam— R eicht— I was afraid b ecau se I was tol d

Well you were told
,
That in your youth you s corned love p referring art , .
I did b oy ; and what is th e end of i t ? B ehol d m e here

,
a b arren sto ck whil e th e wom en of my youth have a tro op

,
of chil dren at their side an d grand children at the i r knee

,
.
I gave U p th e sweet j oys of wifeho o d and motherho o d f or

what ? For my d ear b rothers They h ave gon e and l eft .
m e lon g ago F or my art

. It has al l b ut l eft m e to o
. .
I have th e knowl ed ge stil l but what ava i l s that when th e

,
h and trembl es No Gerard ; I l o ok o n you a s my s on

.
, .
You are go o d you are handsom e yo u are a p ainter thou gh

, , ,
n ot like som e I h ave known I will no t l et y ou throw your

.
youth away a s I did m ine : you shall marry this Margaret .
I have inquired an d s h e is a go o d dau ghter

, R eicht h ere .
is a go ssip Sh e has tol d m e all ab out i t

. But th at n ee d .
”
not hinder y ou to tell m e .
P o or Gerard was overj oye d to b e p erm itted to prais e

Margaret al ou d and to o ne wh o coul d understan d what h e
,
love d in her .
S o o n there were two p air of wet eye s over h i s story ;

and when th e p o o r b oy saw th at th ere were three , .
Wom en are creature s brimful of co urage Th eirs is .
n ot exactly th e sam e qu al ity as manl y courage ; that woul d

'
n ever do han g it all ; we sh oul d have to give up tramp in g

,
on them .No ; it i s a vi cariou s coura ge They n ever tak e .
p art in a b ull fi gh t by any chance ; but it i s remarked th a t

-
th ey s i t at o ne unshaken by th o se tremors an d apprehension s

for th e comb atants to which th e m al e sp ectator— fe ebl e
minded wr c l is subj ect
e t h — Nothin g can excee d th e .
resolutio n with which th ey h ave b een known to send forth

men to b attle : as som e witty do g says L es femmes sont ,
tres b raves avec l e p eau d a u t r u i ’

.
B y this trait G erard now p rofi ted Margaret an d R eicht .
were a greed th at a m a n shoul d always take the bull b y th e

’
horns . Gerard s only course wa s to marry Margaret Brandt
o iI hand ;
-
the ol d p eopl e woul d com e to after a wh il e the ,
dee d once done Wh ereas t h e l on ger this misunderstand

.
,
ing continu ed o n its present fo oting th e wors e fo r al l parties , ,
e sp ecially fo r Gerard .
S ee h ow p al e and thin they have made h im amongst
Indeed you are Master Gerard said R eicht

, It , .
make s a b o dy s a d to s ee a youn g man so waste d and wor n .
Mistress when I m et him in th e street to day I had like d

,
-
,
to h ave burst ou t cryin g : h e was s o changed .

THE C L O I STER AN D THE HEARTH 61
An d I ll b e b o und th e oth ers k eep their colour ; eh

’
,
”
R eicht ? su ch a s it is .
Oh I s ee n o o dd s in th em
, .
Oi cours e n ot W e p ainters are no m at ch for b o ors

. .
W e are gl ass th ey are stone We can t stan d th e worry

, .
’
,
worr y worry of littl e m in ds ; an d it i s not for th e go o d of

,
m ankind w e shoul d b e exp o s ed to i t It is hard enou gh .

,
H eaven knows to d esign and p aint a ma sterp i ece without

, ,
”
having gnats and flies stin gin g u s to death into th e b argain .
Exasp erate d a s Gerard wa s b y his fath er s threat of ’
V iol en ce h e listen e d t o th es e friendly vo ices tellin g him th e

,
p ru dent co urs e w a s reb ellion B u t thou gh h e listene d h e . ,
w a s n o t co nvi nced .
’
I do no t fear my father s viol en ce h e s aid but I d o , ,
fear h i s an ger Wh en it cam e to th e p oint h e woul d not

I woul d m arry Margaret to —
.
imp riso n m e . m orrow if that

wa s my only fear No ; h e woul d disown m e
. I shoul d tak e .
Margaret fro m h er fath er a n d give h er a p o o r hu sb an d who , ,

’
wo ul d n ever thrive weigh ed down b y h i s p arent s curs e
,
.
Madam ! I som etim es think if I coul d b ut m arry h er s ecretly ,
an d th en tak e h er away to s om e country wh ere my craft i s

b etter p aid th an in this ; and after a year o r two wh en th e ,
sto rm h a d bl own over yo u know coul d com e b ack with , ,
m o n ey in my purse an d s a y My dear p arents we d o not

, , ,
seek your sub stance w e b ut a sk yo u to lo ve u s o n ce more

,
a s yo u u s ed and as we have n ever ce ased to l ove you

—
,
b ut alas ! I shall b e tol d th es e are th e dream s of an

,
”
in exp erienced youn g m an .
Th e ol d l ady s eye s sp arkl e d ’

.
It i s no dream b ut a p iece of wond erful comm o n se n s e

,
-
in a b oy ; it remains to b e s een wh eth er you have sp irit to

carry out your own thou ght Th ere i s a co untry Gerard .
, ,
wh ere c ertain fortun e awaits y ou at thi s mom ent Here th e .
art s freez e b ut th ere th ey fl ou r i sh a s th ey never yet

, ,
”
nourish ed in any a ge or lan d .
It i s Italy ! cri ed Gerard It i s Italy ! .
A y Italy ! wh ere p ainters are h onoured like p rinces

, ,
an d s crib e s are p aid thre e hundred crown s for copyin g a sin gl e

m anu script Know you no t that hi s Holines s th e Pop e
.
ha s written to every l an d for skilful scrib es to cop y th e

hu ndred s of p reciou s m anu scrip ts that are p ouring into th at
favoure d l and from C on stantinop l e wh ence l earning and ,
l earne d m en are driven by th e b arb arian Turk s ?

Nay I know not that ; b ut it h a s b e en th e dream an d
,
h 0 p e of my life to visit Italy th e que en of all th e arts ; oh , ,

”
ma d am ! But th e j ourney an d we are all s o p o or , .
Find yo u th e h eart to go I ll fi n d th e m e ans I know ,

’
.
where to l ay my han d o n ten gold en an gel s : th ey will tak e

yo u to Rom e ; and th e gi rl with y ou if s h e l o ves you a s s h e ,
ou ght .
They s a t till midni ght over this th eme And after that .
,
day Gerard recovered h i s sp irits and s eemed to c ar ry a

, ,
secret ta l isman a gainst all the gi b es an d the harsh words .
that fl ew ab out h i s e a r s a t home

‘
B esi des the mo ney s h e pro cured him for the j ourn ey ,
Margaret V an Eyck gave him m oney s worth S ai d s h e ’

.
,
I wil l tell you s ecrets that I l e arned from masters that ar e

go ne from m e and have l eft no fellow b ehind
, Even the .
Itali ans know them no t ; and what I tell yo u now i n T er gou

’
yo u sh al l sell dear in Fl ore n ce Note my b rother J an s .
pictures : tim e which fad es all o ther p aintings l eaves h i s

, ,
colours bri ght as the d a y they left the e asel Th e reaso n i s .

,
h e di d nothin g blindl y nothing in a hu rry H e tru ste d to

, . .
no h i reling to grind his colours ; he di d it him self or s a w it ,
done Hi s p anel was p rep ared and prep a red again

- — I wi l l '
show you how— a year b efore he lai d his colour on

.
,
Mo st .
of them are qu ite co ntent to h ave the i r work su cked

up and lo st so oner than not b e in a hurry
, B ad .
p ainters are alway s i n a hurry Ab ove all Gerard I .

, ,
warn yo u use b ut littl e oil and never b o il i t ; b o ili ng it melts

,
that Vegetabl e dro ss into i t s very heart which it i s o ur busi

n ess to clear away ; for impure oil is death to colour N 0 ; .
tak e your oil and p our it into a b ottl e with water In a day .
or two the water will turn muddy : that is mu ck from th e oil .
P our th e d irty water carefully away an d ad d fresh

. Wh en ,
.
that is p oured away you wi ll fancy the oi l is cle ar

, You .
ar e mistak en Reicht fetch m e th a t

. Reicht b rou ght a
,
glass trou gh with a glass lid fi t t i n g tight Wh en your oi l .
has b een wash ed in b o ttl e put it into thi s trou gh wi th water

, ,
and p ut th e trou gh in th e su n all day You wi l l s o on s ee the .
water turb id a gain But mark y ou mu st not car ry this

.
,
gam e t oo far or th e sun will turn your oi l to varnish

, When .
it is a s cl ear a s crystal an d not to o lusciou s drain car efully

, , ,
and cork it up ti ght Grind your ow n prime colours and

.
,
lay them on with thi s oil and they sh al l live Hub ert , .
wo ul d p ut sand or sal t in the water to cl ear the oil quicker .
But J an u sed to say Water will do it b est ; give water

,
tim e . Jan V an Eyck was never in a hurry and that i s

’
,
”
why th e world will not forget h i m in a hurry .
Th is and several o th er receipts qu ae nun c p er s cr i b er e ,
l on gum es t Margaret gave h i m with sp arklin g eyes and

, ,
Gerard receive d them l i ke a legacy from Heaven s o interest ,
ing are som e things that read uninteresting Thu s pro vide d .
with money and knowled ge Gerard decided to marry and ,
fl y with his wi fe to Ital y Nothing re mai ned now b ut t o .
inform Margaret B randt of his resolution and to publish ,

TH E C L O I STER A ND T H E HEARTH 63
th e b anns as qui etly a s po ssibl e H e wen t t o S eve n b ergen .
earlier than u sual o n b oth th es e errands H e b e gan with .
M ar garet ; told her of th e D am e V an Eyck s go o dness and ’
th e resol utio n b e h ad com e to at l ast and invite d her c o ,
O p eratio n .
Sh e refu s e d it plump .
No G erard ; yo u an d I have n ever sp ok en of yo ur

,
-
family b ut wh en yo u com e to m arriage

,
Sh e stopp ed ,
th en b egan a gai n I do think your fath er h as n o ill will

.
-
t o m e m ore than to anoth er H e told P eter B u y s k en s a s

’
mu ch and P eter tol d m e

,
B ut s o l ong a s he i s b ent on yo ur.
b eing a p riest (you ou ght to have told m e this in stead of I

y ou ) I,
coul d n ot m arry you Gerard dearly a s I l ove you , , .
Gerard strove in vai n to shak e thi s resolutio n H e fo und .
it Very e asy to m ak e h er c r y b ut imp o ssibl e to m ake her ,
yi el d .Th en Gerard was imp ati ent an d unj u st .
V ery well ! h e crie d ; th en you are o n th eir side ,
and you w i ll drive m e to b e a p ri est for this mu st end on e ,
way o r anoth er My p arent s h ate m e in earnest b ut my

.
,
”
l over o nly l oves m e in j est .
A n d with this wil d b itter sp eech h e flu n g away hom e , ,
a gain and l eft Marg a ret w e ep ing

,
.
Wh en a m an misb eh aves th e eff ect i s curio u s o n a g i rl ,

'
who l oves him sincerely It make s h er p ity him This to

. .
,
s om e of u s m al es s eem s anything but l o gi cal

, Th e fault is .
in ou r own eye ; th e l o gi c is to o swift for u s Th e girl argu es .
thu s : How u nhappy h ow vexed p o or mu st b e ;

, ,
h i m to m i s b eh a v e l Po or t h i n g l
M argaret was full of this swe e t woma n ly p ity wh en to
_
, ,
h er gre a t surprise s carce an hour and a h alf after h e l eft h er

, ,
Ger ar d cam e runnin g b ack to h er with th e fragm ents of a

p icture in his h and and p anting with an ger and gri ef
, .
Th ere Margaret ! s ee l se e ! th e wr et ch es l LoOk at

,
th eir sp ite ! Th ey have cut your p ortrait to p ieces .
Margaret lo ok ed an d sure enou gh som e m alicio u s hand

, ,
‘
had cut h er p ortr ait into fi v e p iece s Sh e was a go o d girl .

,
but sh e was not i ce ; sh e turned red to her very foreh ea d .
Who did i t ?
Nay I know no t , I dared not as k ; for I shoul d hate
.
th e h and that did i t a y till m y dying day My p o or

, , .
Ma rg aret ! Th e b utch ers th e r u fi i a n s l S ix mo nths work ,

’
cut out of m y l ife and n othing to show for it now

, S ee .
,
th ey have hacke d throu gh your very face ; th e sweet f a ce

that every one l oves wh o knows i t O h h eartl ess m ercil es s .
, ,
y i p er s l
N ever min d Gerard said Margaret p an t ing
, S ince , , .
thi s is how they treat y ou f or my s ak e— Ye rob h im of my

portrait do y e ? Well th en he sh al l have th e fa ce its elf
, , , ,
s uch a s it i s .
Oh Margaret ! ,
Yes Ger ar d ; sin ce they ar e s o cru el I will b e th e

, ,
k inder : forgive m e fo r refusing you I wi ll b e yo ur wife ; .
to mo rrow if it is your pl easure

-
,
.
Gerard kissed h er hands with rapture and then h er lip s ; ,
and i n a tumult of j oy ran for Peter and Martin They cam e .
an d witnessed th e b etrothal ; a sol emn ceremony in tho se

days an d indeed for more than a century later though now
, ,
a h ol i sh e d .
C H APTER X
TH E b anns of m arriage had to b e read three times as in ou r ,
days with this diff erence that they were commonl y read on ,
we ek days and the young coupl e eas i ly p ersuade d th e cur e

-
,
to do the three readings in twenty fo ur hours : h e w a s n ew -
to th e place and their lo oks sp oke volum es in the i r favo ur

, .
Th ey were crie d on Mo nday at matins and at vesp ers ; and ,
to their great d elight nob o dy from T er g ou w a s in th e,
church Th e n ext morning th ey were b oth there p al p i t a t

.
,
ing with anxi ety wh en to th eir horro r a stran ger sto o d up

, , ,
and forb ade th e b anns on th e sco re th at th e p arties were n o t

,
of a ge an d th eir p arents not co nsentin g

, .
Outside th e church do or Margaret an d Gerard hel d a

tremblin g an d almo st desp airin g co nsultation ; b ut b efore
, ,
they coul d settl e anything the man wh o h ad do ne th em s o ,
i l l a turn appro ach ed and gave th em to und erstand tha t h e

,
w a s very sorry to interfere : that his inclination was to

further th e happ in ess of th e youn g ; b ut that in p o int of fact
h i s o nly means of getting a l iving w a s by forb idding b anns
what then ? Th e young p eopl e give m e a crown and I ,
undo my work h andsom ely tell t h e cur éI wa s misinform ed ,

”
and all go es smo othly .
A crown ! I will give you a gol den angel to d o this ,
said Gerard ea gerly ; the man consented a s eagerly and went ,
with Gerard to th e cur éand tol d him h e had mad e a r i d i cul

,
ou s mistak e which a si ght of th e p arties had rectifi ed

, .
On this th e cur éa greed to marry th e young coupl e the next

day at ten : an d th e p ro fessional ob stru ctor of bliss went
hom e with Ger ard s angel L ik e mo st of th es e very cl ever
’
.
knaves h e wa s a fo ol an d pro ceeded to drink his angel at a

, ,
certain h o stel ry in T er g ou where was a green d evoted to ,
archery and th e commo n sp orts of th e d a y Th e r e b eing .

,
’
I ll n o t say a word bu t I l l mak e it up to him
’
,
An d her .
b owel s yearne d over her s on an d h er fe ebl e violence d 1 ed ,
a natural death and s h e was transferri ng h er fatal alliance

,
to Gerar d wh en the two bl ack sheep cam e i n Gerard '
knew n othing of th e imm edi at e c au se ; on th e contrary ,
inexp erienced as h e wa s in th e ins and out s of femal es her ,
kindness made him ash ame d of a su sp icion he had enter

t a i n e d that sh e was th e depredato r ; and h e kissed her a gain
an d a gain and went to b e d h appy a s a prince t o thi nk h i s
,
m oth er was h i s mother once m ore at th e very crisis of his fate .
n ext m orni n g at ten o clo ck Ge rard an d M argaret

“
’
Th e
'
, ,
were in th e church at S evenb ergen h e ra diant with j oy s h e

'
, ,
w ith bl ushes P eter was al so there an d Mar tin Witten

. ,
h aagen ; but n o o ther friend S e cre cy was eve r ythin g . .
Mar gar et had declined Italy She co ul d not l eave her .

'
fath er ; h e was t oo l earn e d and to o helples s B ut it was .

'
s ettl e d th ey shoul d ret ire into Fl anders fo r a few week s

until t h e s torm shoul d b e bl o wn over at T er g ou The cur e .
did not k eep them waiting l on g th ou gh it seeme d an a ge , .
Presently h e sto o d at the al tar and ca l l e d them to him , .
They w ent hand in hand th e happ iest i n Holl an d The , .
cur éop ene d h i s b o ok .
But ere h e uttere d a singl e word of th e s acre d rite a ,
har sh voice cried F or b ea r l And the constabl es of T er g ou

cam e up th e aisl e an d s eized Gerard in the name of th e l aw .
Martin s l ong knife fl ashed ou t d i re ctly

’
Forb ear m an i cri ed t h e priest

, VVh a t l d raw your .
weapo n in a chur ch and y e wh o interr upt th is h oly sacra

,
ment what means this imp i ety ?

,
There i s n o imp ie t y father said th e b urgoma ster s , ,

’
s ervant resp ectfully This youn g man would marry

.
‘
a gainst his father s wil l an d hi s fath er ha s p rayed ou r

’
b urgomaster to deal with him a ccordin g to th e l a w L et .
”
him d eny it i f h e can .
I s this s o youn g man ? ,
G erard hung his head .
We tak e him to Rotterdam t o ab ide the sente nce of the

D uke .
”
A t this M argaret uttere d a cry of d espair and th e youn g ,
creatures wh o were s o happy a m om ent a go fell t o sobbing

, ,
’
i n on e another s arm s s o pite ou sly that t h e ins t ruments of ,
oppression drew b ack a step and were ash am e d ; but on e of

them that wa s go o d n ature d stepp ed up under p retence
-
of separating them and whispered t o Margaret,
We but tak e him to ou r

“
Rotterdam ? it i s a lie .
”
S ta dthou se .
They took h i m away on h orseb ack on th e ro ad to

"
,
THE C L O ISTER AN D TH E H E ARTH 67
R otterdam ; and after a do z en h al ts and by sl y detours to

, , ,
T er g ou Just outsid e th e town th ey were m et by a ru de

.
Vehicl e covere d with canva s G erard w a s put into t his and .

,
ab o u t fi ve in th e evening was secretly co nveyed into t h e

prison of the S tadthou s e H e wa s taken up s everal flights .
of stairs and thru st into a sm al l ro om li ghted o nl y b y a

narrow windo w with a vertical iro n b a r , Th e whol e .
furniture was a hu ge o ak ch est .
Imprisonment in th at age was o ne of th e highro ad s to

d eath .It i s horribl e in its m i l d es t i or m ; but in tho se days
it implied col d unb rok en solitu de torture starvatio n and , , ,
o ften p o ison Gerard fel t h e was in th e hand s of an en emy ;

.
“
Oh th e lo ok that m an gave m e on the ro ad to Rot t er
‘
, :
dam . There i s more h ere than m y father s wrath I doub t ’

.
'
”
I s h al l s ee no m ore th e light of d a y And h e kneel ed down .
and comm en d ed hi s soul to Go d . _
Pres ently h e ro se a n d sp r a n g at th e iro n b ar of th e ‘
window and clutch e d i t

, T h i s enabl e d him to l o ok ou t b y .
pressin g his knees a gainst th e wal l It was b ut for a .
minute ; b ut in that minute h e saw a sight su ch a s none b ut

a captive can appreciate ]
Martin W i t t en h a a g en 5 b ack ’
M artin w a s sitting quietly fi sh i n g in th e bro ok n ear the

,
Stadthouse .
Gerard sprang a gain at t h e window and wh istl ed , .
Martin in stantly showe d th at h e w a s w a tching much h arder

than fi s h i n g H e tur ne d h ast il y r ound and saw Gerard ;
'
made him a signal an d taking up his line a n d b ow went , ,
qui ckly off .
Gerard s a w b y this that his friends were n ot idl e ; yet

h e h ad rather Martin h ad stayed Th e very sight of him .
’
was a comfort H e h el d on l o okin g at th e sol dier s r etirin g
.
,
form a s lon g as h e coul d then fallin g b ack so m ewhat ,
heavily wrench ed th e ru sty iro n b ar hel d only by ru sty

, ,
nail s away from th e ston e work j u st as Gh y s b r ech t V an

,
-
S wi et en op en ed th e do or stealthil y b ehin d him Th e burgo .
’
m aster s eye fell instantly o n th e iron and t h en gl a n ced at ,
th e l w i n d ow ; b ut h e said nothin g Th e window was a .
hundred feet from th e ground ; and if Gerard h ad a i a n cy fo r

j umpin g ou t wh y shoul d he b alk i t ? H e b rou ght a b rown
,
‘
loaf and a pitcher of water an d s et them on th e chest in ,
solemn sil ence Gerard s fi r s t imp ulse was t o brain him with
.
’
the ir on b ar and fl y down th e stairs ; but the burgomaster

seein g something wicked in his eye gave a littl e cou gh and , ,
thre e stout f el l ows a r m e d sh owe d themselves directly at

‘
, ,
the do or .
My or d er s a r e to keep yo u thu s unt i l you s h al l b ind

'
yourself by an oa t h t o l eave Margaret Brandt and return to.

,
th e Church t o which you have b elon ge d fr o m your
,
cradl e
D eath so on er
.
With al l my heart And t h e b urgomaster ret i red . .
Martin went with all sp eed to S evenb ergen ; there h e

found Margaret p al e and agitated b ut full of res olution an d ,
energy .
She was j u st fi n i s h i n g a l etter to the C ountess
Ch ar ol oi s app ealing t o her against th e vi ol ence and
,
treach ery of G h y s b r ech t

I h ave found
.
Coura ge ! cried Martin on enterin g .
h im . H e is in the haunted tower ri ght at th e t op of i t ,

.
A y ; I know the place ; m any a p o or fell ow has gone up there

straight and com e down feet foremo st
,
.
H e then tol d them how h e had lo oked u p an d seen

Gerard s face at a window th at was l i ke a slit i n th e wal l
.
’
.
Oh Mar tin i how did h e lo ok ?

,
XVh a t m ean y ou ? H e lo ok ed lik e G erard E l i a ss oen .
B u t w a s h e p al e ?
”
A littl e .
Lo oke d h e anxiou s ? Lo oke d h e l ik e o ne do om ed ?

”
Nay nay ; a s bright as a p e wter p ot
,
.
You mo ck m e S t ay ! then that mu st have b een at

’
sight of y ou H e counts on u s . Oh what shal l we do ? .

,
”
Martin go o d friend tak e thi s at once to Rotter dam
, , .
Martin hel d out his hand for th e l etter .
Peter had s a t sil ent all this time but p ondering an d yet , ,
contrary to custom k eenly attentive to what was going on ,
around h im .
Put not your trust in princes s aid h e

-
, .
Al as ! what el se h ave we to tru st i h ?

”
Knowl edge .
Well a day fath er ! your l ea rning will not serve u s

- -
,
How know you that ? Wit has b een to o stron g fo r

”
,
iron b ars ere to day -

.
A y father ; but n ature is stro nger tha n wit an d s h e i s

, .
,
a gainst u s Think of the height ! No l adder in Ho l l and

.
might reach him .
I need no l adder ; what I ne ed is a gol d crown .
Nay I have m oney for that matter

, I have nine , .
a n gel s. Gera rd gave them m e to k eep ; but what d o they

avail ? The burgomaster will n ot b e brib ed to let Ge rard
free .
Wh at do th ey avail ? Give m e bu t on e crown and th e ,
y ou n g man shall sup with u s this night .
Peter sp oke so e a gerly an d c on fi d en t l y th at for a ,
moment Margaret fel t hop eful ; but s h e caught Martin 5 ’

T HE CLO ISTER A N D T HE HEARTH 69
e y e dwell in g up o n him with an expres sio n of b enevolent

contemp t .
It p as ses th e po w ers of m an s invention said s h e ’
, ,
w i t h a deep sigh
’
.
Inventi on ! cried th e ol d man A fi g f or invention .

.
‘N at n eed we invention at this tim e of day ?

h Everythin g
h a s b e en said that is to b e said a n d done that ever will b e ,
d on e . I shall tell y ou how a Fl o rentine knight was shut

up in a tower higher than Gerard s ; yet did his faithful ’
squire stand at th e towe r fo ot and get him out ; with no oth er

engine than that in your hand Martin an d ce rtain kick
“ ‘
, ,
”
shaws I shall buy for a cr own
'
.
.
Mar tin lo ok ed at h i s b ow and turn ed it round in his

‘
'
hand and s eemed to interro gate i t

, But th e examination .
left him a s incredul ou s a s b efore .

‘
Then P eter tol d t h em h i s story h ow t h e faithful squire

'
o t t h knight t f a high tower t B e cia The

’
g e o u o a r
'
s .
man oeuvre like m o st things that a r e r eally s ci e n t i fi c wa s

, ,
s o simpl e that now their won der was th ey had taken for
,
imp o ssibl e wh at was n ot even d i ffi cu l t .
Th e l ett er n ever went to Rotterdam They tru sted .
’
t o P eter 3 l earning and th eir own dexterity .
It was nine o cl o ck on a clear m oonli ght night ; Gerard

’
Senior Wa s still aw ay ; the rest of his littl e fa m ily had b een

,
som e tim e ab ed .
’
A fi gu r e sto o d b y th e dwarf s b ed It was white and .
,
-
the mo onlight Shon e on i t .
With an unearthly nois e b etween a yell a n d a snarl th e , ,
gy mnast roll e d o ff his b e d and under it by a singl e u nbroken

movem ent A soft voice followe d him in his retreat
. .
W h y Gil es ; a r e you afeard of m e ?

,
v
A t this G i l es s h ead p eep ed cautiou sly u p an d h e saw

’
‘
, , ,
it was o nl y his siste r K ate .
Sh e put her fi n g er to h er lip s Hush ! l est th e wicke d .
C ornelis or the wicked S y b r a n d t h ear u s Gil es s cl aws .

’
seized the sid e of t h e b ed an d h e returned to his place by ,
o n e undivided gymnastic
Kate then reveal ed to Gil es th at s he had h eard Cornelis
.
and S y b r a n d t m ention Gerard s nam e ; an d b ein g h erself ’
in great anxiety at his not c om i n g h om e all day had listened /

,
at their do or and h ad made a fearful discovery Gerard was

,
.
in p rison in the haunte d tower of the Stadthous e

,
H e was .
there it seemed b y their father s authority

, ,
But here mu st ’
.
b e som e treach ery ; f or h ow c ou l d their father have or d ered

this cruel act ? H e was at Rotterdam She e n d ed by e n .
treating Gil es t o h ear h er comp any to th e f o ot of t h e haunted

to w er to s a y a word of comfort to p o or Gerard and let him
, ,
70 TH E ‘
CLO I S TE R AN D THE HEARTH
know th eir fa t her was ab s ent and woul d b e sur e to r el ease ,
h i m on his return .
D ear Gil es I w oul d g o al one b ut I a m afe ard of th e

, ,
spi ri t s that m e n s a y do h au nt th e tower ; b ut with y ou I

sh a l l not b e afeard .
i
“
N or I w ith you said Gi l es I don t b elieve there , ,
.
’
are any S p irits in T er gou

,
I never s a w on e This last . .
was t h e likest on e ever I saw ; and i t r w a s b ut you K ate a ,
after all
In l ess than h alf an h our G il es and Ka t e O p ene d th e
.
hou se do or cautiou sly and issu e d f orth

—
Sh e m ad e h i m .
carry a l antern th ou gh th e night wa s b ri ght,

T h e l a nt ern .
give s m e more courage agains t the evi l sp i r i ts said she .
The fi r s t day of imp ris onment i s very tryin g esp ecially , ,
if t o th e horror of captivity is added th e horror of utter ,
s olitu d e I ob se r ve th at i n ou r own day a great m any

,
-
_
p ersons commit suicide durin g the fi r s t twenty four hours -
of th e soli t ary cell This is do u b tl ess why ou r Jairi ab stain

. .
.
so carefully from th e imp ertinence of w atching their li t tl e

exp eriment up o n th e human soul at that p articul ar sta ge of
it .
’
As th e sun declined Gerard s heart t oo sank and sank ,
with t h e w aning light even th e emb ers of ho p e we nt out .
H e was faint t oo with hun ger ; for h e was af rai d t o ea t th e

, ,
-
v .
foo d Gh y s b r ech t had b rou ght him ; an d hunger al o n e cows

m en H e sat up on t h e ch est his arm s an d h i s h ead dro op
.
,
ing b efore him a picture oi desp ondency , S uddenl y ,

.
somethin g stru ck the wall b eyo n d him very sharply a n d ,
then rattle d on th e flo or at hi s feet It was an arrow ; h e .
s a w t h e white feather A chill ran throu gh hi m — they .
m eant then to a s s a s s i n a t e h i m from the outside : H e

crou ched N o mo r e missil es cam e
. H e c r awl ed o n all '
.
,
fours and to ok up th e arrow ; th ere w a s no h ea d to i t

, ;
H e uttere d a c r y of hop e : had a f rien dl y hand shot i t ?

'
H e t o o k it u p a n d felt it al l over : h e found a soft sub stance

,
a t ta che d to i t Then on e of h i s eccentricities wa s o f gran d

.
u s e to him Hi s tinder b ox enabl ed him to strike a light :

. .
it sh owed him two things that m ad e his h eart b ound with

delight no n e th e l ess t h 1 il l i n g f or b eing somewhat va gu e
, .
Attache d to the arrow was a skein o f s ilk and o n th e arrow ,
i t self were words written .
How his eyes d evoured them his heart panting t h e ,
while !
W al l b el ove o, ma k e f a s t t b e s i l h t o 1 13 9 11 1 1 1 1 6 11 1 1 0 l ower
'
'
to 1 1 5 : b ut b ot h t h i ne e no f a s t z t b en count 11 1 1 h unoreo a no
b r a vo up .
C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH
THE 71
Gerard seiz e d th e o a k chest and with l mo st sup erhuman

'
, a
e nergy dra gged it to th e window : a moment a go h e coul d not
have m oved i t Standin g on th e chest and lo oking dow n he
.
,
s a w fi g u r es at th e tower fo ot They were s o indistinct they .

,
lo ok ed l ik e on e huge form H e waved his b onnet to them .

~
with trembling han d : then h e u ndid th e s il k r a p i d l y but care

'
fully an d m ade o ne end fast to his k nife and l owered it till i t

,
ceased to draw Th en he counted a hundred

. Then pull ed .
th e silk c a refully u p : it cam e up a littl e h eavier A t

last h e cam e to a large knot and b y th at k no t a stout
.
whip cord w a s attach ed to the silk Wh at coul d this m ean ? .
Whil e h e w a s puzzling himself Margaret s vo ice cam e up ’
to h i m lo w b ut cl ear
”
, D raw u p Gerard till you s e e .
, ,
lib erty A t th e word Gerard drew th e whip cord lin e u p

.
,
and drew and drew till h e cam e to another knot and foun d
‘
a c Or d o f som e thickness tak e the place of th e whip cord .
H e h a d no so oner b e gun to draw this u p th an h e found ,
that h e had now a heavy weight to deal with Then th e .
truth suddenly fl a s h e d on him an d h e went to work an d ,
p ull e d and p ull ed till the p ersp iratio n roll ed d own him :
the weight go t heavier and h eavier and at l ast h e was w ell ,
nigh exhau sted : l o oking down h e saw in th e mo onlight a ,
sight that revive d him : it was a s it were a great snak e

c om i n g u p to him ou t of th e deep sh a dow cast b y th e tower
’
H e gave a shout of j oy an d a score more wi ld pulls and lo ! , ,
a sto ut n ew ro pe tou che d his hand : he h aul e d and h a ul ed ,
and dragged t h e en d into h i s p rison an d instantly p asse d it ,
throu gh b oth handl es of th e ch est in su ccession and knotte d ,
it fi r m l y ; then s a t f or a mom ent to recover his b reath and

coll ect h i s courage Th e fi r st thing was to mak e sure
.
t h a t t h e ch est was sound and cap abl e of resistin g his weight

‘
,
p oised i n m i d air H e j ump ed with all his force up o n i t

'
-
. .
o _
A t the third j ump the whol e side bu rst O p en and out

’
scuttl ed th e co ntents a ho st of p archm ents ,

.
After th e fi r s t start and misgiving this gave h im "

,
G erard comprehended that th e chest h ad not b u r st b ut ,
op en ed : h e had doubtless j ump ed up on som e s ecret spring .
St i ll it sho o k in som e degre e his c on fi d en ce in th e chest s ’
p o wers of resistance ; s o h e gave it an ally : h e to ok the iro n

b ar an d fastene d it With th e smal l rop e acro ss th e large r op e
-
, ,
an d acro ss the window H e now mounted the chest an d .

,
from th e chest p ut his fo ot thr ou gh the window an d s a t ,
h al f in an d half out with o ne han d on that p art of the rop e

,
which was inside I n th e sil ent night h e

. heard his own he a rt
h eat .
The fre e air breathe d o n h i s face and gave h i m t h e ,
courage t o r i sk what we must al l lo se one day —for lib erty

"
.
Many dangers awaite d him but the greatest was th e fi r s t ,

getting on to th e rop e outsid e G erard refl ected Finally . .
,
h e p ut himself in th e attitu de of a swimmer his b o dy to th e ,
waist b ein g in th e p rison his legs o utside Then h ol d m g

,
.
the insid e rop e with b oth hands h e felt anxiou sly with his ,
f eet for th e o utside rop e an d when h e h ad got i t h e work ed

, ,
it in b etwe en th e p alms of his feet and kep t it there tight : ,
then h e uttered a sh ort prayer and al l th e c al mer for i t , , ,
put his left hand on the s i ll an d gradually wriggl ed ou t .
Then b e seized the iron b ar and for o ne fe a rful mom ent ,
hun g outside from it b y his right hand wh ile his l eft hand ,
felt for th e rop e down at his knees ; it was to o tight again st

th e w al l for his fi n g er s to get round it high er u p The .
mom ent h e had fairly grasp ed i t h e l eft th e b ar and s w iftly , ,
seiz ed th e rop e with th e right hand to o ; but in this man oeuvre

his b o dy n ecessarily fell ab out a yard A s t ifl e d cry came .
u p from b el ow G erard hung in mid air H e cl enched h i s

.
-
.
t eeth and nipp ed th e rop e tight with his feet and gripp e d
,
it with his hands and went down sl owly hand b el ow hand

, .
H e p assed by on e hu g e rou gh stone after another H e saw .
there was gre en m o ss on on e H e l o oked up an d h e l o oked

.
down . The mo on shon e into hi s p riso n window : it seem ed

very n ear Th e fl u t t er i n g fi gu r es b el ow seem ed a n awful
.
distance It mad e him dizzy to l o ok down : s o b e fi x e d

.
his eyes steadily on th e wal l cl o se to him and went sl o wly ,
d own down d own

, , .
H e p assed a rusty slimy streak on th e wall : it was som e

,
ten feet l ong The rop e m ade his hands very hot
.
H e s t ol e .
anoth er l o ok u p .
Th e prison window was a go o d way off now

D own down— down— down
.
— .
The rop e m ade h i s hands sore .
H e l o oked u p The window was so distant h e ventur e d

.
,
now to turn his eyes downward again ; an d there not m o re ,
than thirty feet b elow him were Margar et and Mar t in

‘
, .
,
their faithful h an ds up stretched to catch him should h e

fal l. H e coul d see th e i r eyes and th e i r teeth shine in the
mo onl ight F or their m ouths were op en and th ey w ere
.
,
breathing h ard .
Take care G erard ! oh tak e care ! Lo ok no t down

, , .
”
Fear m e not cried Gerard j oyfully and eyed the w a ll
, , ,
b ut cam e down faster .
In another minut e his feet were a t th eir han d s Th ey .
s eized him ere h e touch ed the groun d and all three clung ,
t o gether in on e emb rac e .
Hush ! away in s i l ence d ear on e , .
They stol e al on g th e shad ow of the wall .
Now ere th ey h a d gon e many yards su ddenly a str ea m

,
,
of l i gh t s h ot from an angle of th e buil d ing and lay a cro ss

,
74 TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
C HAPTE R X I
TH E stran ge glance of hatred the b urgomaster had cast on

Gerard coupl ed with his imprisonm ent h ad fi l l e d th e youn g
, ,
m an w ith a p ersuasion that Gh y s b r ech t was his en emy to th e

death and h e glide d rou nd th e angl e of the tower f u lly
, ,
exp ecting to se e no sup ernatural app earanc e but some cruel ,
and treacherou s contrivance of a b ad man to do him a mis

chief in that prison his escap e from which coul d hardly b e
,
known .
As h e stol e forth a soft b ut b rave hand crept into h i s ; and

,
Margaret was by his side to share this new p eril ,

.
N o sooner was the haunted tower Visible than a sight ,
stru ck their eyes that b enumb ed them as they sto o d More .
than h alf w a y up t h e to wer a creature with a fi er y head , ,
like an enormou s glowworm was stead ily mounting th e wal l : ,
th e b o dy was dark but its outline visibl e throu gh th e glare

,
from th e head and th e whol e creature no t mu ch l ess than

,
fo ur fe et l ong .
j
A t th e fo ot of th e tower sto o d a thing in w h ite that ,
l o oked exactly l ik e th e fi gu r e of a fem al e Gerard and .
Margare t p alpitate d with awe .
The rop e l th e rop e ! It i s going up th e rop e g asp e d ,
G erard .
As th ey gazed th e glowworm disappeared in Gerard s

,
’
l a t e prison but its light illuminated th e cell in sid e an d

,
re d dened t h e window T h e white fi gu r e stoo d motio nles s

.
b elow .
Su ch a s can retain their sen se s after t h e fi r s t pro stratin g

e e ct of th e sup ernatural are apt to exp erience terror in on e
of its strange st form s a w i ld desire to fl i n g th emselve s up o n
,
th e terribl e obj ect I t fascinates them as th e sn ake th e b ird

.
.
Th e great t r a g e d ian Macready u sed to render this fi n el y in

H e flun g h i m
’
Macb eth at Ban qu o s second app earance
, .
self w i th averted h ead at th e horribl e shadow This stran ge . .
impul se now seized Margaret Sh e put down G er a r d s hand

.
j
’
quietly and sto o d b ewild ered ; th en all i n a m oment with

, , ,
a w il d cry darted toward s th e sp ectr e ; Gerard not aware

, ,
of th e natural impul se I have sp oken oi never do u b ted th e ,
e v i l on e was d r a w i n g h er to h er p erd ition H e fell o n h i s .
knees .
Exorciz o vo s I n nomine b eat ae Mari ae

. exo rciz o ,
While th e exorcist wa s shriekin g h i s incantations in

extremity of terror to his i n fi n i t e relief h e heard the sp ectre
,
TH E CI OI ST E R AND T H E HEA R TH
‘ S
75
'
°
A
u tte r a fe eb l e
fear To fi n d that hell had als o i t s cr y of .
littl e wea k n es s cs was encoura gi ng H e red ou b le d h i s .
exorcism s and pres ently h e s a w the ghastly sha p e kneeling

’
at Margar et s k nees and heard it pra y ing p i teo u sly fo r

’ ' ’
m ercy .
K ate and Giles s oo n reach ed th e haunted tower J u d ge ‘
their surp ris e wh en they found a n ewrop e d anglin g from th e

.
’
p ris oner s window to th e ground
I s ee how it i s
'
s aid th e infe r io r in t elligence t aking ,
f a c t s a s t h ey came Our Gerard has come down this r op e

'
H e has got clear U p I g o and .

,
No Gil es 1 1 0 1 , s ai d the sup erior intelligence blinde d ,
b y p r ej udice S e e you not this is glam o u r ?

. This rop e
i s a li ne th e e vil on e casts out to wile th ee to d estr u cti on .
H e kn ow s th e weaknesses of al l ou r h ea r ts ; h e has seen how

fond y ou are of go in g up thi ngs Wh ere shoul d ou r Gerard .
pro c ure a rop e? h ow fa sten it in th e sk y lik e t h l s ? It i s

n ot in n a ture Holy saints prote ct u s this night ; fo r h ell is
.
,
a b ro a d .
St ufi l said the d wa 1 f ; fl th e way to h ell i s down

‘ '
°
and thi s ro ad l eads u p I ne ver h a d th e lu ck to g o up such

’
a lon g rop e It may b e years er e I fal l in with su ch a lo ng

’
1 op e all ready hung f or m

.
e As Well b e kno cked on t h e h ead .
”
at once as n ev er know h app ine s s .
And h e S p run g on to the r Op e with a cry of d elight as a ,
cat j ump s with a m ew on to a tabl e wh ere fi s h i s All the .
gymnast w a s on fi r e ; and t h e only co ncessio n K ate co ul d

gain from him was p ermissio n t o fast en the lantern on his
neck fi r s t .
A light scares th e ill sp irits s a i d s h e , .
And s o with his hu ge arms and his l egs like f e a thers

Giles went up the rop e faster than his b rother cam e down
, , ,
it. Th e light at th e nap e of his ne ck made a glowworm of

him His sister watched his p ro gress with trembling
S t1 d d en l y a fe m
.
,
a n x i et y . al e fi gu r e started ou t of t h e solid
masonry and cam e flyin g at h er with m ore th an m ortal
,
V elo city .
Kate uttered a fe ebl e c r y It was all s h e c ou l d f or h er .

,
~
tongu e cl oVe to h er p alate with terror Then s h e dropp e d

‘
her crutches and sank up o n h er kne es hiding h er face and

, ,
m o aning :
Tak e my b o dy b ut s pare my s oul ! ,
M ar g a r et ( p anting ) Why it i s a woma n ! .

,
K a te ( quiverin g) Why it is a wom an ! .

,
M a r g a r et H ow yo u s care d m e
K a te I a m Scared enou gh mys elf Oh l oh ! oh !
‘
. .
This i s str ange ! But the fi er y h ea ded thing ? Yet it

’
-
76 THE C L OISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
wa s w ith y ou and y ou are h a r m l es s l But why a r e y o
,
u .
w
h ere at this time of night ?

Nay why are Y O U ? ,
Perhap s w e are on the sa me errand ? Ah ! you a r e

his g ood sister K ate ?
,
And y ou are Margaret Brandt ?

Yea ,
All the b etter You l ove him you are h ere . Then , .
Giles was ri ght H e has wo n free . .
Gerard cam e forward and p ut th e qu estio n at re st , .
But a l l further expl anation was cut sho rt by a h orrible

unearthly nois e lik e a sepul chr e ventrilo qui zing ,
P A R C H M E N T l — PA R C H M E N T l— PA R C H M E N T !
A t each rep etition it ro se in intensity They l o
, oked .
up ,
an d th ere was the dwarf with his han d s full of p arch ,
ments and his face lighted with fi en d i s h j oy and lurid

,
with diab olical fi r e T h e light b eing at h i s neck a more .

,
infernal transp arency never startled mortal eye With .
th e word the awf u l imp hurle d p archment at the asto ni sh e d

,
heads b elow D own cam e records lik e wounde d wil d;

.
,
duck s ; some collap sed others fl u t t er i n g an d others spread , ,
o u t and w h eelin g slowly down in airy circles Th ey had .

,
har dl y settl ed when again th e sepulchral roar was hea r d

,
Pa ch m e n t l — a r ch m en t l a n d down p attered and sail ed

r p
another fl ock of do cuments ; another followed they white ned
th e grass Final ly the fi r e headed imp with h i s light b o dy
.
,
-
,
and horny hands slid down th e rop e like a fallin g s t a r a n d

, ,
‘
( business b efore sentiment ) prop o se d t o his res c ued bro t her

an immediate settlement f or the merchandis e h e had j us t
delivered .
Hush ! said Gerar d ; you sp eak t oo loud G a ther _
them u p and follow u s to a safer pl ace than this

, .
Wil l y ou not come home with m e G erard ? ,
littl e Kate .
I have no hom e .
You shall not say 5 0 Wh o is more welcome than y ou .
will b e after this cruel wrong to your father s hou se ?

, ,
’
Father ! I h ave no father said Gerard sternly He , .
that was my father is tu rne d my gaoler I have escape d .
from his hands ; I will never com e within their reach

aga i n .
A n enemy did this and not ou r fa t her , .
An d she tol d h i m what sh e h a d overh eard Corneli s and

Sy b r a n d t s ay But the inj ury w a s to o recent to b e so oth e d
. .
G erard showed a b i t ternes s of indig nation h e had hitherto

seemed incap abl e oi .
Cornelis and S y b r a n d t are two ill curs tha t have shown

me th e i r teeth and their heart a long whil e ; but they could
TH E C L O IS TE R A ND THE HEARTH 77
“
do no m ore My father it is that gave th e burgom aster

.
authority or h e durst not have lai d a fi n g er o n m e that a m

, ,
a fre e b urgher of this town S o b e i t th en I was his s on .

, . .
I a m his prisoner H e h a s pl ayed his p art . I sh al l play .
mine . Farewell th e b urgh wh ere I was b o rn and live d ,
honestl y and was p ut in prison Whil e th ere is anoth e r

‘
, .
.
town l eft in creation I ll n ever tro ub l e you ,

’
O h ! Gerard ! G er ard !
D o n ot gainsay him now ;
_
Margaret whisp ere d her :

Give his choler tim e to co ol !
Kate turned quickly toward s her L et m e lo ok at you r . ,
face ? Th e insp ectio n was favourabl e it seem ed f or s h e , ,
whisp ered : It is a comely face and no mischief ,

”
Fear m e n o t sai d Margaret in th e sam e to ne
, I , .
co ul d not b e happy without your love as well as Gerard s ,

’
.
”
These are comfortabl e words sobb ed Kate Th en , .
,
l o okin g u p s h e s aid I littl e thou ght to lik e you s o well

, , .
My heart is will in g but my i n fi r m i t y will n ot l et m e emb race

,
”
you .
A t this hint M argaret woun d gently ro un d Gerard s

’
sister and kiss ed h er l ovingly

, .
O ften h e h ”as sp oken of you to m e Kate ; and often ,
I longed for this .
You to o Gerard ,
said K ate ;
,
kiss m e ere y ou go ;
,
”
for my h eart l ies h eavy at p arting with you this ni ght .
Gerard kisse d her an d sh e went on h er crutches ho me , .
Th e last thing they heard of her w a s a littl e p atient sigh .
’
Then the tears cam e and sto o d thick in Margaret s eyes .
’
But Gerard was a man an d noticed not his sister s sigh ,
.
As they turned to g o to S evenb ergen th e dwarf nud ged ,
Gerard with his b undl e of p archments and hel d out a concave ,
claw .
Margaret dissu ad ed Gerard W h y take what is not .
ours ?
Oh sp oil an enemy how you can
,
.
But may they not make this a handl e for fresh

Viol ence ?
How can th ey ? Think y ou I shall stay in T orgon
after this ? Th e b urgomaster robb ed m e o f my l ib erty ;
”
I doubt I shoul d t ak e his life for i t if I could ,
.
O h fi e ! Gerard
, .
Wh at ! Is life worth m ore than l ib er ty ? Well I ,
ca n t tak e his life s o I take th e fi r s t thing that comes to

’
,
h and .
H e gave Gil es a few sm al l coins with which th e urchin ,
was gla d dened and s h u ffl e d after his sister

,
Margaret a n d .
G erard were sp eedily j o ine d by Martin and a wa y t o S even ,
bergen .
78 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEA RTH
C HAPTER x1 1
Ger a rd s p ms on k ey of
'
’
G H YS B R E C H T V A N S W I E T E N kept the
in h i s p ouch H e wai te d t i ll ten
. of th e clo ck ere he Vi sited
him ; for h e s ai d to himself A littl e hunger sometimes ,
do es we1 1 ; it b reaks em A t ten h e crep t up the stairs

’
.
with a lo af and p itcher foll owed by his trusty servant well ,
arm ed Gh y s b r e ch t listened at the do or

. There was no .
sound insid e A grim smil e stol e ove r h i s features

. . By .
this time h e will b e as down hearte d as Al b er t z K oes t ei n -
wa s thought h e H e O p ened th e
,
. .
No Gerard .
Gh y s b r e ch t sto o d s t u p efi e d .
Althou gh hi s face was no t Visible his b o dy s eemed t o ,
lose al l motion in s o p ec ul iar a way and then after a littl e ,
h e fell a trembling s o that th e servant b ehind h i m s a w

'
there was som ething amiss and crept clo se to him and p eep ed ,
over his shoul der A t sight of the emp ty c ell an d the rop e
.
, ,
and iron b ar h e uttered a lou d exclam ation of won d er ; but

,
his surpris e doubl ed when his master di sregar di ng all else , ,
suddenly flung hims elf on his knees b efore the empty chest ,
and felt wil dl y a l l over it with quivering hands as if u n ,
willing to trust his eyes in a matter so imp orta nt .
The s ervant gaz ed at him in utter b ew ilderm e nt

’
W h y m aster what is the matter ?

, ,
Gh y s b r e ch t s p al e lip s worked as if h e was going to

’
answer ; but they uttered no sound : h i s hands fell by his

side a nd he stared into th e chest
, .
W h y master what avail s glaring into that emp ty

, ,
b ox ? The lad is not there S ee h ere ! Note th e cunning of .
the young ro gu e ; h e h ath tak en out the b ar and ,
G ONE ! G ON E ! G ONE !
Gone ! What is gone ? Holy saints ! he is plan et ‘ ‘
s t r u ck i
ST OP T H I E F I shrieke d G h y s b r ech t and suddenly ,
turned on his servant and collared him and sho ok h i m ,
with rage D ye stand there knave and s ee y our master

.
’
, ,
'
robb ed ? Run ! fl y ! A hundred crowns to him t h a t fi n d s

’
it m e again No no ! tis in vain
. Oh f ool ! fo ol ! to le ave
, .
,
t hat in th e sam e ro om with him But non e ever f ou n d t h e

'
secret sp ring b e fore Non e ever woul d but h e It was t o

. .
be . It is t o b e Lo st ! lo st ! and hi s years a n d i nfi r m i t y
.
n ow gained th e b etter of h i s short lived frenzy and h e sank -

,
on t h e chest mut t erin g Lo st ! l o st !

Wh at is lo st master? asked t h e servant kindl y , .
THE CLO I S T E R A ND TH E HEA R TH
_
.
79
Hous e a nd la nd s a nd go o d nam e gro aned Gh y s b r ech t , ,

and wrung his h a nds fe ebly .
WHAT ? crie d th e servant .
T h l S e m p h a t l c wo rd and the to ne of ea ger curio sity , ,
struck o n G h y s b r e ch t s ear and revive d his natural cunning

’
I have l o st the town records stammered h e and h e , ,
lo oked askant at the man like a fox cau ght near a hen ro o st -
‘
Oh is that all ?
,
’
Is t not enou gh ? What wi l l th e b urgher s s a y to m e ? ,
What will the bu rgh do ? Then h e suddenly burst ou t again ,
A hundred crowns to him who shall reco ver them ; a l l mind , ,

”
all that were in this b ox If one b e missin g I give nothing .
, .
’
Tis a b argain master : th e hun d red cro wns are in my ,
p ouch S e e you n ot th at where Gerard E l i a s s oen i s th er e

.
,
are th e p iece s o f sheep skin y ou rat e so high ?

That is true ; that is tru e ; go o d D i er i ch : go o d faith
”
ful D i er i ch A1 1 mind a l l th a t were in the chest
.
, , .
Master I will take th e constable s to Gerard s h ou se

,
’
,
”
and seiz e him fo r th e theft .
Th e th eft ? ay l go o d ; very go o d It is theft I . .
forgot that S o as h e is a thief now we will p ut him in th e

.
, ,
dungeons b elow where the to ads are and th e rats , D i e r i ch .

,
that man mu st never s e e daylight again Ti s his own fault ; .

’
he must b e prying Q uick

”
quick ! ere h e ha s time t o talk
.
, ,
you k now tim e to talk , .
In less t h an h a lf an hour D i er i ch Brower and fo u r c on

stables entered th e ho sier s h ou se and de m an ded y ou n g ’
Gerard of the p anic stricken C atherine -

.
Al a s ! what has h e do ne n ow ? cried s h e ; that b oy

”
will break my h eart .
Nay dam e but a trick of youth

, ,said D i er i ch , ,
H e h ath b ut m ade off with certain skins of p archm ent in a ,
frolic doubtl es s ; b u t th e b urgom aster is answerabl e to th e

”
burgh for their safe ke ep in g s o h e is in care ab out them ; ,

”
as f or the youth h e will doubtles s b e qu it f or a reprimand
, .
T his sm o oth sp eech c omp l e t ely imp o se d on C atherine ;

b ut her dau ghter wa s m ore S U Sp i c i ou s and that suspicion ,
was strengthened by the disprop ortionate anger an d d i s

app ointm ent D i er i ch showe d th e m om ent h e learne d
Gerard was not at hom e ha d no t b een at hom e that night ,
.
C om e away then said h e rou ghly

”
We a r e wastin g
, , ._
tim e. H e a dde d veh em ently

’
I ll fi n d him if h e i s ab ove ,
’
ground .
Afi e c t i on sharp en s t h e wits and often it has m ade an ,
inno ce nt p erson m ore than a m atch f or th e wil y As D i er i ch .
was going out K ate m ad e him a sign al s h e woul d sp eak with

,
him priva tely H e b ade his m en g o oh and wait e d ou ts ide

.
,
the do or She j oi ne d him

.
-
.
80 THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
Hush ! said s h e ; my mother kno ws not Gerard .
”
has left T er g ou .
How ?
I s a w him last nigh t .
Ay l Where ? cried D i er i ch eagerly .
”
A t th e foot of th e haunted tower .
How did h e get th e rop e ?

I know not ; b ut this I kn ow ; my bro t her Gerar d
'
b ade m e th ere farewell an d h e is many leagu es from T er g ou ,
er ethis The town you know was always unworthy of him

.
, , ,
and when it imprisoned him h e vowed n ever to set fo ot in it ,
a gain Let the burgoma ster b e content then

.
H e has ,
.
imprisoned him and h e has driven him from his b irthplace

,
and from h i s native land Wh at ne e d now to rob him and .
u s of ou r go o d name ?
This might at another moment have struck D i er i ch as
goo d sense ; but h e was to o m or t ifi e d at this escap e of Gerar d
and th e lo ss of a hundred crown s .
What need had h e to steal ? retorted he b itterly .
Gerard stol e not the trash ; h e b ut took it to S p ite th e

burgomaster who stol e h i s l ib erty ; but h e shall answer to
th e D uke for i t h e shall
,
As for these skins of p archment

,
.
y ou keep such a coil ab out lo ok in the nearest brook or ,
s t ye an d t i s o dds but you fi n d them

,
’
.
Think y e s o mistress ? — think y e s o?

, And D i er i ch s ’
eyes fl ash ed Mayhap y ou know tis s o

.
’ ’
.
T h is I k n ow that Gerard is to o go o d to s t eal and to o

,
wise to lo ad himself with rubbish going a j ourne y , .
Give you go o d day then said D i er i c h sha r ply , , .
The sheep skin y ou scorn I valu e it more t han the skin of ,

”
any he in T er g ou .
And h e went off hastily o n a fal se scent .
Kat e returned into the house and drew G i les asid e .
Giles my heart misgives m e ; breath e not to a soul

,
I have tol d D irk Brower t h a t G er a r d

'
what I s a y to you .
i s ou t of Holland but mu ch I doub t h e is n o t a l eague from

,
T er g ou .
Why where i s h e then ?

, ,
Where shoul d he b e b ut with her h e loves ? Bu t if s o , ,
h e must n ot loiter Thes e b e deep and dark and wicked

.
Giles ; I see that in D irk B r ower s ey e

,
m en that s eek hi nt ’ ‘
n i a k e s m e tremble Oh why cannot I fl y to S evenb ergen

.
,
and b id him away ? Why a m I not lusty and active like '
other girl s ? G od forgive m e for frettin g at H i s w il l ; b ut

I n ever felt till now what it is to b e lam e and weak and u se
”
l ess . But you are strong dear Giles added s h e coaxingly ; , ,
you are very stron g .
Yes I a m strong
, thundere d Per p u s il l u s ; then , ,
82 THE C LO I S T E R A N D ,
T H E HEART H
sho u l d b e their enemies and comb ine as it seemed to p art , , ,
them .
They sat hand in han d till midnight now deploring t h eir ,
hard fate now dra wing bright and hop eful p ictures of th e
,
’
future in th e midst of which Margaret s te a rs woul d suddenly
,
’
fl ow and then p o or Gerard s elo quence woul d die away in a
,
si gh
The morning found them resigned to p a rt b ut ne ither
.
had th e courage to say when ; and mu ch I doub t wh ether th e

hour of p arting ever woul d h ave struck .
But ab out thre e in the afterno on G i les who had made a , ,
circuit of many mil es to avoid susp icion ro de up to th e do or ,

.
They b oth ran out to him eager with curio sity ,

.
Broth er Gerard cri ed h e in his tremendous tone s

, , ,
Kate b ids you run for your life They charge you with .
theft ; you h ave given them a handl e Think n ot to ex .
plain Hop e not for j u stice in T er g ou

. Th e p archments .
you to ok th ey are but a blind

,
She hath seen your death .
in th e men s eyes ; a price is on your head

’
Fly ! For .
Margaret s s ake and all who love you loiter not l i f e a wa y

’
, ,
b u t fly l
It was a thunder clap and l eft two white faces lo okin g -
,
at on e anoth er and at th e terribl e m essenger

, .
Then Gil es who h ad hitherto b ut uttered by rote what

,
'
Catherine b ade him put in a word o t his own ,

. .
All th e constables were at our hou se after you and so ,
was D irk Brower

'
Kate is wise Gerard .B est gi ve ear , .

.
to her rede and fl y ! ,
Oh yes Gerard , cried Margaret wi l d l y

, F1 y on
, .
th e instant Ah ! tho se p archments ; my mind misgave

.
me : why did I l et y ou tak e them ?

Margaret they are b ut a b 1 i n d : Gil es says s o
, No . .
matter : the ol d caiti ff sh a ll never see them a gain ; I will no t

g o till I have hidden his treasure wh ere h e sh al l never fi n d
it. Gerard then after t h a n k i n g G il e s warmly b ad e him
,
.
farewell and told him to g o b ack an d tell K ate h e was gone

, .
For I sh a l l b e gone ere you reach h ome said h e H e , .
then shouted for Martin ; and tol d him what h ad happ ened ,
an d b egge d him to go a littl e way towards T er gou and watch ,
the ro ad .
Ay l said Martin and if I see D i rk Brower or any ,
of his men I will sho ot an arrow into the oa k tree that is in

,
-
ou r garden ; and on that y ou mu st run into the fo re st hard

b y and meet m e at th e weird hunter s spring Then I will ’
, .
gu ide y ou throu gh the wo o d .
Surp ris e thu s provi ded against Gerard b reathed again , .
H e went with Margaret and while she watched th e oa k ,
tree tremblin gly fearing every moment to see an arrow

,
‘
C L O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH
.
T HE 83
strik e among th e b ranch es Gerard du g a d eep hol e to b ury

‘
the p archments i n .
H e threw them i n one by one They were nearl y all , .
ch arters an d records of th e burgh ! but o ne app eared to b e a

private deed b etween Floris Brandt fath er o f Peter and , ,
G h y s b r ech t .
Why thi s is as mu ch yours as his said Gerard

, ,
"
w i ll rea d this .
Oh not now Gerard n ot now

, cried Margaret
, , , .
Every m oment you lo s e fi l l s m e with fear ; and s ee l arge ,

”
drop s of rain are b eginning to fall and th e cl oud s lower , .
Gerard yiel ded to this remo nstrance ; b ut h e p ut the

deed into his b o som an d threw the earth in o ver th e others
, ,
and stamp ed it down Whil e thus empl oyed there cam e a

.
fl a s h of lightning followed by a p eal of distant thunder and ,
the rain cam e down h eavil y Margaret and Gerard ran .
into th e hou se whither they were sp eed il y followed by

,
Martin .
The ro ad is cl ear sai d h e and a heavy storm coming

, ,
H is words p roved true The thunder cam e n earer and .
nearer till it crashed overhead : th e fl ashes followed on e

anoth er cl os e l i k e th e strok es of a whip and th e rain fell
, ,
in torrents Margaret hid h er face not to s ee th e lightnin g

. .
On this Gerard p ut up th e rough shutter and lighted a

,
can dl e The lovers consulted to gether and Gerard bless ed

.
,
th e storm that gave him a few hours mo re with Margare t .
The s u n s et unp erceived and still the thunder p eal ed and , ,
t h e lightning fl ashe d and the rain p oured Supp er was Set ;

,
.
b ut Gerard a n d Margaret coul d not eat : th e thou ght that

this was th e l ast tim e they shoul d s u p to gether choked them .
The storm lull ed a littl e P eter retir ed to rest B ut . .
Gerard was to g o at p eep of day and neither h e nor Margaret ,
e ou l d aff ord to lo se an hour in sl eep Martin s a t a whil e

'
.
,
t oo ; for h e was fi t t i n g a new string to his b ow a matter in ,
which h e was V ery nice .
The l overs murmure d their s orrows and th eir l ove b esid e

him .
S uddenly th e ol d m an h el d up his h and to th em to b e

sil ent .
They were quiet and listene d and heard nothing But , .
th e next mo ment a fo otstep crackl ed faintly up on th e

autumn l eaves that lay str ewn in the garden at the b ack
do or of the house T o tho s e who ha d n othing to fear such
.
a step woul d h a ve said nothin g ; b ut t o tho se who had

enemies it was terribl e F or it w a s a fo ot trying to b e .
noisel ess .
Martin fi t t e d an arr ow to his string and hastily bl ew ou t

84 THE C L O ISTER AN D TH E '
HEA R TH ‘
the candle A t this mom ent to their ho rror they h eard

.
,
.
more than on e fo otstep appro ach the o ther do or of t h e

cottage not quite so no is elessly a s the other bu t very
, ,
stealthily— an d th en a dead p aus e .
The i r blo o d froze in th eir veins .
Oh Kate ! oh Kate !
,
You said fl y on th e instant
, .
An d Margaret mo aned and wrun g her hands in an gu ish and

terror and wild remors e for having kep t Gerard .
Hush girl ! s ai d Mar tin in a stern whisp er

, , .
A heav y kno ck fell on the do or .
And on th e h e arts within .
C HAPTE R X IV
A s if this had b een a concerted signal th e b ack do or was ,
struck a s rudely the n ext instant Th ey were hemm ed i n . .
But at t h ese alarming sounds M ar garet seeme d to recover -
som e shar e of self—p os session Sh e whisp ere d S ay h e wa s

.
,
here but is gon e

,
And with this s h e seiz ed Gera d a n d
.
r
al mo st dragged him up th e ru de step s t hat l ed to her father s ’
sleep in g ro om -
Her own lay n ext b eyo nd i t
. .
The blows on the do o r were rep eated °

.
Who kno cks at this hour ?

Op e n an d you will se e !
,
I O p en not to thieves — h on es t men are al l ab ed now .
Op en to the law Martin W i t t en h a a g en or y ou shall

, ,
rue it .
“
Why that is D irk Brower s voice I trow What
’ ’
, , .
mak e you s o far from T e1 g ou ? ‘
Op en and you w i ll know

, .
Martin drew th e b olt ve l y sl owl y an d in r ush ed D i er i c h ,
and four more Th ey let in their comp anion who was at the
.
b ack do or ;
N ow Martin wh ere is Gerard E l i a s s oen ?
, ,
G erard E l i a s s oen ? Why b e was h ere but n ow ! ,
Was here ? D i er i eh s countenance fell ’

And where .
is h e now ?
They s a y b e b as gone to Italy Why wh at is to do ? .
,
No matter W hen did h e g o ? Tell m e n ot that h e

.
went in su ch a storm as this !

Here is a coil ab out Gerard E l i a s s oen sai d M a rtin ,
con t emptuously Then h e lighted the ca ndl e and seatin g

.
_ ,
himself coolly by th e fi r e pro ceeded to whip some fi ne s i l k

,
round his b ow strin g at the place where the n ick of the

-
T H E QQ L O I S T E R A ND T H E HEART H 85
’
arrow frets i t I ll tell you said h e carelessly. Know , .
—
you his b rother Gil es a littl e misb e gotten imp al l z h ea d an d ,
arm s ? Well h e came tearin g over here o n a mule an d

‘ , ,
b awled out som ething I was to o far off to h ear the creature s ,
’
words b ut only its no i se Any way h e started Ger a rd :

,
.
,
F or as so o n as h e was go ne th ere was su ch crying and kiss

,
,
ing and then Gerard w ent away

, They do tell m e h e has .
go ne to It al y — mayhap y ou know wh ere that is for I ,

” ’
d on t .
’
D i er i eh s cou n tenance fell lower a n d lower at this a c
co unt There w as no fl aw in i t
. A cunninger m an than .
M a r t i n w ou l d p erhap s have tol d a lie t oo many and r a ise d

l
,
susp icion But Martin did hi s task well. H e only tol d th e .
on e f al seho o d h e was b ad e to tell and of his own h ead i n ,
vented nothin g .
f ‘
Mates ”
s a id D i er i ch I doub t h e S p eaks so oth
, I , .
’
tol d th e b urgom aster how twould b e H e met the dwarf .
’
g al l oping P eter B u y s k en s s mule from S evenb ergen They .
’
h ave s ent th at imp to G erard says h e s o t hen Gerard is at , , , ,
S evenb ergen Ah master ! says I tis t oo —late now

.
’
, ,
’
.
We shoul d have th ou ght of S evenb ergen b efore instead of ,
wasting ou r tim e hunting all th e od d corners of T er g ou for

thos e cursed p archments that we shall never fi n d t ill we
fi n d th e m an that to ok em If h e was at S evenb ergen ’ ’
.
,
,
qu oth I and they s ent the dwarf to him it must ha ve b een

, ,
to warn him we are after him H e is l eagues away by now .

,
’
q uoth I
‘
C onfound th at chalk faced girl ! s h e ha s ou t

.
-
witted u s b earde d m en ; and s o I told the b urgomaster ,
b ut h e woul d no t hear reaso n A wet j erkin apiece that is .

,
all we shall get m ates by this j ob , , ,

’
Martin grinned co o ll y in D i er i eh s face .
However adde d th e latter to content the bu r go

,
mast er we w ill search th e hou se

, .
Martin turned grave directly .
This change of countenance did not escap e D i er i ch .
H e r efl ec t e d a moment
‘
Watch outsid e two of yo u on e o n each side of th e ,
hou s e that no one j ump from the u pp er windows

,
The '
.
”
‘
rest come with me .
And he to ok th e candle and m ounted the stairs followed ,
b y three of his comrades .
Martin was l eft al one .
The stout soldier hun g his h ead

, All had gon e s o w ell .
at fi r s t ; and now this fatal turn ! Su ddenly it o ccurred

'
t o him that al l was not yet lo st Gerard must b e either .
in P eter s ro om or Margaret s ; they were no t s o very high

’ ’
from the ground Gerard would l eap ou t D i er i ch had

. . :
left a man b elow ; b ut wh at then ? For half a m i nute Gerard

86 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H
and h e woul d b e two to one an d in that b rief space wh at , ,
migh t no t b e d one ?
Martin then hel d t h e b a ek door aj ar and watched The ’
’
li ght shone in Pe t er s ro om Curs e the fo ol ! said h e ’ ‘
.
,
is h e goin g to l et them take him lik e a gi r l l

’
f ‘
T h e light now p ass ed into Margaret s b edro om Still .
no w indow was op ened Had G erard intended to es cap e .
that w a y he w oul d no t h ave waited till the m en were in the

,
ro om Martin s a w that at o nce and l eft the do o r and

. , ,
cam e to th e fo ot —stair an d listened

,
H e b egan t o thi n k .
Ger ard must have e scap ed by th e wi ndow wh il e all the m en

w ere in the h ou se The lo nger ] th e s ilence co ntinued .
,
t h e stronger grew this co nviction B ut it was s uddenly .
and ru dely dissip ated .
Faint crie s issued from the inner b edro om— Margaret s ’

.
They h ave taken him gro aned Mar tin ; they have ,
g o t h im .
'
’
’
It now fl a sh e d a c ro ss Martin s mind that if t h ey to ok
Gerard away his l i f e was not worth a button ; and that if
, ,
evil b efell him Margaret s h eart woul d break ,

H e cast his
’
.
eyes wildly roun d like some savage b e a s t s eek i n g an e scap e

'
and in a twinkling form ed a resolution terrib ly character

i s t i c of tho s e iron times and o f a s oldier driven t o b ay
“
He .
stepp ed to each do o r in turn a n d imitating D irk Brower s ,

’
vo ice said sharply Watch th e window ! H e then quiet ly

,
H e then to ok up his b ow
,
cl osed and b olted b oth do ors

-
.
and s i x arrows ; on e h e fi tted to his strin g the others h e p ut ,
into hi s quiver His knife h e placed upon a c h air b ehind

.
him th e hilt towards him ; and there h e waited at th e foot

,
of th e sta i r with the calm determinatio n to slay tho se four

men o r b e slain by them N o h e knew h e coul d dispo s e
’
.
, , ,
of b y his arrows ere they coul d get ne ar him an d Gerard , , ‘ .
and h e mu st take th eir chance hand to hand with the r e - - '
maining p air B esides h e h ad seen m en p anic stricken by a

.
,
-
sudden attack of this sort Shoul d B rower and his men .
hesitate b ut an instant b efore clo sing with him he shoul d ,
shoot three instead o f two and then th e o dds would b e on ,
th e right side .
H e had n ot l on g to wait Th e heavy step s sounded in .
Margaret s ro om and cam e nearer and nea r er

’
, .
The light also appro ached and Voice s , .
Martin s heart stout as it was b eat hard to heai m en

’
, , ,
°
coming thu s to their d eath an d p erhap s to his ; m ore likely ,
s o than not : f or four is l on g o dd s in a b a t t l efi el d of ten feet

square and Gerard might b e b ound p erha ps and p owerless
, ,
to h elp But t his man whom we h a ve s ee n shake in his

.
, v
sho es at a Gil es o -lanthorn never wavere d in this awful -

’
,
THE C L O I STER A ND THE HEARTH 87
moment of real d an ger but sto o d th ere his b o dy all braced , ,
for comb at an d his eye glowin g e qually ready to tak e life

, ,
and lo s e i t D esp erate gam e ! to win which wa s exil e

.
instant an d for life and to lo s e it wa s to die that mom ent ,
up o n that flo or h e sto o d on .
D i er i ch
Brower and his men found P eter in his fi r s t sleep .
Th ey op en ed his cup b o ards they ran their knives into an ,
alligator h e h ad nailed to his w al l ; t h ey l o oke d under his

b ed ; it was a l arge ro om and app arently full of hiding ,
pl aces b u t th ey found n o Gerard

, .
’
Th en th ey went on to Margaret s ro om and th e very ,
sight of it wa s discouraging— i t was small and b are and not ,
a cupb o ard in i t ; th ere was however a large fi r ep l a c e an d , ,
chimn ey D i er i ch s eye fell on these dire ctly H ere they

’
. .
foun d th e b eauty of S evenb ergen sl eepin g on an ol d ch est

n ot a fo ot high an d no attemp t m ade to cover i t ;
, b ut th e
sheet s were snowy white and s o was Margaret s own linen ,
’
.
And th ere s h e l ay lo oking lik e a lily fallen into a rut

, .
- 1
Presently sh e awoke and sat up in th e b ed l ike on e , ,
amaz e d ; then s eein g th e men b egan to scream faintly

, , ,
and pray for m ercy .
Sh e mad e D i er i ch Brower a sh a m e d of his errand .
H ere is a to —do sai d h e a littl e co nfused W e are, , .
n ot go ing to hurt y ou my pretty maid Lie you still an d , .

,
shut your eyes and think of your wedding night whil e I

,
-
,
”
lo ok up this chimney to s ee if Master Gerard i s there .
Gerard ! in my r o om ?
Why not ? They s a y that you an d he
Cru el ! you know they have driven him away from
m e— dr i ven him from his n ative place Thi s is a blind . .
Yo u are thieve s ; y ou are wicke d men ; you are no t men o f

S evenb ergen or y ou woul d know Margaret Brandt b etter
,
than to lo ok for her lover in this ro o m of al l oth ers in th e

,
world .Oh brave ! Four great hulkin g m en to com e

, ,
arm ed t o th e teeth to in sult one p o or honest girl ! Th e ,
wom en that live in your own h ou ses mu st b e nou ght or you ,
woul d resp ect them to o mu ch to insult a girl of go o d

charact er .
There ! com e away b efore we h ear worse said D i er i ch , ,
hast i ly . H e is not in th e chimney Plaster will m end ,
what a cudgel b reaks ; but a wom an s ton gu e i s a dou b l e ’
’
e d ge d d a g g er and a girl is a woman with h er mother s
,
milk stil l in her And h e b eat a hasty retreat

. I tol d .
”
t h e burgomaster how twoul d b e
’
.
THE C L O ISTER A ND TH E H E ARTH
C HAPTER
W H ERE is th e woman that cannot a ct a p art ? Wh ere is sh e
who will not do i t and d o it well to save th e man sh e loves ?
, ,
Nature on thes e great o ccasions comes to th e aid of the

’
simplest of th e sex and teache s h er to throw dust in S olom on s
,
eye s. The men had no so o ner retired than M argaret stepp ed

ou t of b ed and op ene d th e l on g chest on which she had b een
,
lyin g down in h er skirt and p etticoat and sto ckin gs and ,
night dress over al l ; and put th e lid b ed cl othes and a ll

-
,
-
,
a gainst th e wall : then glided to th e door an d listen ed The .
fo otstep s died away throu gh her fath er s ro om and do w n ’
the stairs .
Now in that chest there was a p eculiarity that it was

al mo st imp o ssibl e for a stranger to detect A p art of th e .
b oardi ng of the ro om had b een b roken and Gerar d b ein g ,
applied to to m ake it lo ok n eater an d b ein g short of m ateri al , ,
had ingeniously sawed away a sp ace s u ffi ci en t j u st to admit

Margaret s s oi d i s a n t b ed an d with the material s thu s
’
-
,
acquired h e had rep aired th e whol e ro om As for the b e d .
or chest it really reste d on the rafters a fo o t b elow th e

,
b oards Consequently it was full two feet deep th ou gh it

.
,
lo oked scarce one .
All was quiet Marga r et kneeled and gave thank s to

.
Heaven Then sh e gli de d from the do o r and leaned over

'
th e chest and whisp ered tenderly

, Gerard ! ,
Gerard did not reply .
Sh e th en whisp ered a littl e lou der Gerar d all is safe

, , , ,
thank Heaven ! You m ay rise ; but oh ! b e cautiou s !

G erard made no reply .
Sh e laid her hand up on his sho ulder Gerard !

No reply .
Oh what is this ? s h e crie d and her h ands ran wil dly

, ,
over his face and his b o som She to ok h i m by the shoulders ; .
she sho ok him ; s h e lifted him ; but he escap ed from h er

:
trembling han d s and fell b ack no t like a man but like a

, , ,
b o dy .A g reat dre ad fell on her The lid had b een down . .
She had l ain upon i t Th e men had b een som e tim e in th e

ro om With al l th e strength of frenzy s h e to r e h i m ou t of
.
the chest “
Sh e b ore h i m in her arm s t o the window
. Sh e .
dash ed th e window op en The sweet a ir came i n Sh e

lai d him in it and in th e moonlight
. .
His face was the col our .
of ashes ; his b o dy was all limp and m otionless She fel t .
his heart Horror ! it was as still a s t h e rest ! Ho rro r of

.
horrors ! she had stifl ed him with her own b o dy .

90 TH E
'
C L O ISTER AND -THE HEARTH
C HAPTER XV I
M A R TI N W I T T E N H AA G E N stan d ing at th e fo ot of t h e stairs ,
w ith his arrow drawn n earl y to th e h ead and his knife

b ehind him was struck with amaz ement to s ee th e men
,
come b ack without Gerard : h e l owere d h i s b ow and lo oked

op en mouthed at them
- They for their p art were equall y .
, ,
puzzl ed at th e attitu de they ha d cau ght him i n .
Why mates was the ol d fellow m akin g ready to sho ot

, ,
at a s
Stu f f ! said M artin recoverin g h i s s t ol i d c om p os u r e ;
'
,
’
There ! I ll unstring my
“
I was b ut trying my new strin g .
”
b ow if you think th at
,
.
H u mp h l said D i er i ch suspiciously there is som e ,
thing more in you than I understa nd : p ut a l o g ou and l et ,
u s dry ou r hid es a b it ere we g o .
A blazing fi r e Wa s so on made and the m en gathered ,
round i t and th eir c lothes and lon g hair were so on smoking

"
from th e ch eerful bl aze T h en i t was that the shrieks were

’
heard in Margaret s ro om They all started u p and on e of

’
.
,
them sei zed the candl e an d ran up the step s t h a t l e d to th e '
b edro oms .
Martin ro s e h astily to o and b eing confus ed b y th ese , .
s udden s c reams and app reh endin g danger fro m the man s ’
curio sity tried to prevent him from going there

'
.
,
A t this D i er i ch threw his arm s roun d him from b ehind ,
and call ed on the others to keep him The man that had .
the can dl e got cl ear away a n d all th e rest fell up on Martin

'
, ,
and after a l on g an d fi er c e stru ggl e i n th e course of which ,
they were more than once al l ro l ling o n th e flo o r with Martin ,

:
in th e middl e they succeeded i n m a s t er i n g th e ol d S amson

'
, ,
and b indi ng him hand and fo ot with a rop e th ey had brou ght
for Gerard .
Martin gro an ed al ou d H e s a w the man had made his .
’
way to Margaret s ro om during th e stru ggle and here was ,
he p owerl ess .
'
Ay g rind
, your t ee t h y ou ol d ro gue said D i er i ch , , ,
p anting with th e stru ggl e You shan t u se th em .

’
.
It is my b elief m ates that ou r lives were scarce s afe

, ,
”
whil e this ol d fellow s b ones were free ’
.
H e makes m e thi n k this Gerard is not f ar off put in ,
another .
No su ch luck repl ie d D i er i ch Hallo m ates

, .
, .
Jorian K etel is a l ong t i me in that girl s b e dro om B est g o ’

.
”
and s ee a fter him som e of u s , .
THE C L O ISTER . A N D THE HEARTH
-
91
Th e rud e lau gh cau s ed by this remark ha d hardly

sub sided wh en hasty fo otstep s were h ear d runnin g a lo ng
,
o verh ead .
“
Oh here h e comes at last
.
, Well Jorian what is to , .
, ,
do now up th ere ?
C HA P TER XV I I
J OR I AN K ET E L w ent straight to Margaret s ro om , an d there ,

’
to his i n fi n i t e surp ris e h e found th e man h e h a d b een in

, .
search oi p al e and m otionles s hi s head in M a r g a r et s l a p

, ,
’
an d s h e kneelin g over him mute n ow an d stricken to sto ne , , .
Her eyes w ere dil ated yet gl az ed and sh e neither saw th e

'
light nor h eard th e m an nor care d f or anythin g o n earth , ,
b ut th e white face in h er l ap .
Jorian sto o d awestru ck the candl e shakin g in his ha n d , .
Why where was h e th en all th e tim e ?

, ,
Margaret he eded him n ot Jorian went to th e emp ty .
ch est and insp ected i t H e b egan to compreh end . The .
’
girl s dumb an d froz en desp air m ove d him .
This i s a sorry sight s a i d h e ; it is a bl ack night s

'
’
,
work : all for a few skins ! B etter have gon e with u s than
.
so . Sh e is p ast answerin g m e p o or wench Stop ! l et u s , .
try wheth er
H e to ok down a lit tl e round mirro r no b igger than hi s ,
’
han d and put it to Gerard s m outh an d no strils and hel d it
, ,
there Wh en h e with drew it it was dull

. .
T H ER E I S L I F E I N H I M ! said Jorian K etel to him self .
Margaret cau ght th e word s in stantly thou gh o nly ,
it was as if a statu e sh oul d start into life a n d

’
p a ssion Sh e ro s e an d flung her arm s roun d J or i a n s n eck
. .
Oh bl ess th e tongu e that tell s m e so l an d sh e clasp ed

,
th e gr ea t r ou gh fell ow a gain an d a gain eagerly al mo st

’
, ,
fi er c el y .
Th ere there ! l et u s lay him warm said Jorian ; and

’
, ,
in a mom ent h e raised Gerard and laid him on th e b ed cloth es -

.
Then h e to ok out a fl a s k h e carried an d fi lle d his h and tw i ce ,
with S ch i e d a m z e and fl u n g it sh arply each tim e in Gerard s

,
’
face Th e p ungent liqu or c o op erate d with his recovery

.
'
-
h e ga ve a faint sigh a Oh n ever was soun d so j oyful to

.
,
human ear ! Sh e fl ew towards him b ut th en s t opp ed

'
-
, ,
q uive rin g for fear sh e shoul d hurt him Sh e had lo st all '
c on fi d en c e in herself .
f That i s right— l et him a lone said Jorian ; don t ,

’
l
’
g o cu ddlin g him as you did m e or you l drive hi s breath ,

C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
’
92 TH E
’ ’
b ack a g a in Let him al one : h e is sure to co m e 'to Ti s n t

'
'
. .
like as i f h e w a s an ol d man .
Gerard si ghed deeply an d a faint streak of colour stol e ,
to his lip s Jorian mad e for th e do or

. H e h a d h ar dly .
reache d i t wh en h e found his l egs s eized from b eh in d

,
.
It was Margaret ! Sh e curl ed round his knee s lik e a

se r p ent and kisse d his hand an d fawn ed o n him
,
You , .
wo n t tell ? You have saved hi s l i fe ; y ou have n ot th e heart

’
to thru st him b ack into his grave to undo your own go o d ,
work ?
No no ! It is not th e fi r s t tim e I have don e you two
,
a go o d turn ; twas I tol d you in th e ch urch w hither we had

'
’
to tak e h i m B esides what is D i rk Brower t o m e ? I l l

.
,
’
se e him hanged ere I ll tell h im But I z w i s h y ou d tel l m e ’ ’

'
where th e p a rchments are ! There are a hun d re d crowns

ofi er ed i or th em That wo ul d b e a go o d windfall for m y
.
°
”
Jo an and th e ch i l dren y ou know , .
”
Ah ! they sh all have tho se hundre d crown s .
Wh at ! a r e the things in th e hous e ? aske d Jorian

eagerly .
No ; b ut I know where th ey ar e ; an d by Go d an d S t .
B avon I swear you sh al l h ave them to morrow

”
C em e to m e -
.
for them wh en you will but com e al on e

I were ma d el s e W h a t 1 shar e th e h u
, .
n dred crowns .
with D irk Brower ? An d now m ay my b ones rot in my skin

i t I l et a s o ul know th e po or b oy i s .
H e then ran off lest by stayin g longer he shoul d excite ,
suspicion an d h a ve t h em a ll after him An d Margaret

‘
, .
knelt quivering from head to fo ot and prayed b esid e Gerard

, ,
and for Gerar d .
Wh at is to do ? replied Jorian to Di e r i ch Brower s

’
Q u ery ; why we have s ca r e d t h e girl ou t of her wits Sh e

‘
, .
”
w a s in a kind of fi t .
We had b etter all g o an d do ctor her then ,
Oh yes ! a n d f r i gh t en her into th e churchyard

, Her i
.
father is a do ctor and I have rou sed him and s et h i m to , ,
b r i n g h er round Let u s s ee th e fi r e will .

,
’
His otf hand way disarm ed all su sp icion
-
An d s o o n .
“
after the p arty a gree d that the kitchen of the Thre e
Kings was mu ch warmer than Peter s house and they ’
dep arted havin g fi r s t untied Martin

, .
Tak e note mate that I wa s right and th e bu rgo

, , ,
master wron g said D i er i ch Brower at th e d o or ;

, I said
we sh oul d b e t oo l ate to catch him and we were to o l ate , .
T hu s
Gerard in , on e terribl e nigh t gra zed , th e p r i son
and the grave
.
.
C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
'
THE 93
An d how did he get clear at last ? No t by his cunningly

contrive d h iding — p l ace nor by Margaret s ready wit ; but ,
’
b y a go o d impuls e in on e of his captors by th e b it of ,
h u m a n i t y l ef t in a som ewhat reckl ess fell ow s h eart ai de d

'
’
by his de sire of gain S o mixed and s eemingly incongru ou s .
are hum an m otives s o sh ortsighte d ou r shrewdest co unsel s , .
They who s e mo derate nat ures or gentl e fates k eep th em

' ’
,
’
in life s p assage from the fi er c e extrem es of j oy and anguish
,
ou r nature is cap abl e oi are p erhap s th e b est an d certainl y , ,
th e happ iest of mankind But to su ch readers I shoul d .
try in vain to convey what bliss unsp eakabl e settle d now

up o n th ese p ersecuted lovers Even to tho s e who have .
j oye d greatly and grea t ly su f fered my fe ebl e art c a n pres ent ,
b ut a p al e r efl e c t i on of Margaret s and Gerard s ecstasy ’ ’

.
To sit and s ee a b el oved face co m e b ack from th e grave

to th e worl d t o health an d b eauty by swift gradations ;
, ,
’
to s ee the ro ses r eturn to the l ove d ch eek l ove s gl ance to th e ,
loved eye and his words to th e l oved mouth— this was

“
M arga r et s — a
’
j oy to b alance y ears of sorrow It wa s .
Gerard s t o a w a k e from a trance an d fi n d his head p illowe d

’ '
on Margar et s arm ; t o h ea r th e woma n h e adore d murmur

’ ” '
n ew words o f el o qu ent l ove and shower t ears an d tender ,
kisse s and c aresses on him H e n ever k new till th i s sweet .

,
m om ent how ard ently how tenderly s h e l ove d h i m

, He , , .
thanke d hi s enemies They wreathe d th eir arm s sweetly .
round ea ch oth er and troubl e an d dan ger seem e d a worl d , '

,
an age b ehind th em They c a l l e d e a ch o th er hu sb and and .
W er e t h ey not sol emnly b etroth ed ? An d h ad they

'
wife '
.
not sto o d b efore th e a ltar to geth er ? Wa s not th e bl essin g

o f Holy C hurch up o n th eir uni on ? — h er curs e on a l l wh o
'
woul d p art th em ?
But as no woman s nerves c a n b ear with imp unity s o ’
terribl e a strain presently Margaret turne d faint an d sank , ,
on Gerard s shoul der sm ilin g fe ebly but quite quite u n

’
, , ,
strun g Th en Gerard was anxiou s an d woul d seek a ssist

.
,
a n ce But s h e h el d h i m with a gentl e grasp an d impl ore d

j
,
him not t o l eave h er i or a m om ent Whil e I can l ay my '
hand on y ou I fe el you are safe not el s e , Fo olish Gerard ! , .
nothing a il s m e I a m weak dearest but h app y oh ! s o .

, , ,
h a ppy !
Then it was Gerard s turn to sup port that d ear h ea d with ’
,
its great waves of h a i r fl ow i n g l o o s e over him and nurse her , ,
an d so oth e her quiverin g on his b o som with soft e n c ou r a g

, ,
ing words an d murmurs of l ove and gentl e caresse s ,

.
’
Sweetest of all h er charm s i s a wom a n s we akness to a m anly
h eart y
Po or things } th ey were happy To —morrow they mu s t

, .
94 THE C L O ISTER : A ND THE HEARTH
p art Bu t that was nothing to them now h a d s ee n
They .
D eath and all other troubles seeme d ligh t a s a i r Wh il e th ere

.
.
.
,
i s life there is hop e ; wh i l e there i s hop e there i s j oy S ep ara .
tion f or a year or two what was i t to them wh o wer e s o young , ,
and had cau ght a glimp se of th e grave ? Th e future was

bright th e pres ent wa s Heav en : s o p ass ed th e blissful hou rs
,
.
Alas ! their inno cence ran other risk s b esid e th e priso n

and th e grave Th ey were in mo st danger fro m th eir ow n
.
hearts and their inexp erience now that V isibl e d anger there ,
was none .
C HAPTER XV I I I
G H YS B R E C H T V A N S W I E T E N coul d not sl eep all ni ght for

anxiety H e was afraid of
. thunder and lightning or h e , _
woul d have made on e of th e p arty that se arched Peter s ’
hou se As so o n as th e storm ceased alto geth er h e crep t

.
,
downstairs saddl ed his mul e an d ro de to th e Three Kings

, ,
at S evenb ergen There h e found his men sl eep in g som e on

.
,
th e cha i rs some o n the tabl es some on th e flo o r

,
H e rous ed , '
.
them furiou sly and h eard the story of t h ei r unsu cce ssful
,
search interl a rd ed with praises of th eir ze al

, .
Po ol i to let you g o without crie d th e burgo

master My life on t h e was there al l th e time Lo oke d ’
. .
ei th e girl 3 b ed ?
’
y e u n d °
N o ; there was no ro om f or a m an there .
How know y e that if y e lo oked not ? snarle d Gh y s ,
brecht Ye shoul d have lo oked under h er b ed an d i n it

.
,
t oo and sounded all th e p anel s with your knives

, Come .
,
now get u p and I sh al l show y e how to search

, ,
D i er i c h Brower g ot up and sho ok him self I f you fi nd

‘
”
him call m e a hors e and no m an
, .
’
I n a few minutes Pete r s h ou se was again surrou n ded .
Th e fi er y ol d man left his mul e in th e hand s o f Jorian

Ketel and wi t h D i er i ch Brower and th e others entere d th e
, , ,
hou se .
T h e hou se wa s empty .
N ot a creature to b e seen not even Peter They went , .
up stairs and then su ddenly one of th e m en gave a sh out

, ,
and p ointe d through Peter s window which wa s O p en Th e ’
, .
others lo oked and there at so me l ittl e distance walk i n g

, , ,
quietly acro ss th e fi el d s with Margaret and Martin was the ,
man they sou ght Gh y s b r ech t with an exulting yell

.
, ,
descended th e stairs and fl u n g himself on hi s mule ; and he

and his men s e t off in ho t pursuit .
THE C L O ISTE R A ND THE HEARTH 95
C HA P TER X IX
G E R A RD warned by recent p eril ro s e b efore d ayb reak an d

, ,
waked M artin Th e ol d sol di er was a sto nishe d

. He .
th ou ght Gerard ha d escap ed b y th e win d ow l ast night .
B eing consul t e d as to th e b est way for him to l eave th e

c ountry and elu de pursuit h e s aid th ere was b ut on e ro ad ,
safe . I mu st guide you throu gh th e great forest to a

b ri dl e ro ad I know oi This will tak e y ou sp eedily to a
.
ho stelry where th ey will l end y ou a swift hors e ; and th en a

,
’
d ay s gallop will take you ou t of Holl and But l et u s start .
ere th e folk h ere quit t h eir b e ds .
P eter s hous e was but a furl on g and a half from th e

'
'
forest They started Martin with his b ow an d thre e arrows

‘
.
, _
,
for it w a s Thurs day ; G erard with nothing b ut a s t out o a k

staff P eter gave him for th e j ourney .
Margaret pinn ed up h er k i r t l e an d farthingal e for t h e ,
ro ad was wet P eter went as f ar as his garden h edge with

.
them , and th en with m ore emotion than h e o ften b estowed

-
'
on p assin g events gave th e youn g m an his bl es sin g

, .
The s u n was p eepin g a b ov e t h e horiz o n as th ey cro ss ed

Th e y h ad cro s se d
O
th e stony fi el d and m a de for th e wo o d .
ab out h alf wh en Margaret wh o kept nervou sly l o oking

, ,
b ack every now and th en uttered a cry and fo l l owing h er , , ,
instinct b e gan to run towards th e wo o d screaming with

, ,
terror all th e way .
Gh y s b r e ch t an d his m en were in h ot p u r s u 1 t .
R esistance woul d h ave b een m adness Martin and .
Gerard followed Margaret s exampl e Th e p ursu ers gaine d

’
.
slightly on th em ; b ut Martin k ep t shouting O nl y win th e ,
Wo o d ! o nl y win t h e wo o d !
Th ey h a d t oo go o d a start for th e m en on fo ot an d their ,
h earts b oun de d with h op e at Martin 5 wo rds for th e great

’
trees s eemed n ow t o stretch th eir b ra n ch es like friendl y

,
arms t owards them and th eir l eaves lik e a screen

, .
B ut an unforeseen danger attacked th em Th e fi er y ol d .
b urgomaster fl u n g himself on his mul e a n d sp urring him , ,
to a gallop h e headed not his own m en only b ut th e fug i

, ,
tiy es . His obj ect was t o cut th em off The ol d m an cam e .
g a HO i
p g n in a semicircl e an d got on th e edg e o
,
f the wo o d ,
right in front of Gerard ; th e others might es cap e for au ght

h e cared .
j
Margaret shriek ed and tried to p rot ect Gerard by

‘
cl asp ing him b ut h e sho ok her off without ceremo ny

°
.
Gh y s b r ech t m his ardour forgo t that hunted animal s turn

96 THE C L O IS T ER AN D THE HEA R TH
o n the hunter ; and that two m en can hate and two can long ,
to kill t h e thing they hate .
Instead of attempting to do dge him as th e b urgomaster ,
ma d e sure h e woul d Gerard fl ew right at him with a savage , , ,
exultin g cry and struck at him with al l his heart and soul
, ,
Th e o ak sta ff cam e do w n on Gh y s b r ech t s

’
and stren gt h .
’
face with a frightful crash an d l aid him u nder his mul e s ,
tail b eating th e d evil s tatto o with h i s heel s his face stream

’
,
ing and his collar sp attered with blo o d

,
.
The next m om ent the thre e were in t h e wo o d Th e yell .
of dismay and vengeance that burst from Gh y s b r ech t s

’
men at that terribl e blow which fell ed the ir l eader tol d the ,
fugitives that it wa s now a rac e for life or death .
Why run ? crie d Gerard p anting You h ave your , .
”
b ow and I have this an d he sho ok h i s blo o dy sta f f
, ,
.
B oy ! ro ared Martin ; th e GALL OWS ! Follow

m e and h e fl e d into th e wo o d
,
S o o n they hear d a cry like .
a p ack of h ounds o p ening o n sight of th e gam e Th e m en .
w ere in the wo o d and s a w them flitting amon gst the trees

,
.
Margaret moaned and p ante d as sh e ran ; and Gerard

clen c hed his teeth and grasp ed his sta ff Th e n ext minute .
they cam e to a sti ff haz el copp ice Martin dashe d into i t .

,
an d shoul dered the young wo o d aside as if it were standing

corn .
Ere they had gon e fi f t y yards in it th ey cam e t o four

blind p aths .
Mar t in to ok on e B en d l ow s aid h e An d h al f
.
, .
,
creep ing th ey gl ided al ong

, Presently their p at h was .
again intersected with other littl e t ortu ou s p aths Th ey .
to ok on e of them It s eemed to l ead b ack ; b ut it so on

.
to ok a turn and after a whil e brou ght them to a thick

, , ,
p ine grove where th e walking was go o d and har d

, .
Th ere were no p aths here ; and the young fi r trees were so -
thick you coul d not see three yards b efore your no se

, .
When they had gone som e way in this Martin sat do wn ; ,
and h avin g l earned in war to lo s e a nimpression of d a nger

,
with t h e danger its elf to ok a p iece of bread and a slice of ,
ham out of his wal let and b egan quietly to ea t h i s b r eak

'
fast .
The young ones lo oked at him with dismay H e replied .
to their lo oks .
All S evenb ergen coul d not fi n d you now ; you will l o s e

your purse Gerard l o ng b efore you get to Ital y ; is that th e
, ,
way to carry a purse ?

Gerard l o oked and there was a l arge triangu l ar purse
, ,
entangled by its chains to th e bu ckl e and strap of his

wallet .
This is none of mine said b e Wh at i s in i t I , .

,
98 TH E
'
C L O ISTER A ND T HE HEARTH
Wh om ? Oh ! l et that p a s s f h e is cheap s erved .
Martin I s a w his grey hairs a s m y stick fell on him

‘
.
, .
”
I doubt they will no t from my sight th is whil e .
M ar tin grunted With contem pt Who sp ares a

’
'
b adger for his grey hairs ? Th e greyer your enemy is th e ,
ol der ; and the older th e craftier ; and th e craftier th e

b etter fo r a little k i lling .
“
K i l ling ? k i ll ing Martin ? Sp eak not of killin g !
,
and G erard sho ok all over .
“
I a m mu ch misto ok if yo u h ave not said Martin ,
che rfully
eN ow Heaven forb id !
.
The ol d va gab on d s skull cra cked l i k e a wal nut ’

.
Heaven and th e s aints forb id i t !

H e rolle d off hi s mul e like a stone shot ou t of a c a rt .
S ai d I to myself There is one wip ed ou t , and th e iro n ,
ol d soldier grinned ruthlessly .
Ger a rd fell on his knees and b egan to p ray for h i s

’
enemy 5 l ife .
H ere s 1 n u m m er y
’
A t this Martin lo st his p atien ce . .
What ! y ou that s et up for l earning k now you n ot that a ,
wise man never strike s -his enemy b ut to k ill An d

what is a l l this coil ab out killing o f ol d m en ? If it h a d b een
.
a youn g on e now with th e j oys oi -life waitin g for him wine

,
"
, ,
women and pill age ! But an ol d fellow at the edge of th e

,
grave why n ot shove h i m i n ? G o h e must to day or to

, ,
m orrow ; and what better place for g reyb eards ? Now ,
if ever I shoul d b e s o mischancy as t olast s o long as Gh y s

b recht di d and have to go on a mul e s legs inst ead of Martin
’
W i t t enh a a gen s and a b ack l ike this ( striking the wo o d of

’
his b ow ) instead of this ( str i ki ng the s t r i n g) lI ll than k and

, ,
’
bless any young fell ow who will kno ck m e on th e head a s ,
you have done that ol d sho pk eep er ; mal iso n on his m emory .
Oh culpa m ea ! culp a m ea l cried Gerard and smote

, ,
u pon his breast .
Lo ok t h er el cried Marti n to Margaret s cornfully ,
h e i s a p r i es t a t h ea r t s t i l l ; and when h e i s not in i r e S t , .
P aul wh at a m il k s op l
Tush Martin ! cried Margaret r epro achfull y : the r1 sh e
,
wreathed h er arms round Gerar d an d comforted him with ,

’
the doubl e m a gic of a woman 3 sense and a woman 5 vo ice ’
.
”
S w eet h ea r t 1 m u r m u r e d she you forget : y ou went ,
not a step ou t of th e way to h arm him who hunte d you to ,
You ne d from h i m
.
your death . H e it w a s who spurred .
on y ou Then did y ou strike ; b ut in s elf defence and a

.
singl e blow an d with that which was i n you 1 hand

, M alice °
had drawn k nife or struck again a n d aga i n H ow

.
,
Y
o ften .
have m en b een smitten with staves not on e b ut many blows ,
yet no live s lo st ! If th en your enemy ha s fall en it i s ,

”
throu gh his own malice no t yours and by th e will of Go d , , .
Bles s you Margaret ; bl es s you for thinkin g so l

,
Yes ; but b elove d on e if you h ave h ad th e m i s for tu n e

, ,
to k ill th at W icked m an th e more n eed is there th at yo u fl y ,
with hast e from Hollan d

”
O h l et u s on .
, .
'
Nay Margaret , said G erard I fe ar not m an s ,

’
vengeance thanks to Martin h e re an d this thick wo o d

,
o nly Him I fear who s e ey e p ierces t h e forest an d rea d s th e

'
h eart of m an If 1 but str uck in self—defence ti s well ;

.
,
’
b ut if in hate H e m ay b id the aven ger of bl o o d follow m e to

“
—
It al y to It aly ? a y to earth s remote st b ound s ”
,
’
.
Hu sh ! said Martin p e evishly I can t h ear for your .

’
W hat i s it ?
D o yo u hear nothing Margaret ; my ears are gettin g ,
Margaret li stened an d presently sh e h eard a tu neful ,
sound l ik e a singl e strok e up o n a deep ringin g b ell

, Sh e .
descr ib ed it so to Martin °
.
N ay I h eard i”t said h e

,
”
, .
An d s o did I sai d Gerar d ; it w a s b eautiful

, Ah ! . ,
th er e it is a gain How sweetly it blend s with th e air It

'
. .
_
i s a lon g way off It i s b efore u s is it n ot ?.

,
No no ! th e echo es of this wo o d confoun d th e ear o f a

,
”
st ranger It comes from th e p in e grove
. .
What ! th e on e we p assed ?
T h e on e we p assed .
Wh y Martin is th is a n y th i n g 9 You l ook p a l e

“
, , .
W onderful ! said Martin with a s mk l y sneer f Hé , .
asks m e is it a n y th i n g ? C om e o n o n ! a t any rate l et u s

.
, , ,
, ,
”
re a ch a b etter place than this .
1 —
A b etter p ace for what ?
‘
”
To stan d at b ay Gerard said Martin gravely ; and , ,
die like sol diers killin g thre e for one , .
W hat s tha t sound ? ’
I T IS THE AV EN GER OF B L O O D .
Oh Martin save him ! Oh Heaven b e m erci ful ! , ,
W
,
hat new mysteriou s p eril is this ?

G IRL I T S A B L OO D H O UND ’
.
1 00 THE C L O ISTER A ND THE H E ARTH
C HAP TER X X
THE courage like th e tal ent of common m en runs in a

, , ,
n arrow gro ove Take th em but an inch ou t oi that and

.
“
they are done Martin s courage was p erfect as far as it

“ ’
.
went . H e had m et and b a th ed m any dangers in th e cours e

of his rude life and th ese fam iliar dan gers he coul d face with
, '
S p artan fortitu de almo st with indi fference ; b ut h e had

'
,
'
never b een hunted by a blo o dhound nor had h e even s een ,
that brute s unerring instin ct b a fi l ed by human cunnin g

’
.
Here then a s ens e of th e Sup ernat u r al comb ined with n ovelty

'
to unste el his h eart ! After go i ng a few step s h e l ean ed on ,
his b ow , and energy an d hop e o ozed out of him Gerard

‘
.
,
to whom t h e danger appe ared slight in p r e p ortion as it was

distant urged him to fli gh t
, .
0
Wh at av ails i t ? said Martin s adl y ; if we get clear ‘
of th e wo o d w e shal l die ch eap ; h ere h ar d b y I kn ew a , ,

”
pl ace where we m ay die dear .
Al as ! go o d M ar t 1 n ”
cr i e d Gerar d d espai r n ot so ,
quickl y ; th ere mu st b e s om e way to es cap e

Oh Martin ! , cried Margar et what if we were t o ,
.
p art comp any ? Gerard s l ife al on e is forfeit I s ther e

’
' ‘
.
,
no way to draw th e pursuit on u s tw ai n an d l et him g o s afe ?

Girl you know not t h e blo o dhound s nature
, H e is
’
.
’
not on this man 5 track or that ; he is on th e track of blo o d .
’
My life on t they have taken him to where Gh y s b r ech t fell
‘
a n d from th e dead m an 5 blo o d to th e man that sh ed it

’
th at cursed hound will lead them ; thou gh Gerard should run

th rou gh an army or sw i m the Meuse And a gain h e .
leaned up on his b ow and his hea d sank , .
’
The hound s m ell ow voice rang throu gh th e wo o d _
.
A er y m ore t u n a b l e .
W a s n ev er h a ll oed t o n or ch eer ed w i t li b orn , ,
I n Cr e t e in S pa r t a or in Th es sa l y , , . 1
St ran ge th at things b eautiful shoul d b e terribl e and

'
’
deadly .The eye of th e b o a constricto r whil e fascinating -

,
its prey is l ovely, N o royal crown hold s such a j ewel ; .
it is a ruby with the emeral d s green light playing ever up on ’
it. Yet the deer that sees it lo ses all p ower of m otion and ,
trembles and awaits his death ; and even s o t o comp are

, ,
hearing with sight this sweet and m ellow sound seemed ,
to fascinate Martin W i t t e n h a a g en H e sto o d uncertain .

,
b ewil dered and unnerved , Gerard was littl e b etter now . .
’
Martin s last words had daunted him H e had stru ck an .
1 02 THE C L O ISTER A ND ,
THE HEARTH
’
I hear a h orse s feet .
” ’
No said Gerard ;
,
I doub t it is a mul e s That .
cursed Gh y s b r ech t is st il l alive ; none other wo ul d follow

m e up s o b itterly .
Never strike your enemy but to slay him sai d M a rtin ,
glo omily .
I ll b i t harder this tim e if Heaven g ive s me the chance

’
, ,
said Gerard .
A t last th ey worked throu gh th e copp ice an d th ere was ,
an open 1 ood The trees were large b ut far ap art and no

”
.
, ,
e scap e p o s sible that way .
And now with the hound s b ay mingled a score of voices ’

,
ho opin g a n d hallo oing .
The whol e V ill age i s ou t af t er u s said Martin ,

.
”
I care not ‘
said Gerard Listen Martin

, I h ave .
, .
made the track smo oth to t h e d og b ut rou gh to th e m en

'
, ,
that we may deal with them ap art Thu s th e h oun d will .
gain on the men and as so o n as he com es out of th e coppice

,
”
we must kill him .
“
The ho u nd ? There are more than on e
’
I hear b ut one
Ay l but one sp eak s th e others run mute ; but l et th e
.
l eading hound lo s e the s cent then another sh al l give ton gu e , .
gh
’
will b e two do gs at least or devil s in do g s .
, ,
”
1 i ere
es .
Then we must kill two instead of on e Th e m om ent

‘
they are dead into the copp ice a gai n and g o ri ght b ack
, , .
That 1 s a go o d thought Gerard said Martin pluckin g , , ,
up heart .
Hu sh ! th e m en a re in th e wo o d .
Gerard no w gave h i s orders in a whisp er .
Stand you with your b ow by th e si d e of th e copp ice

there in the ditch
, I will go b ut a few yards to y ou o a k
.
tree and hid e b ehind i t ; th e do gs wil l foll ow m e and a s they

, , ,
com e oi 1 t sh oot as m a ny a s you ca n the rest wi l l I brain a s

'
, ,
th ey com e round th e tree .
Martin 3 eye flashed They to ok up their pl aces

’
. .
The h o oping and hall o oing came cl o ser a n d clo ser a n d ,
s oon even the ru stl i n g of the young wo o d wa s heard and ,
eV er y now an d then the unerr ing blo o dhound gave a singl e
r) a y
It wa s terribl e ! th e b ra n ches ru stling nearer and nearer ,
a n d the in e vitab l e struggl e for life and death com i ng o n

minute by minute and that “ death knell l eading i t
, A .
trembling hand was laid on Gerard s sh oulder It made ’

.
him start Violently strung up as h e was , .
Martin says if w e are force d to p art o om pa u y , ma k e for

‘
”
that high a sh tree we cam e in b y .
"
TH E CL O I ST E R AND T H E HEARTH
' ‘
1 03
. Yes l yes ! y es ! b ut go b ack for Heaven s s ake ! d o n t ’ ’
com e here al l ou t in th e op en ! ,
1 She ran b ack toward s Martin ; b ut ere s h e coul d get to ,
him su ddenly a hu ge do g b urst ou t of the copp ice an d sto o d

, ,
erect a mom ent Margaret cowere d with fear but h e n ever

.
,
noticed her S cent w a s to him what sight is to u s

. He .
lowere d h i s no s e an instant and th e n ext m om ent with an , ,
awful yell sp rang straight at Gerard s tree and rolle d h ead

’
, ,
over h eel s dea d a s a sto ne literally sp itte d with an arrow

-
,
fro m t h e b ow that twanged b eside th e copp ice in Martin s

.
“
’
hand That sam e m om ent ou t cam e another ho und and

.
s melt his d ead comrad e Gerard ru shed out at him ; b ut er e .
h e coul d u s e his cu dgel a streak of white li ghtning s eeme d ,
to s trike th e hound and h e grovell ed i n th e dust wounde d , ,
desp era t el y but not kill ed a n d howlin g p iteou sly

, , .
Gerard had n ot t im e to d esp atch him : t h e co pp ice

ru stl ed to o near : i t s eeme d al ive P oint i n g wil dl y to
Martin to g o b ack Gerar d ran a few yards to th e right , ,
t h en crept cautiously i nt o th e thick cop p i c e j u st as thre e

m en b urst ou t Thes e ha d h eaded their comrades co n
.
s i d er a b l y : th e rest were f oll owing at variou s distances .
Gerard crawl ed b a ck a l i n os t o n all —fours

'
Instinct tau ght .
Martin and Margaret to d o th e sam e up o n their line of

retreat Thu s within t h e distance of a few yards th e
”
.
, ,
pursu er s a n d pursu e d were p assi ng on e another up o n

O pp o site tracks .
A lou d cry announced th e discovery of th e d ead an d th e

wounde d hound Th en followe d a b abbl e of vo ices still
.
,
swellin g as fresh pursu ers rea ch ed th e S p ot Th e hunters .

,
as u su al o n a surpr i se were Wa s t i n g t i m e and th e hunte d

‘
, ,
o nes we re m aking th e m o st of i t .
”
I h ear no more h ounds whis p ere d Martin to Mar garet , ,
a n d h e w a s himself a ga i n .
I t w a s Marga ret s turn t o trembl e a n d d esp air

’
.
Oh why did we p art with Ge rard ? Th ey will k ill my

,
”
Gerard a n d I n ot ne ar him
, .
N ay nay ! th e head to catch him i s not on” their

,
s h oulders You b ade him m eet u s at th e a sh tre e ?

‘
An d s o I di d Bl ess y ou Martin for th i nk i n g of th at

'
.
, ,
T o th e a s h tre e !
Ay ! but with less n ois e .
Th ey were now n early at th e edge of th e C opp ice wh en ,
su ddenly th ey heard h 0 0 p in g a n d h allo oin g b ehind them .
T h e men h ad s a t i s fi ed them selves th e fugitives were in the

.
copp ice an d were b eatin g b ack

, .
”
N o m atter whisp ered Martin to h i s tremblin g,
comp anion We sh all have tim e to win cl ear and slip

.
out of sight by h ard ru nnin g Ah ! .

1 04 THE CL O ISTER AN D -THE HEARTH
He sto op ed su ddenly ; f or j ust as h e was goin g to burst .
ou t of th e b ru shwo o d h i s eye ca ught a fi gu r e keeping

‘
s entinel It was Gh y s b r ech t V an S w i et en seated o n h i s

.
mul e ; a blo ody b andage w a s acro ss hi s no se t h e bridge of ,
which was broken ; but ove r this his eyes p eer e d k e enl y ,
and it was plain by their exp r e s s i onh e h a d h eard th e

'
' '
fu gitives ru stle and was lo okin g ou t for th em

,
Martin "
muttered a terribl e o ath and cautiou sly strun g hi s b ow , ,
then with equal caution fi t t e d his l ast arro wt o th e string .
Margaret put her han d s to her face b ut said nothin g Sh e , .
s a w this man mu st die or Ger ard Af t er t h efi rs t imp ul se sh e .
p eered throu gh her fi n g er s h er heart pa nting to her thr eat ; ,
Th e b ow was raised and th e de a dl y arrow steadi l y ,
drawn to i t s h ead wh en at that m oni en t an act i y e fi gu r e

,
l eap e d on Gh y s b r e ch t from b eh i nd s o s wiftly it was l ik e a ,
hawk swo op ing on a pigeon A k erchief w ent over the burg e .
master in a turn of th e h and his h ea d wa s m u ffl e d i n i t

, ,
and h e was whirl ed from h i s s eat an d fel l h eavil y u pon th e

ground wh ere h e lay gro an i ng with terror ; and Gerard
'
j ump ed down after h i m .
Hist Mart in ! Martin !,
Martin and Mar garet cam e ou t the f ormer O p en

Now fl y ! fl y ! wh il e th ey a r e al l in th e
,
m outhed crying , , ,
thicket ; we are s aved .
A t this crisis when s a fety s eem ed at han d a s rat e

, ,
woul d have i t Margaret wh o had b orn e up s o b ravely t i ll

, ,
now b egan to su ccumb p artly from l o ss of blo o d

, , .
Oh my b eloved fl y ! s h e gasp ed
, L eave m e for I
, .
,
”
a m faint .
No ! no ! cried Gerard D eath to geth er or safety .

, .
Ah ! the mul e ! m ount h er you a nd I ll run by your side , ,

’
.
In a m oment Marti n was on Gh y s b r ech t s m u l e and ’
Gerard raised th e fainting g i rl l n his arm s and pl a c ed h er on

th e saddl e and re lieved Martin of his b ow
, .
Help ! treas on ! murder ! murder !

'
shri eke d Gh y s
brecht suddenly rising on his h ams
, .
Sil ence cur roared Gerard and tro d e h i m do wn again

, ,
’’
,
by th e th ro at as m en crush an adder .
Now have you got her fi r m ? Th en ny i for our li ves !

,
for ou r lives !
But even a s the mul e urged suddenly by ,
scattere d the fl ints with h i s h i n d ho ofs ere .
‘
canter and even a s Gerard with drew h i s f o
,
’
brecht s throat to r 1 1 n D i er i ch Brower and ,
who h a d come b ack for orders and heard th e b urgomas ter s ,

’
cries b urst ro aring out of the coppice on them

, .
1 06 THE C L O ISTER AN D T HE HEART H
ran them all to a standstill except one who kept on staunch ,
a s a blo o dh ound thou gh lo sin g groun d every minute His .
nam e if I a m not mistaken was Eric W ou v er m a n

,
, ,
Follow ed by him they cam e to a rise in th e wo o d shorter

, , ,
but much steep er than th e last .
Han d on mane ! cried M artin .
Gerard ob eyed an d th e m ul e help ed him u p the hill

,
faster even than h e was running b efore .
A t th e sight of this m an oeuvre D i er i ch s m an lo st heart ,
and b eing now ful l e ighty yards b ehind G erard an d rather

, ,
more th an that in advance of his nearest comrade h e p ulle d ,
up short and in ob e dience to D i er i ch s o rd er to ok down

, ,
’
,
h i s cro ssb ow l evelled it delib erately a n d j ust a s th e tri o

, ,
were sinking ou t of sight over th e crest of the hill sent t h e ,
b olt whizzin g amon g them .
There was a cry of dismay ; a nd 1 1 ext mom ent a s if a , ,
thunderb olt had fallen on them th ey were all lyin g on th e ,
g r ou n d 1 n,u l e a n d all .
“
C H A PTER X X II 1
TH E eff ect wa s s o su dden an d ma gical that t h e s h oot ei ,

'
himself was s t u p efi e d f or a n i nstant Th en he h ail ed his .
comp anions to j oin him in eff ectin g t h e capture and him s elf ,
s et off up th e hill ; but ere h e had got hal f way up ro se the

, ,
fi gu r e of Martin Wi t t en h aa g en with a b e nt b ow in his hand .
Eric W ou ver m a n no so oner s a w him l n this attitud e th an h e

‘
darted b ehin d a tree an d m ade hi mself as small as p o ss ibl e

, .
Martin s skil l with that we ap on was well k n own a n d th e

’ ’
,
slai n do g was a k een reminder of i t .
W ou v er m a n peered roun d the b ark cau tiously : there

wa s th e arrow 3 p oi nt st ill aime d at him H e s a w it shine
’
. .
H e dared not m ove from his sh elter h

f .
Wh en h e had b een at pe ep b o some mi n u t es h i S c om 3

-
,
~ '
p anions cam e up in great force .
Then with a sco rnful laug h Martin vanis h ed and

, , ,
'
presently wa s heard to ri d e off on th e mul e .
All the men ran up to geth er The high ground com .
m a n d e d a view of a narrow but alm os t int erminabl e glade :

T h ey saw Gerard and Margaret running along at
a pro di giou s distance ; they looked l ik e gnats ; an d M artin
g a1 1 0 p i n g after them ven tr e a ter r e
The hunters were outwitte d as well a s outrun A f ew .
'
words wil l explain Martin s condu ct : We arri ve at causes b y

’
not ing coincidences ; yet , n ow and t hen co in cid ences a r e ,

TH E C L OI ST E R HEA R TH
‘
A ND T H E 1 07
d eceitful A s we have a ll s een a hare tumbl e o ver a b riar

.
_
j ust a s th e gun w ent off and s o rais e exp ectations th en dash , ,
them to e arth by s cu ddin g away untou ched s o th e b urgo ,

’
m aster 3 mul e p ut h er fo ot in a rabb it hol e at or ab o ut th e
tim e the cro ssb ow b olt whizz ed inno cuou s over h er hea d ;
s h e fell an d threw b oth h er riders Gera1 d caught Margaret .
,
b u t was carrie d down b y her weight and imp etu s ; and ,
b ehold th e s o il was strewed with d r a m a t i s p er s on ae

, .
T h e do cil e mul e w a s up again dire c t ly an d sto o d ,
tremblin g Martin wa s n ext and lo okin g ro un d s a w th ere

.
,
was b ut on e in p ursuit ; o n this h e m ad e t h e youn g l o vers

fly on f oot w h i l e h e checked th e en emy as I have recorded
,
’
H e now gallop ed after his comp anio n s and when after a ,
l on g race he cau ght them h e instantly p ut Gerard a n d ,
M argaret on th e mul e an d ran by their side till his b reath ,
fail ed then to ok his turn to ride an d s o in rotatio n

,
-
Thu s , .
th e runner was always fre sh and lo ng ere they relaxe d their ,
sp eed all sound and trace of them was hop el essly lo st to

D i e r i ch and hi s m en Thes e latter went crestfall en b ack to
.
l ook after their chief an d the i r winged blo o dhound

'
C HAPTER XX I I I
L I F E and lib erty whil e safe are littl e thou ght oi z for why ?
, ,
they a r e matters of co urs e Endangered th ey a re rated at .

,
their re al v al u e In this to o th ey are l i ke sunshine who s e

.
, , ,
b eauty m en n ot ice n ot at no o n when it is greatest b ut ,
towards evening when it lies in fl akes of top az under shady

elm s. Yet it i s feebl er then ; b ut glo o m lie s b eside i t an d ,
co ntrast reveal s i t s fi r e Thu s Gerard and Margaret .

,
thou gh t h ey starte d at every leaf that ru stl ed lo u d er than its

fell ows glowe d all o ver with j oy and thankfulness a s they
,
glide d amon g th e frien dly trees in safety a n d deep tranquil

sil ence h ayin g do gs and b rutal voices yet ringin g in their
,
mind s e ars
’
.
But presently Gerard fo und stains of blo o d on Margaret s ’
ankl es .
Mar tin ! Martin ! h elp ! th ey have wounded her : the -
cro ssb ow !
No n o t ,
s ai d Margar et smilin g to reassure him ; ,
I a m not wounded no r hu r t at all , .
’
But what 1 s i t then in Heaven 5 nam e ? cried Gerard
, , ,
i n great agitation .
S col d m e n ot th en ! an d Margaret blushe d , .
D id I ever s col d y ou ?
1 08 THE C L O IS TER AND THE HEARTH
No dear Gerard,
W el l t l 1 en Martin said it w a s
.
, ,
blo o d tho se cru el do gs foll owed ; s o I thou ght i f I c ou I d b ut

h ave a littl e blo o d on my sh o on the do gs woul d foll o w ,
m e instead and l et my Gerard wend free S o I scratched .
—
, '
i
my arm with Martin s kn fe fo rgive m e ! Wh o s e el se ’
”
c ou l d I t a k e ? Yours Gerard ? Ah no
‘
You forgive m e ?
, , .
s ai d s h e b es eechingly an d lo vingly a n d fawni ngly al l in one

, , .
”
L et m e s ee this s cratch fi r s t said Gerard chokin g , , .
with emotion There I thou ght s o A s cratch ? I call .
it a cut— a d eep terribl e cru el cut

.
,
.
, ,
G erard shud dered at sight of i t .
Sh e might h ave done it with h er b o dkin said th e ,
soldier . Milksop ! that sickens at sigh t of a scratch and a

littl e blo o d .
No no I coul d lo ok on a s e a of blo o d b u t not o n hers

, . , .
Oh Mar gar et ! how coul d y ou b e s o cruel ?

,
Mar garet smil ed with love ineff abl e Fo ol ish Gerard .

,
murmured s h e to make s o mu ch of nothing

, An d s h e .
flung the guilty arm round his neck As if I would not

'
give all th e bl o o d in my h eart f or y ou let al on e a few drop s ,

”
from my arm And with this under th e s ense of his
.
,
-
recent danger s h e wept on his n eck for p ity and l ove ; and
'
h e wept with h er .
And I mu st p art from her h e sobb ed ; w e two that ,

—
love s o dear on e must b e in Holl and on e in Italy Ah , .
m e ! ah m e l ah m e !
A t this Margaret wept afresh but p atiently a n d s il ently , .
Instinct i s nev er of f its gu ar d and with her u n s el fi sh n e s s was ,
an instinct To utter her pres ent t houg h ts wo ul d b e to ad d

‘
’
to G erard s misery at p arting s o s h e wept in sil ence ,
.
Suddenly they emerged up on a b eaten p ath and M artin ,
s t opp ed .
This is th e b ridl e road I S poke oi said h e h an gin g hi s

-
, ,
head ; and there away lie s the ho stelry .
Margar et and G erard cast a scared l ook at one another , .
”
Com e a step with m e M artin whisp ered Gerard , , .
When h e had dr a wn him aside h e sai d to him in a b roken ,

"
5
voice , Go o d Ma rtin watch over her for m e ! Sh e is m y
,
wife ; yet I l eave her S ee Martin ! here is gol d— i t w a s

.
,
for my j ourney ; it is no u se m y a s k i n g her to tak e i t '

~
s h e woul d not ; but y ou wi l l f or her will y ou not ? Oh , ,
Heaven ! and i s this all I can do i or h er ? Money ? B ut '

‘
p overty is a curs e You will not l et her want for anythin g

.
,
dear Martin ? The burgo mas ter s silver is enou gh for m e ’

.
f ’
Thou art a go o d l ad Gerard N either want n or harm

'
, .
'
shall com e t o h er I c are more f or h er litt l e fi n ger than for

.
all the worl d ; and were sh e nou ght to m e ev en for thy sak e
.
would I b e a father to her G o with a sto ut heart and g od .

,
C L O IS TER
'
1 1 0 TH E AN D T H E HEART H
Wh ere ?
Ou t other s i d e of th e b ourn No need to ride down
’ ‘
”
the h il l I trow
, .
Ger a rd di smounte d without a word an d to ok th e burgo ,
master s p urs e from his girdle : whil e he op ened i t

’
You ,
wi ll so on b e ou t of th i s hateful country said h i s guide , ,
half sulkily ; mayh ap th e on e you are going to wi l l lik e

.
you n o b etter ; any way thou gh it b e a ch u rch y ou have ,

”
robb ed th ey cannot t a ke y ou once acro ss that b ourn
, ,
.
Th es e words at another time woul d have e arned the ,
S p e a ker an a d mo n ition or a cu f f Th ey fell o n Gerard now .
l ik e idl e ai r H e p ai d the l ad i n s ilence and descended the

.
,
hill al one . The b ro ok was silvery ; it ran murmuring o ver

little p ebble s that gl i t t er e d va r n i sh e d by the clear water ;
‘
, ,
h e s a t down and lo oked stupidly at th em Then h e drank .
of the bro ok ; then h e laved his hot feet and han ds in it

i t was very col d : it wake d h i m H e ro se and taking a run .
, ,
leap e d acro ss it into Germany Even as h e touched th e .
strange l and h e turn ed su d denly and lo oke d b ack Fare .
well un grateful country ! he cri ed

, But for h er it wo ul d .
cost m e no u ght to leave y ou for ever and a l l my kith and ,
kin and— th e mot h er that b ore m e and— m y playm ates

.
, , ,
and my littl e native town Farewell fatherl and— wel come .

,
the wide worl d ! omne s o lum for ti p p a t r i f —

— — —é — — a
”
'
.
And with these b rave words in his m outh h e dro op e d s u d

d en l y with arms an d legs all weak and s a t down and sobb e d ,
b itterly up on th e forei g n so il .
Wh en t h e youn g exi l e had s a t a whil e b owe d down h e ,
rose and dashed th e tears from his eye s like a man ; and n ot
c a sting a single glance more b ehin d him to weak en his he a rt , ,
stepp e d ou t into t h e wide world .
His l ove and h eavy sorrow l eft no ro om in him for vul gar
mis givings Comp ared with rending himself from M argaret
.
,
it seemed a small thing to g o o n f oot t o I t aly in that rude age

‘
Al l nations meet in a co nvent S o tha n ks to h i s go o d .

,
fri ends th e mo nk s and his own th irst of knowl edge h e

, ,
could sp eak mo st of the l an guages needed on that long road

H ésaid to himself
.
I wi ll so on b e at Rome ; the so oner

,
,
”
the b etter n ow .
After walking a go o d l ea g ue he cam e to a place where ,
four ways m et B eing country roads and serp entine

.
, ,
they h a d puzzled ma n y an inexp eri enced neighb o ur p assin g

from village to Vil la ge Gerard to ok out a littl e dial Peter
.
had given him and s et it in the autumn s u n an d by this

, ,
comp ass steere d un h esitatingly f or Rome— i n exp er i en c e d o
a s a youn g sw al l ow flying south ; but unl ike the sw a llow ,
wandering south al one .

C O I S T E R AND THE HE AR TH
TH
E; L . 1 1 1
C H APTER X X IV
N OT f a r on this ro ad h e cam e up o n a l ittl e group Two .
m en in sob er suits sto o d leaning lazily on each side of a

h or s e t a1 k i n g t o on e anoth er
, T h e ri der in a s i lk doublet.
,
and b right green j erk in an d h o se b oth of English cl oth , ,
glo ssy a s a m ol e l ay fl at o n his stoma ch l n th e afterno o n s u n

, ,
a n d lo ok ed an enorm ou s lizar d H i s v el vet clo ak (fl a mi n g .
o e i n
’
y ellow ) was carefully sprea d v r th e horse s lo s .
Is au ght am iss ? inqu ired Gerard .
Not that I wot oi replie d on e of the s ervan t s

, .
'
But yo ur m aster h e lies like a corp s e , Are y e not “
a shame d to let him grovel o n th e groun d ?

Go t o; t h e b ar e gr ound I S th e b es t cur e for his disorder .
If you get sob er in b e d it give s you a h ea d a£h e ; b ut you

, _
leap up fro m th e har d ground like a lark in sp ring Eh .

,
Ul ric ?
H e sp eak s so oth y o un g man said Ulri c warml y
, , .
1
Wh at i s the gentl e man drunk ?
,
Th e s ervants b u rst i nto a ho arse l au gh at th e sim plicity

of Gerard s qu esti on
'
’
B ut su ddenly Ul ric stopp ed an d
.
,
eyein g him al l o ver said very gravely , Wh o are you and , ,
where b orn that know not the Count is ever drunk a t th is

,
ho ur ? An d Gerard fou nd him self a su sp e cte d character .
I a m a stranger said h e b ut a tru e man and on e

, , ,
th at l ove s knowledge ; therefore a s k I qu estions a nd not fo r ,

’
love of p ryin g
‘
th en give
.
If you b e a t ru e man said Ul ri c shrewdly , ,
u s trink gel d for th e kno

w ledg e we hav e g i ven you
Gerard lo ok ed bl ank b ut puttin g a go o d face on i t said
.
, , ,
Tr i nk gel d y ou sh al l h a V e su ch as my lean p urse can sp are, ,
a n if y ou will tell m e why ye h a V e t a en his clo ak fro m t h e

’ ’
ma n a n d lai d it on th e b east
U nder th e in spirin g i n fl u en c e of comin g tr ink g eld two
.
solutions were i nstantly off ere d Gerard a t once : the on e w a s

that shoul d the C ount com e t o himself ( w
,
hich b ein g a ,
s easoned to p er h e wa s apt to do al l in a minute ) and fi n d

, ,
h i s h ors e standin g sweatin g in t h e col d whil e a cl oak l ay ,
i dl e at hand he woul d fall to cursing an d p er ad V en t u r e

, ,
to l aying on ; the oth er m ore pretentiou s was that a hors e , , ,
i s a p o or mil k sop which dr inking nothing b ut water h a s to

, ,
b e co ckere d up and warm e d o utsid e ; b ut a master b eing a ,
cre a ture ever fi l l ed with go o d b e er h a s a store o f inward ,
h eat that warm s him t o t h e skin , and re nders a cl oak a

m ere sh r e d oi i dl e vanity,
v
°
v
'
m
‘
=
1
TH E C LOISTER AN D
.
HE AR T H
'
'
rH E
Each of th e sp eakers fell in love with his theo ry and , ,
to tell the truth b oth had tak en a hair or two of th e do g that

,
had bitten their master t o the b rain ; so their voices presently

ro s e so high that th e gre e n sot b egan o
,
t o growl instead o f
snoring In their heat they did not no tice this
. .
Ere long the ar gum ent to ok a turn that so oner o r later

was pretty sure to enl i V en a discussio n in that a ge Hans .
,
hol din g th e bridl e with hi s right h and ; gave Ul ric a soun d

cu ff with his le f t ; U lri c returned it with interest his right ,
h and b ein g free ; an d at it they went ding dong over th e

'
, ,
ho rs e 3 mane p omm elling on e anoth er and j aggi n g the p o or

’
, ,
b e a s t t i1 1 h e ran b ackw ard an d tr ode with i ro n h eé

,
l up on ,
a p romontory o f the gr een lo rd ; h e l ik e the to ad stun g by ,
1 t h u r i e1 s sp ear starte d up h owling with on e hand clapp e d

’
, ,
to th e sm ar t and the oth er tug gin g at h i s hilt Th e s ervants .

,
amaz ed wi th t er r or 1 et th e hors e go ; h e gal lop ed oi i whinny

,
i ng t h e m en in pursuit of him cryin g ou t with fe ar and t h e

, ,
green nobl e after them Voll eying curses h i s nak ed sword

' '
, ,
in his hand an d his b o dy reb oundin g from h edge to hedge

’
in his headl ong b u t zigza g career down the nar row l ane .
I n which hurtling Gerard turned his b a ck o n th em ,
all and went calmly south glad to have save d th e fo ur

, ,
tin farth ings h e had got ready fo r tri n k geld b u t f ar to o ,
heavy hear ted even t o smil e at their dru nk en ext ra

vaganc e .
Th e su n w
ne arly s etti n g and Ger a rd who h ad n o
as w
f or som e ti me b een hoping in vain t ofi nd an inn b y th e way
, ,
was very ill at ea se To m ake m atte rs worse bl a ck clouds

.
,
gathered over th e sky .
Gerard qu i cke ne d his p ace almo st to a r u n .
It was in vain ; d o n cam e the rain in torrents drench e d ,
th e b e wil dered t r a Vel l er an d seeme d to extin gu ish th e very

'
s u n — for his rays already fadin g coul d not cop e with thi s
, ,
‘
new assail ant Gerard tru d ged ou dark and wet and 1 1 1 an
.
, , ,
unknown re gion Po ol i to l eave M argaret s ai d h e

.
, .
Pr es ently the d arkn ess thickened .
H e was enteri n g a gr eat wo o d Hu ge b ranches shot .
acro ss th e narrow ro ad an d t h e b eni ghte d stranger grop ed ,
his way in what s eemed an interminabl e and inky cav e

with a ru gged fl oor on which h e stumble d and stu m bl ed ,
a s h e wen t ,
Ou and on and on with shiverin g limb s and empty

‘
, , ,
stomach an d fainting h eart till the wolves ro se fro m the i r

‘ '
°
, ,
lai r s and b ayed all rou nd th e woo d

His hair b ristl ed ; but h e g r a s p e
.
d his cud gel an d p r e ,

:
p are d t o s ell h i s life d e ar i

.
There was no wind ; and his excite d ear heard light feet
1 1 4 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEAR TH
W hat , th e h eat and reeking vap ours circulated and mad e ,
th e wall s drip ; and th e hom e nurture d no vice found som e

thing like a col d snake wind ab out his legs and h i s h ead turn ,
to a great lump of l ead ; and next h e felt lik e choking , ,
Sweetly slumb erin g an d dying a l l in one , , .
e was within an ace of swo oning but recov ere d to a ,
d eep Sense of disgust and discouragement ; and settl ed to

g o b ack t o Holland at p eep of day This resolution fo rm ed h e .
,
plucke d up a little heart ; and b ein g faint with hunger asked ,
o n e of th e men of garlic wh ether this was not an inn af ter all ?

‘
When ce com e you who k now not Th e Star of the ,
Forest 2 was th e repl y

"
.
I am a stranger ; and in my country inn s have aye a

""
D roll country y ou r s l Wh at n eed of a sign to a public
h ouse — a place th at every soul knows ?
Gerard was to o tire d and faint for th e lab our of argu
ment ; so he turned fo r c on ver s a t i on a n d aske d where h e , ‘
could fi n d th e landlord ?
’
A t this fresh displ a y of ignorance the native s contemp t ,
ro se to o high for Words H e p ointe d to a middl e — . age d .
Wo m an s eated on t h e other side of th e oven ; and turn ing

to h i s mates l et them know what an outlandish an i mal wa s
,
i n the ro om The reat th e l ou d vo ice s stopp ed on e b y one

’
.
, ,
as the information p en etrated th e m ass ; an d e ach eye

turned as on a p ivot following Gerard and h i s e very move
, , ,
m en t s i 1 en t 1 y and zo olo gically

, .
Th e landlady sat on a chair an inch or two higher t han

“
t h e r est b etwe en two b un d l es F ro m th e fi r s t a b uge h e ap ‘
, ,
of feath ers an d wings s h e wa s takin g th e d owny plume s

, ,
and pulli ng the oth ers from th e quills an d so fi l l i n g bundl e ,

—
two littering th e fl o or ankl e deep an d contrib utin g to -
,
th e general sto ck a stuff y littl e mal aria whic h mi ght have ,
played a distinguish e d p art in a sweet ro om b ut went f or ,
nothing here Gerard asked her if h e coul d have som ethin g

.
t o e at .
She o ened h e r eye s with a stonishment S upp er i s .
over this ou r and more .

’
But I had non e o f i t go o d dame , .
Is that my fault ? You were welcome to you r shar e

f or m e
But I w
.
a s b enighted and a stranger ; and b elated so re

,
against my w i ll .
Wh at have I to do with that ? All the worl d k n ow s

Th e S t ar of th e Forest sup s from six till Com e
b efore s i x y és u p well ; com e b efore eight y e
, pl ease s ,
stirru p
THE
'
C L O ISTER A N D THE HE AR TH 1 1 5
G erard lo ok ed blank
.
May I go to b ed then dame ? .
, ,
said h e sulk il y ; for it i s ill sitting up wet and fastin g and ,

’
the byword saith H e sup s who sl eep s , .
”
The b eds are not com e yet replied the landl ady , .
You will sl eep When the rest d o Inns are no t b uilt for .
”
on e.
It wa s Gerard s turn to b e asto nished ’

The b eds were .
’
not co m e ! what in H eaven s nam e did s h e m ean ?
, But ,
h e w a s afraid to ask for every wo rd he had sp oken hitherto

had am az ed the assembly and z o olo gical eyes were up o n
h i m é—h e felt th em
,
H e l eane d against the wall and s i ghed

.
,
audibly .
A t this fresh z o ol o gical trait a titter went ro und th e ,
watchful comp any .
S o this i s Germany th ou ght Gerard ; and Germany ,

”
i s a great coun t ry b y Holland Small natio ns for m e . .
H e co nsoled hims elf b y r efl ec t i n g it was to b e his last ,
as well as his fi r s t night in the land His reverie w a s i n

, .
t er r u p t ed by an elb ow driven into his rib s H e turned .
sharp on h i s assail ant who p ointe d a cro ss th e ro om , Gerard .
l o oked and a woman in the corn er was b ecko ning him

, .
H e went towards her gingerly b ein g surprised an d irre solute , ,
s o that to a s p ectato r her b ecko ning fi n g er s eem ed to b e

p ulling him acro ss th e flo or with a gut line When h e ha d -
.
got up to h er Hol d th e child said s h e in a fi n e hearty

, , ,
vo ice and in a m om ent s h e plump ed th e b airn into Gerar d s ’
arms .
H e sto o d t r a n s fi x e d j elly of l ead in his hands an d , ,
su dden horro r i n h i s elo ngated countenance .
A t this ru efully expressive face the lynx eye d co ncl ave

,
,
-
l aughe d l ou d and long .
N ever heed them s aid th e woman ch eerfully ; ,

'
’
th ey know no b ett er ; how shoul d th ey b red a n b orn in a ,
wo o d ? Sh e was rummaging among h er clothes with the '
two p enetrating hands on e of which Gerar d had s et free , .
Presently s h e fi sh e d out a small tin plate an d a dried p u dding ;

an d r esuming h er chil d with on e arm h el d th em fort h to ,
Gerard with th e other keeping a thumb on the p u ddin g ,
to p revent it from slipp ing off .
”
P ut it in the stove sai d s h e ; you are to o young to
,
”
lie down fasting .
Gerard t h anke d h er warm l y B ut on his way to th e .
stove h i s eye fell on th e l andlady

,
M a y I dam e ? .
,
said h e b eseechingly .
Why not ? s aid s h e .
Th e questio n was evidently anoth er surprise thou gh ,
less startling than its pre decessors .
Coming to th e stove Gerard found th e oven do o r ,

1 1 6 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH .
ob structed by the rammis h clowns They did not budge . .
H e hesitated a moment Th e landl ady s a w cal ml y put .

, .
down h er work and coming u p p ulled a hircine man or

, ,
two hith er and pu she d a h i rcine man or two thith er with

, ,
t h e i mp assive countenan ce of a hou sewife m v i ng her

furniture Turn ab out is fair play s h e said ;
o ‘
.
y e h ave ,
b een dry this ten minute s and b etter .
Her exp erienced eye Wa s n ot d e ceived ; G or gon n h a d

done stewing and b egun b ak ing D eb arred th e stove
,
.
,
they trundl ed h ome all but o ne who sto o d like a table ; , ,
where th e landlady had move d him to l ike a tabl e And , .
Gerard b ake d his p udding ; an d getting to th e stove b urst ,
into steam .
The do or op ene d and in fl ew a b u n dl e of straw ,

.
It was hurle d b y a hind with a p itchfork Anoth er and '

.
another cam e fl y ing after i t till th e ro om was l ike a cl ean ,

- .
farmyard These were then disp er sed round th e stove in

.
'
layers l i k e th e s ea t s i n a n arena and in a m oment th e

‘ ’
, ,
,
comp any was all o n its b a ck .
Th e b eds had com e .
Gerard to ok ou t his p u dding and fo und it deliciou s , .
While he was relishing i t the wo man wh o h a d gi Ven it him

and who was now ab ed b eckone d h i m a gain
, ,
H e went to , .
’
’f
her bundl e side Sh e i s waiting f of y ou
. whisp ere d th e ,
woman Gerard returned to th e Stove an d gobbl ed th e

.
,
rest of his sausage c a sting uneasy gl a nc es at th e l andl ady 2

,
s eated sil ent a s fate amid the p ro strate multitu de Th e .
fo o d b olted h e went t o h er and said

, Than k you k i 11 d 1 y , ,
’
dame for waiting for me
,
.
You are welcome ”

said s h e cal ml y m ak i ng neither , ,
much nor littl e of th e favour ; an d w i t h th at b e gan to

gath er up the feath ers But Ge r ard stopp ed her Nay
. .
,
that i s my t a s k ; a i 1 d h e went down on his knees and

Sh e watc h e d h i md emurely
,
collecte d them with ardour . .
I wo t n ot whence y e com e ’
said s h e with a relic ’
, ,
of d istru st ; adding more cordial ly b ut y e have b een

, ,
well b roug h t up y have had a go o d 1 n ot h er I l l g o

-
,
’
b ail .
A t th e do or s h e committed t h e w h ol e comp any t o Heaven

'
in a formul a an d d i sappeared , Gerard to his straw in th e .
very corner— for t h e , g 1 1 es t s lay round th e sacred s t ove b v

'
s en i or i t y i 3 p riority of arrival
, . . .
This p unishment wa s a b o on to Gerard ; fo r thu s h e lay

on th e shore of o dour and s t i fl i n g h eat instead of in mid ,
o cean .
H e w a s j ust dropping 0 11 w h e n h e w a s awaked b y a

noise ; and l o t there was the hind re morselessly sh ak i ng and
,
C L O ISTER AND THE HEART H
'
1 1 8 TH E
’
Gerard ob eyed th e lofty b ehest and kissed th e wife s ,
ch eek .
A blessing go with you b oth go o d p eopl e sai d , ,
he
And Go d sp e ed you youn g m an ! replied th e h onest
,
coupl e ; and with that th ey p a rted and n ever m et agai n ,

.
in thi s worl d .
Th e s u n had j u st risen : th e ram drop s on th e l eaves -
glittered li k e diamonds Th e ai r was fresh an d b racing

. ,
and Gerard steered s outh an d di d n ot even rememb er his ,
resolve of overnight .
Eight l ea g u es he wal ke d that day and in th e afterno on ,
cam e up on a hu ge b uil din g with an enormou s arched gate

way an d a p o stern by i t s sid e .
'
A monastery ! cried h e j oyful ly ; I g o no further l est

I fare wors e H e applied at th e p o stern an d o n stating
.
,
whence h e cam e an d whith er b oun d wa s instantly admitte d ,
an d directe d to th e uest —ch amb er a large and l ofty ro om

g , ,
where travellers were fed an d lo dged grati s b y th e ch arity

of th e m onastic o rders S o on the b el l tinkle d for v esp ers
. ,
an d Gerard entered th e church of th e co nvent and from hi s ,
pl ace heard a s er vi ce sung s o exqu isitely it s eem ed the cho ir ,
of heaven But one thing was wantin g M argaret was not

.
,
there to hear it with him an d this m ade him sigh b itterl y ,
in mid rapture A t supp er pl a in b ut whol esom e and

.
,
ab undant fo o d and go o d b e er b rewe d in th e convent were

, , ,
s et b efore him and his fellows and at an e arly hour they ,
were u shered into a large dormitory an d th e numb er b ein g ,
mo derate had each a truckl e b ed and for covering sheep

, , ,
skins dressed with th e fl e ece on ; b ut p rev i ou sly to thi s a

m onk struck by his youth and b eauty qu estione d h i m
, , ,
and so on drew ou t his p roj ects and his heart When h e wa s .
found to b e c onvent b red and going al one to Rom e h e , ,
b ecame a p ersonage and in the mornin g th ey showed hi m

,
over th e convent and m ade h im stay an d di ne in the refecto ry .
They al so p ricked h i m a route on a sheet of p archment a n d ,
th e prio r gave him a silver gu i lden to help him on th e ro ad ,
and advised him t o j oin th e fi r s t h onest comp any h e sh oul d

fall in with and not face al one th e manifold p er il s of the
,
way .
Peril s ? said Gerard to him sel f .
That evening h e came to a small straggl i ng town where

was on e inn ; it had n o si g n ; b ut b eing n ow b etter vers ed in
th e custom s of th e country h e detected it at once b y the , .
co ats of arms o n its walls Thes e b elonge d to th e di stin

.
g u i s h e d Visito rs who had slept in it at diff erent epo ch s

since its foundation and l eft these cu stomary tokens of their
,
p atronage A t p resent it lo oke d m ore like a m ausol eum

.
than a hotel Nothing m ove d n or sounded either in it or

.
. THE C L O ISTE R AND T H E H EA R TH 1 1 9
ab out i t Gerard hamm ered o n th e great oa k d oo r ; n o

.
ans wer H e hal lo o e d : no reply

. After a while h e hal lo o ed .
l ou der and at last a lit tl e round wind ow o r rather hol e in

, ,
the wall o pened a man s h ead protrude d cautiou sly like

, ,
’
,
’
a tortois e s fro m its shell an d eyed Gerar d stolidly b ut , ,
n ever uttered a syllable .
Is this an inn ? asked Gerard with a covert sneer , .
Th e h ea d s eem ed to fall into a b rown study ; eventua l ly

it no dded b ut lazily , .
Can I have entertainm ent here ?

Again th e head p ondered and ended b y no ddin g b ut ,
su ll enly an d s eem ed a skull overb urden ed with catch

,
penny interro gatories .
How a m I to get within an t pleas e yo u ? ’

‘
At this th e hea d p opp e d i n as if th e last questio n h ad

'
1 ,
s h ot i t ; and a h an d p opp e d o ut p ointed round th e corner ,
of t h e b uil din g and slamm e d th e window

, .
Gerard followed th e indi cation and after some re search ,
discovere d th at th e f or t i fi ca t i on ha d on e vul nerabl e part

"
a small low doo r o n its flank As f or th e m ain entran ce .

,
th at w as u sed to k eep out thieves and cu sto mers , except

o nce or twice i n a year wh en they entered to gether i e
whe n so me duk e or count arrived in p omp with his train of
, , . .
g au dy r uf fi a n s .
Gerard ; h avin g p en etrat ed th e o ut er f ort So o n foun d his ,
way to th e stove ( as th e publi c ro o m was call e d fro m th e

p rinci pal articl e in i t ) a nd sat down n ear th e oven i n which
, ,
were onl y a few live emb ers that d i ffus ed a mil d an d grateful
hea t .
Aft er w ai tin g p atiently a lon g tim e h e ask ed a gri m ol d ,
Tell ow w i th a l on g whit e b eard who stalked s ole mnly i h , ,
a n d t urned the hour gl ass and then was st a lkin g ou t

,
: whe n , ,
supp er woul d b e Th e grisly G anym ed e co unte d th e guests

.
”
on h i s fingers Wh en I s ee thrice a s m a ny here as n ow
'
. .
Gerard gro aned .
Th e grisly tyr ant resented t h er eb el l i Ou s s ound I nn s .
are n Ot b uilt f or one s ai d h e ; i f you can t wait for th e

,
‘ ‘ ’
rest lo ok out for a noth er lo dgin g

,
.
Ger a rd sigh ed .
A t this th e greyb eard fro wn ed .
After a whil e comp any trickl e d stead i ly i n j ti ll full ,
e i ghty p erso ns of various conditions were con gr e gated an d ,
to ou r novice th e place b ecam e a cham b er of horrors ; fo r ‘
h ere th e mothers got to gether an d comp ar e d ringwor ms

'
and th e m en scr ap ed th e m u d off their sho es with their

knives and l eft it o n th e flo or and comb ed th eir l on g hair
, ,
ou t ,
inmates i n cl u d ed a n d m ade their toilet co nsisti n g , , ,
g enerally of a dry rub Water however w a s brought 1 1 1 .

, ,
CL O I STER
’
1 20 TH E A ND T H E HEARTH
ewers .
G erard p ounced on on e of these but at sig h t of th e ,
liquid contents lo st h i s temp er an d said to th e waite r ,
NVa s h y ou fi r s t your water and then a man may wash his ,
hands withal .
A n it likes you not seek another inn !

’
,
Gerard said nothin g b ut went qui etly and court eo usly ,
b es ou gh t an ol d travell er to tell him how far it was to th e

o
next i n n .
Ab o ut four lea g ues .
’
Then G erard appreciate d th e gr im pleasantry of t h
unb endin g sire .
That worthy now r eturn ed with an armful of wo o d ,
an d counting th e travell ers put on a lo g for every s i x by , ,
which act of raw j usti ce t h e hotter the ro om th e more heat

‘
h e added Poor Gerar d noti ced this littl e flaw i n th e ancient

.
rna n s lo gic b ut ca refully suppresse d every symptom of

’
intelligence l est his feet shoul d have to carry his b rain s

,
four l eagues farther th at ni ght

'
Wh en p erspiration and su ffo cation were f a r advanced ,
the b rou ght in th e tabl e cl oth s ; b ut oh s o b rown s o di rty , , ,
a n so coarse ; t h ey seem ed l i ke sacks that had b een wo rn

ou t in a gricultur e an d com e down to t h i s or l i ke shreds ,
from th e mai nsail of some worn out ship The H oll ander -
.
,
who had never s een such linen even in nightm are ; uttered
a faint cry .
What 1 3 to do ? inquired a travell er G er ard p oi nt ed

ruefull y to th e di rty sackcloth Th e other look ed at it with
'
.
.
lack lustre eye an d compr eh ended nou ght, .
A Burgundian soldier with his arb alest at his b ack

cam e p e epin g over Ge ra rd s shoul der and seein g what was
'
’
'
amiss laughed s o lou d that t h e ro om ran g again th en

, ,
slapp ed him o n th e b ack and cried Courage ! l e diabl e ,
est mort .
Ge r ard stared : h e doubte d alike th e go o d tidin gs and

their rel evancy ; but th e to nes were s o hearty and the
arb al estrier 5 face notwithstandin g a formidabl e b e a rd
’
, ,
Wa s so gay and genial that h e sm i l ed a nd after a p aus e

'
, ,
said drily 1 1 a b ien fait : avec l eau e t linge d a pays o n

’
,
”
allait l e no ircir a n e se r e c on n a i t r e plu s .
T 1 en s t i en s l cried th e soldier v l a qui p arl e l e ,

’
F r an cais p eu 5 en faut
’
, and h e seate d himself by Gerard , ,
and in a m om ent was talking volubly of war w omen an d , ,
pillage interl a rding his discourse with curiou s o aths at which

, ,
Gerard drew away from him m ore or l ess

Pr esently i n cam e th e grisly s er \ ant and counte d the m
. .
l l
a on his fi n g er s sup erciliou sly like Abraham tellin g sheep ;
.
,
then went ou t a gain an d returned with a deal trencher and ,
d eal spo on to each .

THE CL O ISTER HEART H
.
1 2 9; AN D T H E
gra s s by eatin g of grass fed b eeves a s to eat cheese by -

,
swal l owing these uncl eanly insects .
Gerard raised his vo i ce i n uttering this an d the comp any ,
received th e p aradox in d ea d sil ence an d with a distrustful ,
a i r lik e any other stranger during which th e Burgundi an

, , ,
who understo o d German b ut imp erfectly made G erard ,
Gal l iciz e th e discu ssion H e p atted his inte r p reter on th e

.
’
b ack C est b ien m o n gars : plus fi n qu e to i n est p as
.
’
,
b ete ,
and administered his fo rmula of encoura gement ;
and Gerard edged away from him ; for next to u gly sights
and ill o dours th e p o or wretch dislik ed p rofaneness
'
.
,
Me antime thou gh shaken in ar gument th e raw rept i les

, ,
were duly eaten and relishe d by the comp any and s erved ,
to p rovoke thirst a p rincip al aim of a l l the s olids in that

,
p art of Germ any S o now th e comp any drank g ar oa s s es

.
all round and th eir ton gues were unl o o sed and oh th e
, , ,
B ab el ! But ab ove th e fi er c e cl amour ro s e at interval s

,
l ike s om e h ero s w a r LCr y in b attle th e trump et lik e voice

’
,
-
of t h e B urgu ndian soldier shouting lustily c ourage , ,
c a marades l e diabl e est m or t l

,
Entere d grisly Ganymede hol di ng in his h and a wo o d en

dish with circl es and s emicircl es m ark ed on it in ch al k .
H e put it down on th e tabl e and sto o d s i l ent s a d and s ombre , ,
as Charon by Styx waitin g for his b o at lo ad of souls Th en .
p o uches an d purses were rummaged and each threw a co in ,
into the dish Gerard timidly ob serve d th at h e h ad drunk

.
n ext to no b eer and inq uir ed h ow mu ch l ess h e was to p ay

’
than th e oth er s .
What mean you ? said Ganym ede rou ghly Who s e .
faul t is it you have not drunken ? Are a l l to su ff e r

'
b ecau se on e cho oses to b e a milksop ? You will p ay no

more than t h e rest an d no l ess , .
Gerard was ab ashed .
Courage p etit l e diabl e est mort

, hiccou ghe d th e
, ,
soldier a nd flung Ganymede a co in

, .
You are a s b ad as he i s said th e ol d m an p eeV i sh l y ,
you are p aying to o mu ch ; and the tyranni cal ol d

A ristides r eturne d him som e coin ou t of th e t rencher with
a m o st repro achful countenance And now th e m an whom .
Gerard had confute d an hour and a half ago awok e from a

brown stud y in which h e had b een ever s i nce and cam e to
, ,
him and sa i d Yes ; b ut the honey is none the wors e for

,
p assing throu gh the b ees b ellies ’

.
Gerard stared The answer had b een s o long on th e

.
’
road h e hadn t an idea what it was an answer to S eeing .
h i m dumfounded th e oth er concluded him confuted and

, ,
withdrew cal med .
Th e b edro oms w ore up stairs dungeons with not a scrap ,

THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH 1 23
of furniture except th e b ed an d a mal e s ervant s ettl e d ,
inexorably who shoul d sleep with whom N e ither money .
nor prayers woul d get a man a b ed to himself h ere ; custo m

forb ade it sternly You might as well have aske d t o
.
monop oliz e a se e s aw Th ey a ssigne d to Gerard a m an with

-
.
a great black b eard H e was an ho nest fellow enou gh

.
,
b ut not p erfect ; h e woul d n ot g o to b ed an d wou l d sit o n ,
th e edge of it tellin g th e wretched Gerard b y force and at ,
l ength th e events of th e day an d alternately lau ghing an d

, ,
crying at th e sam e circum stances which were not in the ,
smallest degre e p athetic or humorou s b ut only dead trivial , .
A t last Gerard put his fi n g er s in his ears an d lying down ,
in hi s clothes fo r th e sheets were to o dirty for him to u n

,
d ress contrived to sleep

, But in an hour or two h e awoke .
cold an d foun d that his drunken comp anion had got all th e
,
feather b ed ; s o mighty is instinct They lay b etween two .
b eds ; the lowe r o ne hard an d m a de of straw th e upp er soft ,
a n d fi l l e d with feath ers light a s down Gerard p ulled at i t

'
.
,
b ut th e exp erienced drunkard hel d it fast m echanically .
Ge r ard tri ed to twitch it away by surprise b ut instinct was

’
to o m any for him On this h e got ou t of b ed an d kneelin g

.
,
d o n on h i s b edfellow s ungu arde d si de eas i ly whipp e d th e

’
,
p riz e away an d rolle d with it under th e b ed and th ere lay ,
o n on e edge of i t and curl ed the rest roun d his shoulders

, .
B efore h e slep t h e o ften h eard som ethin g gru mbling a nd

growlin g ab ove him which was som e littl e satisfaction , .
Thu s I nstinct was outwitted an d Victoriou s R ea s On lay ,
ch ucklin g on feathers and not quite chok e d with dust

’
.
,
At p eep of day Gerard ro se flung the feather b e d up o n h i s ,
sn orin g comp anion and went in search of milk and air

, .
“
A cheerful vo i ce hail e d him in French W h at h o !
”
you are up with the s u n comrade , .
’
H e rises b etime s th at lies in a do g 8 l air answere d ,
Gerard cro ssly .
C ourage l a m i l l e diabl e est mort wa s th e instant

,
’
,
reply The soldier th en tol d him his nam e was D enys an d h e

.
,
wa s p assin g from Flu shing in Z eala nd to the D uk e s Fr ench

’
dominions ; a change th e more a greeabl e to him a s h e ,
shoul d revisit his native place an d a ho st of pretty girl s ,
who ha d wept at hi s d ep arture an d shoul d hear F rench ,
sp oken aga i n An d who are you and whither b ound ?

.
,
My nam e is Gerard an d I a m goin g to Rom e said the , ,
more reserve d Hollander “ an d in a way that invited n o

further con fi d en c es .
Al l th e b etter ; we will go to gether as far a s Burgundy .
That i s not my ro ad .
Al l r oa d s t a k e to R o m e .
Ay b ut th e shortest ro ad thi ther i s m y way

, .
1 24 THE CL O ISTER A ND T H E HEARTH
We l l then it is I wh o must g o ou t of my way a step
, ,
for the sak e of go o d comp any for thy face lik es m e and thou , ,
sp eakest French or nearly .
There g o two wor d s to that b argain said Gerard ,
coldl y I steer by proverb s to o

. They do put ol d head s .
on young m en s shoulders B on loup mauvais comp a gnon

’
.
,
d i t l e brebis ; and a sol dier they say is near akin to a , ,

'
”
w olf .
They lie s aid D enys ; b esides if h e is les Ioup s n e

, , ,
’
s e man gent p as entre eux .
A y but ; s i r sol dier I a m not a wolf and thou knowest

, ,
a b ien p etite o ccas i o n s e saisit l e loup d u m outon .
Let u s drop wolves an d sheep b eing m en ; my meaning ,
is that a go o d soldier never p illages— a comrade

,
Come .
,
young man to o much susp ic i o n b ecomes not your years

,
.
They who travel sho ul d l earn to read face s ; m ethink s you

might s ee l ealty in m ine sith I have seen it in yourn : Is
it yon fat purse at your girdl e you fear for ? ( Gerard
turned p al e ) Lo ok hither ! . and h e un di d h i s b elt ,
and p oured ou t of it a doubl e handful of gol d p ieces then ,
returned them to their hiding place There i s a h o stag e

carry you that and l et u s b e co mrades
.
”
for you s aid h e ; ,
‘
, ,
and handed him his b elt gol d and all , .
Gerard stared If I a m over pru dent you have not

.
,
”
enow B ut b e flushed and l o oked pleased at t h e other 5
.
’
trust in him .
Bah ! I can read faces ; and s o mu st you or you 1 1 ,
never take your four b ones safe to Rome

S oldier y ou woul d fi n d m e a dull comp anion for my
.
, ,
”
heart is very heavy said Gerard yiel ding , , .
I ll cheer you m on gars

’
, .
’
”
I think y ou would said Gerard sweetly and sore ,
need have I of a kindly voice in mine ear thi s d a y .
Oh ! no soul is sad al on gside m e I lift up their p o o r .
littl e hearts with my cons i gn e : Cour age t out l e mond e , ,
l e diabl e est mort Ha ! ha! .
S o b e i t th en
’
said Gerard , But tak e ba ck yo ur , .
b elt for I coul d n ever trust b v h a lves

, We wi ll g o to gether .
a s far a s Rhine and G od g o with u s b oth ! ,

”
Amen ! said D enys and lifted hi s ca p , .
”
avant !
Th e p air tru dged manfully ou and D enys enl ivene d the ,
wear y way H e chattered ab out b attles and sieges and

.
,
things which were n ew to Gerard ; and h e wa s on e of tho se

who m ak e littl e incidents wherever they g o H e p assed .
nob o dy without addr essing him Th ey d on t understand .

’
”
i t but it wakes them u p
, said h e But whenever th ey fell , .
1 26 THE CLO I S T F R AND THE HEA R TH
Wh ere i s th e hardship ? I h ave lain amon g th em all
my 1 i f e L ook at me ! I a m f oursco re an d never had a
. ,
headach e in all my b orn days— all al ong o f lying amo ng th e

’
kye .
Bl ess your silly h ead kine s b reath i s ten time s ,
swe eter to drink nor Christians You try i t ! an d h e ’

.
slammed th e b edro om do or .
D enys wh ere are you ? ,

whine d Gerard ,
.
Here on h er other side

,
.
Wh at are y ou d oing ?
I know not ; b u t a s near a s I can gu ess I think I ,
mu st b e goin g t o sleep W h at are you a t ? .
”
I a m sayin g my prayers .
Forget m e not i n them !

Is it likely ? D enys I sh al l so on have done : d o n ot ,
g o to sl eep I want to talk

—
.
—
,
— —
D esp atch th em ! for I feel au gh like fl oa t i n g m
—
th e s k y on a warm clou d .
D enys !
Au gh ! eh ! hall o ! is it tim e to get u p?
Alack no There I hurried my or i sons t ot a
, . l k ; and
,
l o ok at you going to sl eep ! We sh a ll b e st a rved b efor e

,
morning having no coverl ets

,
.
Well you kno w wh at to do

, .
”
N ot I in s ooth
~
, .
Cu d dl e th e cow .
”
Thank y ou .
Burrow in the straw then You mu st b e very new to , .
th e worl d to grumbl e at this

, How woul d you b ear to l ie
'
.
’
o n th e fi el d of b attl e on a fro sty night as I did t oth er d ay , ,
stark naked with nothin g to keep m e warm but th e c a rcas s

,
of a fellow I had b een and h elp ed kill ?

Horribl e ! horr i bl e ! Tell m e al l ab out i t ! O h b ut ,
this is sweet
Well we had a littl e b attl e m Bra b a n
.
t and won alittl e

'
, ,
victo ry b ut it co st u s de a r ; s everal a r b a l es t r i er s turned

,
”
their to es u p and I amon g them , .
Killed D enys ? com e now

,
. .
D ead as mutton Stuck full of p ik e hole s til l th e

.
-
bl o o d ran ou t of m e l ik e th e go o d wine of Macon from th e

,
tro dden gra pes It is right b ounteou s i n m e to p our th e tal e

.
f —
in minstrel phrase or augh I m sl eepy — a
‘
Au gh now — .
‘
Where was I ? "
Left dead on th e fi el d of b attle bleedin g lik e a pig ; ,
that is to say like grap es or something ; go on prithee go

, , ,
on ti s a sin to sl eep 1 n the midst of a go o d story

‘
, .
Granted W e l l som e of t ho s e vagab onds tha t strip

. .
, ,
C L O IS TER
'
THE AND THE H EARTH 1 27
dea d sol dier ou th e fi el d of gl o ry jca m e and to o k every

“
th e
ff me ; th e y w
,
tag o ro ught m e no furth er ill b ecaus e th ere ,
was n o n ee d .
N o ; you were d ead .
’
C est convenu This mu st have b ee n at sund own ;
.
an d with th e night cam e a shrewd fro st that b arkened t h e

'
bl oo d on my wounds and stopp ed all th e rivul ets that were ,
running from my h eart and a b out midnight I awok e a s ,
from a trance .
And t hou ght you were in h eaven ? asked Gerard

eagerly b eing a youth ino culated with monkish tal es
, .
T oo fro st b itten for that m o n gars ; b esides I heard th e , ,
wou nded gro anin g on all sides s o I k new I was in th e ol d ,
place . I s a w I coul d not live th e night through without ,
cover . I grop ed ab out shivering an d shiverin g ; at l as t on e

did su dde nly l eave gro aning You are sp ed said I s o .
,
’
,
made up to him an d tru e enou gh h e was d ead b ut warm

, , ,
y ou know I to ok my l ord i n my arms b ut w a s to o weak

.
,
to carry him s o rolled with him into a ditch hard b y ; and

,
th ere my comrades foun d m e in th e m ornin g p rop erly

stung with nettles and hu gg i n g a dea d Fl emin g for th e b ar e
,
”
life.
G erard shu ddered An d this i s war ; this i s th e ch o s en

.
th em e of p o ets and troub adours an d R eden R y ck er s , .
Truly was it s aid b y th e m en of old dul ce b ellum i n exp er t i s , .
Tu dis ?
I s a y — oh what stout h earts som e m en h ave !
,
? S — h i
‘
—
N est c e p a s p tit after that s ort g this
’
t
’
; -
o n
,
— —
r
s ort thin g is heaven S oft w arm go o d Comp any com

.
e
,
r a d a n c ow — — — —
co u a ge d l a b l e m or n k l
’
And th e glib tongu e was still for som e h ours

'
In th e m orning Gerard wa s wakened b y a liqui d hitting

h i s eye and it wa s D eny s em p l oy i n g t h e cow s u dder a s a
'
’
s qu i r t .
O h fi e ! cried Gerard t o waste

,
“
th e go o d milk ; and ,
he to ok a h or n ou t of h i s wall et .
Fill this ! b ut indeed . ,
I s ee n ot what right we h ave to m eddl e with h er m ilk at all

. .
Mak e y our mind easy ! Last night l a camar ad e wa s

not nice ; b ut What then tru e friendship disp e ns es with ,
”
ceremo ny To day we ma ke as free with h er
. .
Why what did s h e do p o or thin g ?

, ,
”
Ate my p ill ow .
Ha l h a !
Ou waking I had to hun t for my h ead an d foun d i t ,
d o n in th e stabl e gutter She ate ou r p illow from u s .

,
we drink ou r p illow from h er A votre sant é madam e ; .

,
e t sans rancune ; and th e do g drank h er milk to h er own

he al th .
1 28 THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
ancient was right th ou gh said Ger ard
Th Neve
1i
'
e ,
.
have I risen so refresh ed s i nce I left m y native land H en c e

forth l et u s shun gr eat t ow
.
ns and stil l lie in a c on Ve n t or a

’
cow hous e ; f or I d liever sleep on fresh straw than on l i n en

-
’
,
well washed six month s a go n e ; an d th e b rea t h of kine it is

sweeter than that of Christians l et al on e the garlic which , ,
m en a n d wom en fo l k affe ct b ut cowen abh or fr om and s o d o , ,
I S t B avon b e my witness !
,
.
Th e soldier eyed him from h ead to foo t : Now b ut f or .
that little tuft on your chin I sho ul d take yo u for a gi rl ;

and by th e fi n ger nails of S t Luk e no 1 1 1 fa vou r e d on e
-
.
,
-
m
neith er .
Thes e three towns p roved typ es an d rep eate d th e selve s

with slight variations for many a we ary l eagu e ; but even
wh en he coul d get neither a Co nvent n or a cow hou se -
Gerard l ear ned in tim e t o steel hims elf to the inevit a bl e

and to emulate his co mrade who mhe lo oke d on as almo st ,
sup erhum an for h ardiho o d of b o dy and s p i rit !

There was however a b al ance to al l this ve neration
, ,
.
D enys lik e h i s predec essor Ach i ll es h ad h i s we ak p art,

, ,
his very we ak p art thou gh t Gerard , .
His fo ibl e w a s woman .
Wh atever h e was saying or doing h e stopp ed short at , “
sight of a farthin gal e and his whole soul b ecam e o ccup ied ,
with that garm ent and its inmate till th ey ha d disapp e a red ;
and sometimes for a go o d whil e after .
H e often p ut Gerard to th e blu sh by t al k in g h i s ama z ing

German to such femal es as h e cau ght standing or sitting
indo ors or out at which they star ed ; and when h e m et a
,
p easant girl o n the ro ad h e to ok off h i s cap to h er and ,
sal ute d h er as if sh e was a qu e en ; th e invari abl e e e ct of

'
which was that s h e suddenly drew her s elf up quite stiff

,
like a soldier on parade and wore a forbidding countenance , .
They drive m e to desp air said D en ys I s that a , .
j u st return to a civil b on n et a d e ? They are large they are ,
fair but stup id as swans

, .
’
“
What b reedin g ca n y ou expe ct fro m wom en that wear
no h o se ? inqu ired Gerard ; and s om e o f them no s ho on ?
They s eem to m e res erved and m odest as b ecom es their ,
s ex and sob er whereas th e m en are littl e b ett er than b eer

, ,
b arrels Woul d you have them b razen a s well a s ho seles s ?

.
‘
”
A little a fi a b il i t y ado rn s even b e auty sighed D e nys , .
m
”
Th en l et t h e al one sith they are not to your taste , ,
“
retorted Gerard What is there no sw eet face m Burgu ndy
.
,
that woul d p al e to s ee y ou s o wrapp ed up i n stran ge

women ?
H al f a dozen that would cry their eyes ou t
- -
.
Well then !
1 30 THE CLO ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
b een long enou gh in t h e country to gu ess that th e whole
town woul d take p art in any b rawl wit h the native a gainst
a stranger But D enys twisted away from him and th e
. ,
cro ssb ow b olt in his han d was a ctu all y on th e ro ad t o th e

sl eep er s rib s b ut at that very m oment two females cro sse d
’
th e ro ad towards him ; h e saw th e blissful V ision an d i n ,
s t a n t l y forgot what he was ab out and awaited their a p ,
pro ach with unreasonable j oy .
Though comp anions th ey were n ot equ al s except in , ,
attractivenes s to a Burgundian cro ssb ow man ; f or one was

very tall the oth er short and by on e of tho se anomalies
, ,
which so ciety however primitive sp ee d ily establishes th e

, , ,
long one hel d up th e littl e o n e s ta i l The tall on e wore a ’

.
plain linen coii on her head a littl e gro gram clo ak over h er ,
shoul ders a grey kirtle and a short farthingal e or p etti

, ,
co at of b right red cl oth and feet and l egs quite b are thou gh, ,
h er arms were veil e d in tight linen sl eeves .
Th e o ther a kirtl e b roadly trimm ed with fur h er arms in ,
doubl e sl eeves wh ereof th e inner of yell ow satin clung to th e

,
skin ; th e outer al l b efurred were op en at th e insid e of th e

, ,
elb ow and so th e arm p assed thr ou gh and l eft them danglin g

,
.
V elvet h ead dress hu ge purs e at gir dl e gorgeo us train

-
, , ,
b are l egs An d thu s th ey cam e ou th e cit i zen s wif e strut

.
,
’
t i ng and the mai d gl iding after hol di ng h er m i stress s

, ,
’
train devoutly in b oth hands and b endi ng and windi ng ,
h er l ith e b o dy prettily enough to do i t Imagine ( i i not .
pressed for tim e) a b antam with a guinea hen steppin g ,

-
ob s equious at its stately heel .
This p ageant made straight for th e sho em a ker s shop ’

.
D enys louted low ; th e worshipful lady no d d ed graciously ,
b ut rap i dl y having bu siness on han d o r rather on fo ot ;

, ,
f or in a moment s h e p oked th e p oint of her littl e sho e into

th e sl eep er and work ed it roun d in h i m l i ke a g i ml et till
, ,
with a lon g snar l h e woke Th e incarn ate shutter rising .
and g rumblin g va gu ely th e lady swept in and dei gned him ,
no furth er notice H e retreated to his neighb our s s h op

.
’
,
’
th e tail or s and sittin g on th e step p rotecte d it from th e
, ,
imp ertinence of m orning call s Neighb o u rs shoul d b e .
n eighb ourly .
D enys and Gerard followed t h e d i g ni t y in to th e s h 0 p ‘ ,
where s a t the apprentice at dinner ; the maid sto o d outside

w ith her instep s cro ssed lea n i n g against the w al l and tap , ,
p in g it with her nails .
”
Thos e yonder s a i d the di g nity b riefly p ointin g with
, , ,
an imp erious littl e white hand to s om e yellow sho es gil ded

at the to e Wh il e the app re ntice sto o d stock stil l n eutral
.
,
is ed by h i s dinner and his d uty D enys sprang at th e sho es , ,
an d b rou ght them to h er ; s h e s m il e d a n d cal ml y s ea tin g ,

'
THE C L O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH 1 31
he r s elf p r ot r u d ed h er fo ot sho d b ut ho s eless and sc ente d

, , , , .
D own W ent D enys o n h i s knees an d drew off: her sho e and , ,
tr i ed th e new o nes on the white skin devoutly Findi n g s h e .
ha d a w i llin g victim s h e ab u sed th e opp ortunity , trie d fi r s t

,
o ne p air , then another th en th e fi r s t a gain an d s o: on , , ,
b al an cin g an d he sitatin g for a bout h al f an hour to Gerard s ,

’
disgu st ; and D enys weak delight At last s h e was fi t t e d

,
’
. .
,
and h anded two p air of yel low and on e p air of red sho es
out to her s ervant Th en wa s h eard a sigh. I t b u r s t fro m -
.
'
the owner of th e shop ; h e h ad risen from slumb e r a n d was ,

,
now hoverin g ab o ut lik e a p artrid ge ne a r her b ro o d in ,

”
danger . There g o a l l my coloured sho es sai d h e a s th ey , ,
disapp eared in th e girl s apron ’

.
Th e lady dep arted ; Gerard fi t t ed himself with a stout

p ai r asked the price p aid it with out a w ord and gave his
, , ,
ol d on es t o a b eggar in th e stre et wh o bless ed him i n th e

, , _
,
-
mark e t pl a ce and threw th em furiou sly down a well in th e

-
,
'
sub urb s T h e comrades left th e shop and in it two m elan

.
,
ch ol y m en that lo oke d an d even t al k e d a s if th ey had

, , ,
‘
b een robb e d whol esal e .
My sho on are sore worn sai d D enys grindin g his , ,

’
teeth ; b ut I ll go b arefo ot till I reach France ere I ll
’
leave my m oney wi t h su ch churl s a s th es e .
The D utchman replie d c al m ly Th ey s eem i n d ifi er en t

‘
,
”
well sewn .
A s they drew near the Rhine th ey p assed throu gh ,
forest after forest an d n ow f or th e fi r s t tim e u gly word s

,
sounded in travell ers m outh s seated around stoves ’

,
.
Thieves ! bl ack gangs ! —

cut t h r oa t s l etc .
Th e very ru stics were said to have a cu stom hereab outs

of m u rderin g th e unwary travel l er in th es e glo omy wo o ds .
who se dark an d d eviou s win din gs enabl ed tho s e w h o were

familiar with them to do deeds of rap in e an d blo o d u n '
detected or i i detected eas il y to b a tfl e pursuit

, , , ;
Certain it wa s that every clown th ey m et carried , ,
wh ether f or o ffence or defence a m o st fo rm idabl e weap o n ; ,
a light axe with a short p ike at the h ead an d a lon g sl ender ,
handl e of ash or yew well s easoned '
Thes e th e natives , .
coul d all throw with si n gular precision s o a s to mak e th e ,

’
p oint strik e an obj ect at s ever al y ar ds distance or coul d ,
slay a bullo ck at hand with a stro k e of th e blade Gerard .
b ou ght one and practised with i t D enys quietly fi l e d .
and ground h i s b olt sharp whistling the whilst ; and wh en ,
they entered a glo omy wo o d h e wo ul d unsling his cro ss ,
b ow and carry it ready for a ction ; but not s o mu ch l i k e a

travell er fearing an attack as a sp ortsm an watchful no t to ,
miss a snap shot .
One day b eing in a forest a few leagu es from D u ssel

,
1 32 THE C L O ISTE R AND THE H E ARTH
do rf a s Gerard was w al kin g lik e on e in a dream thinkin g of

, ,
Margaret and scarce seein g th e ro ad h e trod e his comp anion

, ,
lai d a hand on his shoul der and strung his cro ssb ow with ,
glitterin g eye Hush ! said h e in a low whisp er that

.
,
startl ed Gerard more than thunder Gerard grasp ed his axe .
tight and sho ok a littl e : h e he ard a rustlin g i n th e wo o d

,
hard b y and at the same m om ent D enys sprang into th e

,
wo o d and his cro ssb ow went to h i s shoul der even a s h e

, ,
j ump ed Twang ! went t h e m et a l string ; and after an

‘
instant s susp ens e h e ro ared

’
Run forward gu ard th e ro ad , , ,
he is hit ! h e is hit !
Gerard darted fo rward an d a s h e ran a youn g b ear burst , .
ou t of th e wo o d right up on him ; fi n d i n g itself intercepted ,
it went up o n its hind legs with a snarl an d thou gh n ot h alf ,
g rown O p en ed
,
formidabl e j aws an d l on g cl aws Ger ar d .
,
in a fury of excitement an d a gitation flun g hims elf on i t , ,
and delivered a tremendou s blow on its no se with his axe

and the creature staggered ; anoth er and it lay grovellin g , ,
with Gerard hacking i t .

’
Hall o ! stop ! y ou are mad to sp oil th e m eat .
”
I to ok it for a robb er said Gerard p anting I , ,
.
m ean I had m ade ready for a robb er so I coul d n ot hol d

, ,
”
my hand .
Ay these chatterin g travell ers have s t u fi e d your h ea d

,
full of thieves and assassins ; th ey have not got a real live

robb er in their whol e nation Nay I ll c a rry th e b east ; .
,
’
”
b ear thou my cro ssb ow .
We will carry it by turns th en said Gerard fo r , , ,

’
tis a h eav y lo ad : p o or thing how its blo o d drip s Why did , .
we slay i t ?
For supp er and the reward th e b aillie of the n ext town
shall give u s .
And for that it mu st die when it had b ut j u st b egun ,
to live ; and p erchance it hath a moth er th at w i ll mi ss it

sore this night a n d loves it as ours love u s m ore than min e
,
”
d o es m e .
What know you not that his mother was cau ght in a
,
p itfall last month and her skin is n ow at the tanner s ? and

,
’
his father was stu ck ful l of cloth yard shafts t oth er day -
’
and died like Julius C ae sar with his hands fold ed on h i s ,
b o som and a dead do g in each of them ?

,
But Gerard woul d not View it j estingly W h y then .

, ,
said b e we have kill ed on e of Go d s creatures that wa s a ll

,
’
alone in the world— as I a m this day in this stra n ge land , .
You young milksop ”

ro ared D enys “
thes e thin gs, ,
must n ot b e lo oke d at s o or no t another b ow would b e ,
d ra w n nor quarrel fly in forest nor b a t t l efi el d Wh y one .

,
of your kidney consorting with a tr 0 0 p of pik emen shoul d

1 34 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
Pooh ! p ooh l said D enys warml y ; p etro ne nor
harqu ebu ss sh a l l ever put do wn S ir Arb al est Wh y we .
,
can sho ot ten times whil e they are putting th eir char coal
and their lead into their l eathern smo k e b elchers a n d th en ,
ki n dl i ng their matches All that i s to o fumb l in g for the

.
’
fi el d of b attl e ; there a sol d ier s weap on n eeds b e aye ready ,
like h i s heart .
Gerard di d n ot answer fo r his e ar was attracted by a ,
sound b ehind him It was a p ecul iar sound to o lik e

.
, ,
som ething h eavy b ut no t hard ru shing softly ove r the dead

, ,
leaves . H e turned round with som e littl e curio sity A .
colo ssal creature was comin g down the ro ad at ab out s i xty

p aces di stance
’
.
H e lo oked at it in a so rt of cal m stup or at fi r s t b ut t h e ,
next m oment h e turned ashy p al e .
D enys ! h e cried Oh Go d ! D enys ! ,
D enys whirl ed roun d

'
It was a b ear a s big a s a cart hors e -

.
It wa s te a ring al ong with i t s hu ge hea d down ru n nin g on ,
a h ot s cent .
The very mom ent he s a w it D enys said in a si ckening

whisp er
THE C U B !
O h ! th e concentrated ho rror of th at on e wo rd whisp ered ,
ho arsely with dil ating eyes ! For in that syll able it al l

,
flashed up on them b oth lik e a sudden stroke of lightn ing

in the d ark— the blo o dy trail the murdered cub the mother , ,
up on th em a n d i i ,D EATH . .
All this in a moment of tim e The n ext s h e s a w them .

, .
Hu ge a s s h e was s h e s eem ed to doubl e hers elf ( i t wa s her

lo ng hair b ristling with rage ) : s h e raised h er hea d b ig a s
a b ull s her swine shap ed j aws op ened wi de at them her
’
,
-
,
eyes turned to blo o d and fl a m e and s h e rushed up o n them , ,
scattering th e leaves ab out her lik e a whirlwi nd a s s h e cam e .
Sho ot ! s cream ed D enys but Gerard sto o d shaking ,
from head to fo ot us el ess , .
Sho ot m an ! ten thou sand devi l s sho ot ! to o late !

, ,
Tree ! tree ! and he dropp ed the cub pushed Gerard acro ss ,
th e ro ad and fl ew to th e fi r s t tree an d climb ed i t Gerard

, ,
th e s am e on h i s side ; and a s they fl e d b oth m en uttered ,
inhuman howl s like savage creatures gr azed by d eath .
With all their sp eed on e or other woul d have b een torn

to fra gm ents at the fo ot of his tree ; b ut the b ear stopp ed
a mom ent at th e cub .
Without tak i ng her blo o dshot eyes off thos e s h e w a s

hunting s h e smelt it a ll roun d and found how her Creator
, , , ,
only knows that it wa s dead qu ite d ea d

, She gave a yel l
, .
such as neith er of the hunted ones had ever h eard nor ,

THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH 1 35
dreamed to b e in nature and fl ew aft er D enys Sh e rea red

, .
and stru ck at him as h e climb ed H e wa s j u st out of reach .

.
Instantly s h e seiz ed th e tre e and with h er hu ge teeth ,
tore a great p i e ce ou t of it with a crash Then s h e re ared .
again du g her cl aws deep into the b ark an d b eg an to m ount

, ,
it slowly but as surely as a m onkey

, .
’
D en y s s evil star ha d l ed him to a d ead tree a m ere shaft , ,
and of no very great height H e climb ed faster than his pur .
su er and was so o n at th e top

, H e l o ok ed this way and that .
f or som e b ou gh of another tree to sp rin g to Th ere w a s non e .
and if h e j ump ed down h e knew the b ear woul d b e up on him ,
ere he coul d re cover the fal l and mak e short work of him , .
Moreover D enys was littl e u sed to turning hi s b ack o n danger

, ,
and his bl o o d was rising at b eing hunted H e turned to b ay . .
My hour is com e thou ght h e L et m e m e et death

, . .
”
like a m an H e kn eele d down an d grasp ed a sm all sho ot
.
to steady him s elf drew his l on g knife an d cl enchin g hi s

, ,
teeth p rep ared to j ob th e hu ge b rute a s so o n as it shoul d

,
mount within reach .
Oi this comb at th e result was not doub tful .
’
The monster s hea d an d neck were scarce vuln erabl e
for b on e and masse s of h air Th e man wa s going to sting .
th e b ear and th e b ear to crack th e man lik e a nut

, .
Gerard s heart w a s b etter than his n erves

’
H e saw his .
’
friend s m ortal danger an d p assed at once from fear to ,
blindish rage H e slipp ed down his tree in a mom ent

.
,
cau ght up th e cro ssb ow which h e ha d dropp ed in th e ro ad , ,

’
and runnin g furiou sly u p s ent a b olt into th e b ear s b o dy ,
with a lou d sho ut Th e b ear gave a snarl of rage and p ain

.
,
an d turned its h ea d irresolutely .
Keep al o of ! crie d D enys or yo u are a dead man , .
I care not ; an d in a mom ent he ha d another b olt .
ready an d sho t it fi er c el y into th e b ear screaming Tak e , ,
that ! tak e that !

D enys p oured a voll ey of o aths d OWn at him .
away idiot !
,
H e was right : th e b ear fi n d i n g so formidabl e and noisy

a fo e b ehind him slipp ed growlin g down th e tree rendin g
, ,
deep furrows in it a s s h e slipp ed Gerard ran b ack to h i s .
tree and climb ed it s wiftly But whil e his l egs were dan g .
ling som e eight feet from th e ground th e b ear cam e rearing ,
and stru ck with her fore p aw and ou t fl ew a p iece of blo o dy ,
cloth from Gerard s ho se ; H e climb ed and climb ed ; and

’
,
presently h e h ear d a s it were in the air a voice s a y G o ou t ,
on th e b ough t H e lo ok ed and there was a long massiv e ,
branch b efore him sho otin g upwards at a slight angl e :

h e threw his b o dy acro s s i t an d by a series of co nvul s iv e ,
e ff o rts worked up it t o the end .

1 36 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HE AR TH
Then he lo oked round p antin g .
Th e b ear was mounting th e tre e on the other s 1 d e H e .
heard h er claws s crap e and s a w her bul ge o n b oth sides ,
of the m assive tree Her ey e not b ein g very quick s h e

. ,
reach ed the fork and p ass ed i t m ountin g th e m ai n stem ,

.
Gerard drew b reath m ore freely Th e b ear either heard .
him or found by s cent s h e was wr on g ; s h e p aused ; p resently

,
s h e cau ght sight of him She eyed him steadil y then quietly
. ,
descende d to the fork .
Slowly and cautiou sly s h e stretched out a p aw an d tried

th e b ou gh It was a sti ff oak b ranch sound as iron
. ,
.
Instinct tau ght th e creature this : it crawl e d carefu lly out

o n the b ou gh growling savagely as it cam e
,
.
Gerard lo oked wil dly down H e was forty feet from .
the ground D eath b elow

. D eath m ovin g slow but sure .
o n him in a still m ore horribl e form

_ His hair bristled . .
Th e sweat p oure d from h im H e s a t helpl es s fascinated .

, ,
ton gue tied -

.
As the fearful monster crawl ed growlin g towar d s him ,
incongru ous thoughts coursed throu gh his m ind Margar et : .
the V ul gate where it sp eak s of th e rage of a s h e b ear

,
-
robb ed of h er whelp s— Rom e— Eternity .
Th e b ear crawled on An d now the stup or of d eath fell

.
on th e do om ed m an ; h e s a w th e op en j aws an d blo o dshot

eyes coming but in a mist , .
As in a mist h e heard a twang ; h e glance d down ; D enys ,
white an d s i lent as death was sh o otin g up at the h ear , .
The b ear sn a rled at th e twang b ut crawled on Agai n th e , .
cro ssb ow twan ged and the b ear snarl ed and cam e nearer
, , .
Again the cro ssb ow twan ged ; and th e next m oment the b ear
was clo se up on Gerard where h e sat with h ai r standin g 5 1 1 11
, ,
on end and eyes startin g from their s ock ets p al sied The , .
b ear O p ened her j aws lik e a gr ave and h ot blo o d S p outed '
,
fro m them up on Gerard as from a pump The b ough .
ro cked Th e wounded monster was reelin g ; it clung it

.
,
stuck its sickl es of claws d eep into th e wo o d ; it toppled ,
its claws hel d fi r m but its b o dy roll ed off and th e sudden

, ,
sh ock to th e b ranch sho ok Gerard forward on h i s stomach

’
with his face up on on e of th e b ear s straini ng p aws A t this .
,
by a convul sive e f fort s h e raise d her head u p u p ti ll h e felt

, , ,
her hot fetid b reath Then hu ge teeth snapp ed to gether

.
l ou dly cl o s e b elow him in th e air with a last e ffort of b a tfl e d ,
hate The p onderou s carcass rent th e claws out of the b ou gh

.
,
then p ounded the e a rth with a tremendou s thump There .
was a shout of triumph b elow and th e very next instant a ,
c ry of dismay f or Gerard had swoo ned and without an

, ,
t t ex p t to save h i mself roll ed h ea dl o n g from th e p eri l ou s

g glpt
,
e1
1 38 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HE AR TH
who has saved b oth ou r lives a gai nst su ch fearf u l o dds ?
An d Gerard kn eel ed an d prayed al oud And presently h e
,
.
foun d D enys kneeling quiet b eside h i m wi t h his han ds acro ss ,
his b o som after th e custo m of his n a t i ofi and a face as lon g as ,

’
h i s arm When they ro se Gerard s c ountenance was b eam in g
.
,
.
”
Go o d D enys said h e Heaven wil l reward thy p iety
, , .
”
Ah b ah l I did it ou t of p oliteness sai d the French ,
man . It w a s to pl eas e the e littl e on e C es t égal : , .

’
’
twas well and o rderly prayed and e di fi e d m e to th e c ore ,
whil e it lasted A b ishop had scarce han dl ed the m atter

.
b etter ; s o now ou r evenso ng b eing sung an d th e sai nts en ,

—
listed with u s m a rchons ”
.
Ere they had taken two step s h e stopp e d B y the , .

-
b y the cub !
,
Oh no n o ! cried Gerard
, , .
You are right It is late We have lo st time cl i mb

. .
in g trees and tumbling off em an d swo onin g an d vomitin g

,
’
, , ,
and prayin g ; an d the brute is h eavy to carry And now .
I think on t we shal l have p ap a after it n ext ; th es e b ears

’
mak e such a coil ab out an o d d cub Wh at is this ? yo u are .
wounded ! you are wo unded !

Not I .
H e is woun ded : mis erable that I a m !

B e calm D enys I a m not tou ched ; I feel no p ain
, .
any wh ere .
You ? y ou o nl y feel wh en another i s hurt cried D enys , ,
with great em otion ; and thro wing hi m self on h i s knees ,
h e examin ed Gerard s l eg with glistenin g eye s ’

.
”
Quick ! qu ick ! b efore it s t i fi en s he cried an d , ,
hurried h i m on .
Wh o makes the coil ab out nothin g n ow ? in qu i red

Gerard comp o sedly .
’
D en y s s reply was a very indire ct on e .
”
B e pleased to n ote said h e that I have a b ad , ,
h eart You were m an enou gh to s ave my life yet I mu st

.
,
sneer at y ou a novice in war W a s n ot I a no vice once

, .
myself ? Then you fainted from a wound and I thou ght ,
y ou swo oned for fear and call ed you a mil ksop Br i e fl y

, .
,
”
I have a b ad tongu e and a b ad heart .
D enys !
Plait il ? -
‘
You lie .
You are V ery go o d to s a y s o littl e on e and I a m , ,

”
etern al ly obliged to y ou mumbl ed th e remorsefu l D enys , .
Ere they ha d walke d m any furlongs the mu s cl e s of the ,
wounded l eg contracted and s t i fi en e d ti ll pres ently Gerard ,
co ul d only j ust put h i s t oe t o the gro u nd and that with gr eat ,
p a m .
TH E C L O I STER AND T H E HEA R TH 1 39
At last h e co ul d b e a r it n o lo nger .
”
L et m e l i e d own and d i e h e gr oan ed for this i s , ,
”
intol erabl e .
D eny s represented that it wa s afte r no o n and the night s ,
W ere now fro sty ; an d col d and hun ger ill comp anions ;
and that i t woul d b e u nreasonabl e to lo se heart a certain ,
great p e rsona ge b ein g noto riously defunct S o G erard .
lean ed up on h i s axe an d hobbled on ; b ut presently he gave

,
i n al l of a su dden an d sank helpl ess in the ro ad

, , .
D enys drew him aside into th e wo o d and to his su r pris e ,
gave him his cro ssb ow and b olts enj oining him strictly to ,
li e qui et and if any i ll lo okin g fell ows sho ul d fi n d him ou t

,
-
an d com e to him to b id them keep al o of ; an d sho ul d they

,
refu se to sho ot them d ead at twenty p aces

, Honest m en .
keep the p ath ; and knaves in a wo o d non e b ut fo ols d o

, ,
”
p arley with them With thi s h e snatched up Gerard s
.
’
axe and
,
s e t off r —
u nning not a s Gerar d exp ected towards , ,
D uss eldorf b ut on the ro a d they had com e

,
.
Gerard lay achin g an d smartin g ; and to him Rom e ,
that s eemed s o near at starting lo oked far far off now that , , ,
he wa s two hundre d mil e s n earer i t But s o o n al l h i s .
thou ghts turn ed S evenb ergen wards How sweet it woul d -

.
’
b e on e day to hol d Marg a ret s han d an d tell h er all he had ,
gon e throu gh for h er ! Th e very thou ght of i t and her , ,
so othe d him ; and in th e midst of p ain and irritation of the

n erves h e lay resi gned and sweetly though faintly smiling
, , , .
H e had lain thu s m ore than two hours when su ddenly ,
there were shouts ; an d th e next mom ent som ething stru ck

a tree h ard b y and qu ivered i n i t
, .
H e l ooked it was an arrow

, .
H e started to h i s feet S everal missil es rattle d amo ng th e

.
b ou ghs and th e wo o d echo e d with b attle cries

,
Wh ence -
.
they cam e he coul d not tell for noises in th ese hu ge wo o d s ,
ar e s o reverb erate d that a stranger i s al ways at fault as to

,
th eir whereab out ; b ut they s eemed to fi l l th e whol e a i r .
Presently there wa s a lull ; then he h ea rd the fi er ce g al lop

in g of hoofs ; and still lou der s houts and cries aro se min gl ed ,
with shrieks an d groans an d ab ove a l l strange and terribl e ,
sounds lik e fi er c e clap s of thunder b ell o wi ng lou d an d then

, , ,
dying off in cracking e cho es ; a n d red to n gu e s of fl a m e s h ot ’
ou t ever and anon amon g th e tree s an d clou ds of s u l ,
p h u r ou s s moke cam e drifting over h i s head And a l l .
wa s still .
Gerar d wa s stru ck with a w e

'
What wiIl b ecom e of .
D enys ? h e cried Oh why did you le ave m e ?

.
, Oh ,
D enys my f ri en d ! m y f r i end !
,
Just b efore sunset D enys re t u r n ed almo st s inking ,
I t wa s the b ea r s sk i n
’
l
under a ha i r y b u n d e . .
1 40 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
Gerard welcomed him with a burst of j oy that asto ni shed
him .
I thou ght never to see you again dear D enys Were ,

.
‘
you in the b attl e ?
No What b attl e ?
.
Th e blo o dy b attle of m en or fi en d s th at raged in th e , ,
wo o d a whil e agone ; and with this he describ ed it to th e

l i fe and more fully than I have done
,
.
D enys p atted him indul gently on th e b ack .
”
It is well said h e ; ,
thou art a goo d l imner ; and
fever is a great spur to the im a gination One day I lay i n a .
cart she d with a cracked skull and s a w two ho sts m a n mu vr e

-
,
and fi gh t a go o d hour on eight feet squ are th e which I did ,
fa i rly describ e to my comrade in du e order o nl y not s o ,

”
gorgeou sly as thou for want of b o ok l earnin g,
.
Wh at th en you b elieve m e n ot ? when I tell you th e

, ,
arrows wh i z z ed over my h ead an d th e comb atants shouted , ,
and
May t h e foul h ends fl y away with m e i f I b elieve a
word of i t .
Gerard to ok his a r m and qu i et l y p oi nt ed to a tree clo se b y

, .
Wh y it lo oks lik e
,
— i t i s — a bro a d arrow as I live ,
.
And h e went clo se and lo oke d up at i t ,

.
It came ou t of th e b attle I heard i t a n d s a w i t .

, .
”
A n English arrow .
How know you that ?

Marry by its l en gth ,
Th e English b o wm en dr aw th e
.
b ow to the ear others o nl y to th e right b reast

, Hence th e .
English lo o se a three fo ot shaft and this is one of them -

, ,
p erdition se i ze them ! Well i f this i s not glam o ur there , ,
has b een a t r ifl e of a b attle And if there has b een a .
b attl e in s o ridicul ou s a place for a b attle as this why then ,

’
tis no bu siness of mine f or my D uk e hath n o quarrel ,
’
hereab outs S o let s to b ed
. s ai d the professional And .
with this h e scrap ed to gether a heap of leaves and made ,
Gerard l ie on i t his axe by h i s side , H e then lay do wn .
b eside him with one h and on his arb al est and drew the b ear
, ,
skin over them hair inward , They were so on a s warm a s .
toa s t and fast asleep

, .
But long b efore th e da wn G cr a r d woke his comrade .
Wh at shall I do D enys I die of famine ? , ,
D o ? why go to sleep again incontinent : qu i dort

,
But I tell y ou I a m to o hungry to sleep snapp ed ,
Ger a rd .
Let u s march th en replied D enys with p aternal

, , ,
indulgence .
H e had a b ri ef p aroxysm of yawns ; th en made a $ 1 1 1

1 42 THE C LO ISTER AND THE HEARTH
th e p 1 ud ent Gerar d se i z ed th e man s axe and s a t down ’
tight on i t gr asp ing hi s own a nd examining the sl eep er

'
.
, ,
There was n othing outw a r dl y di stinctive i n the man He .
w ol e the dress of the country folk and the hat of the di strict , ,
a three —cornered hat call ed a Br u n s w i ck er stif f enou gh to

'
turn a -sword cut and with a t h ick b r a S S h a t b a n d Th e

‘
'
-
.
,
weight of th e whol e thing h ad t u rned hi s e ars ent i rely

'
down l ike a fancy rabbit s in our century

,
b ut even th is
’
'
t hou gh it sp oil ed him as a m an was nothing rem ark a bl e , .
’
They had of late m et s cores of these do g s eare d ru stics ; -
Th e p eculiarity w a s this clown watching under a l aden

,
gallows Wh at for ?
.
D enys i f h e felt curiou s woul d not show i t ; h e t o ok

, ,
ou t two b e a rs c ars from his b undl e and run ni ng stick s

’
,
“
through them b egan to to ast th em
,
Tw ill b e e atin g .
”
coined money said b e ;
,
for th e b urgomaster oi D ii s s el
dorf had given u s a s i x doll ar for th es e ear s a s p roving the
-
,
death of the i r owners ; but b etter a lean p urse than a lere

stomach .
Unhappy man ! cried Gerard could you eat fo o d

-
,
h er e
"
Where th e fi r e is li ghted there must th e m eat ro ast and ,
where it ro asts there must it b e eaten ; for nou ght travel s

”
worse than your ro asted m eat .
Wel l eat thou D enys an thou c a n s t l b u t I a m col d

'
'
, , ,
and sick ; there is no ro om for hunger in my heart after

”
what min e eyes have seen and h e shu ddere d over th e ,
“
t ire
. Oh ! how they cr ea k l and who is this man I ,
wonder ? what an il l favoured ch u r l l -
D enys examined him l ike a connoisseur lo oking at a

picture and in du e course delivered j ud gm ent
, I tak e .
him to b e of the refuse of that comp any whereof thes e ,
( p ointing c arelessly upward ”

) were th e cream and s o ran ,
the i r heads into danger .

'
A t that rate why not stun him b efore he wak es 2

,
'
‘
and Gerard fi d g et e d where he s a t .
D enys op ened his eyes wi th humorou s surp rise For .
on e wh o sets up for a mil ksop y ou have th e readi est hand .
Why shoul d two s t u n on e ? tush i h e w ak es : note n ow

p
what he says at wak ing and tell m e , .
These last words were hardl y whisp ered when the

watcher O p ened his eyes A t sight of the fi r e mad e u p
.
,
and two strangers eye i ng him keenly he stared and there , ,
was a severe and pretty successful e ffort t o b e cal m ; st i ll

a p erceptibl e trem or ran all over him S o on h e m a n n e d .
himself and said gr u my

, Go o d m orrow ”
But at t h e
, .
very moment of saying it he missed his axe and saw how ,
G erard was sitting up on i t with h i s own laid r ea dy t o h i s ,

THE CL O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH 1 43
hand H e lo st countenance again d i r e ctl v

. D enys smil ed .
gr i ml y at this b it of b ypl ay .
Goo d m or r ow l s aid Gerar d quietly keep ing his eye ,

on him .
The watcher was now t oo ill at eas e to b e sil ent You .
m ak e free with my fi r e said he b ut he add ed in a so m e

,
what fal tering voice y ou are wel come , .
D enys whisp ered Gerard Th e watcher eyed them .
askant .
My comrad e says sith we share your fi r e you shall

, ,
”
share h i s m eat .
So b e i t said the man warmly

, I have half a kid .
hanging on a bu sh hard b y I ll g o fetch i t ; and h e aro s e

,
’
with a ch eerful and obliging countenance and was ,
retirin g .
D enys cau ght up his cro ssb ow and l evell ed it at his ,
head . Th e man fel l on hi s kne es .
D enys lowered his weap o n and p ointed him b ack to ,
his place H e ro se and went b ack slowly an d unsteadily

.
,
lik e on e disj ointe d ; and sick at h eart as the m o us e that ,
the cat lets g o a littl e way an d then darts and replaces , .
”
S it down friend said D enys gri ml y in French
, , , .
The man ob eyed fi n g er an d to ne thou gh he kn ew n ot ,
a word of French .
Tell him the fi r e is not b ig enou gh for more than

”
three . H e will tak e my m eaning .
This b eing communicated by Gerard the man grinn ed ; ,
ever since D enys sp oke h e had s eem ed g reatly relieved .
”
I wist not y e were stran gers said h e to Gerard ,
.
’
D enys cut a pi ece of b ear s e ar and ofi er ed it with grace ,
to him h e ha d j ust l evell e d cro ssb ow a t .
H e to ok it calml y and drew a piece of b rea d from his

,
i
w a ll et and divided it with the p air

,
Nay m ore h e w nked .
, ,
and thrust his han d into the heap of leaves h e sat on ( Gerar d
grasp ed his axe ready to b rain him ) and pro du ced a l eathern
b ottl e holding full two gall ons H e put it to his mouth .
,
and drank their h e al ths then handed it to Gerard ; h e ,
p assed it untouched to D enys .
Mort de ma Vi e l cried the s ol dier it i s Rhen i sh ,

’
wine and fi t f or the gull et of an archb ishop
,
Here s to .
th ee thou prince of go o d fel l ows wishin g thee a short life

, ,
and a m erry on e l Come Gerard su p l s u p l Pshaw never , , ,
heed them man ! they hee d not thee

,
Nathel ess did I .
,
han g over such a skin of Rh enish as this and three churl s ,

’
s a t b eneath a drinking it and o f fered m e not a drop I d ,

”
so on b e down among them .
D enys ! D enys !
My sp ir it woul d cut the cord an d womp wo uld com e ,
1 44 THE C L O ISTE R AND THE H E A R TH
my b o dy am ongst y e with a hand on th e b ottl e an d on e , ,

’
eye wink ing t other ,
Gerard started up with a cry of horror and his fi n ger s

to hi s ears and wa s runnin g from the place when h i s eye
, ,
fel l on th e watcher s axe Th e tangibl e danger b rou ght

’
.
him b ack H e s a t down a gain on th e axe with h i s fi n g er s

.
in h i s ears .
Courage l ami l e diabl e est mort i

,
’
sh outed D enys
,
’
gaily and offered him a p iece of b ear s e ar p ut it right
, ,
under his no s e as h e stopp ed his ear s Gerard turne d his .
head away with lo athin g W i n e l h e gasp ed Heaven . .
knows I h ave m u ch need of i t with such comp anions as ,
thee and
H e to ok a l on g drau ght of th e Rh enish wine : it ran
gl owing throu gh his veins and war med and stren gthene d ,
his heart but co u l d no t check hi s tremors whenever a gu st

,
of wind came As for D enys and the other th ey feaste d

.
,
reckl essly and plied th e b ottl e unceasingly an d drank

, ,
healths an d carou sed b eneath that creaking sepul chre and

its ghastly tenants .
Ask him how th ey cam e here said D enys with his , ,
mouth fu l l an d p ointin g up without l o okin g

,
.
On this question b ein g interpreted to the watcher h e

replied that trea son ha d b een the i r end diab olica l treason ,
an d priestcraft H e then b eing rendere d communi cative

.
,
by drink delivered a long p ro sy n arrative th e pu r po rt of

, ,
which was as foll ows These honest gentl em en who now .
d an gle d here s o miserably were all stout m en and tru e

and lived in the fo rest by th eir wits Th e i r indep endence .
and thriving state excite d the j eal ousy an d hatred of a

l a rge p ortion of m ankind and many attempts were made ,
on their lives and lib erties ; these th e V i rgin and their

p atro n saints coupl ed with th eir indivi du al skill and cour
,
age constantly b a ffl ed
, B ut yester ev e a p arty of m er .
chants cam e slowly on their m ul es from D usseldorf Th e .
honest m en s a w them crawling and l et them p enetrate n ear ,
a lea g ue into th e forest then s et up on them to mak e them ,
d isgorge a p ortion of th eir ill gotten gains B ut alas ! th e -

.
merchants were n o m e r chants at al l but sol diers of m ore ,
than on e nation in the p ay of the Archb ishop of Colo gn e ;

,
h aub ergeons had th ey b eneath the i r gown s and weap ons ,
of al l sorts at hand ; nathel ess the honest m en fou ght ,
stoutly and pressed th e traitors hard when 1 0 1 ho rs em en

, ,
that had b een pl anted in ambush m any hours b efore ,
gal lop ed u p and with thes e new diab olical en gines of war
, ,
shot leaden bull ets and laid many an ho nest fell ow l ow , ,
and s o qu ell ed th e coura ge of others that they y ielded them

p risoners Thes e b ein g tak en red handed the victo rs
.
-
, ,
p a rt of E u rop e ever m eddl ed with criminal s b ut in sel f
defence excep t b y th e b y in England which b ehind other
, ,
- -
, , ,
n ations in som e things was centuri es b efore th em all in ,
Th e man s p erson a l l i b erty b eing resto red he asked

’
,
’
for his axe It was g i ven him
. To the friends s u rp ris e .
h e still lingered Was he to have nothing for coming s o

.
f ar out of h i s way with them ?

Here are two b atzen fri end ,
.
An d the wine the go o d Rhe ni sh ? ,
D id you give au ght for i t ?

A y l th e p eril of my l i fe .
Hum i what s a y you D enis ? ,
I say it was worth its weight in gold Here l ad here .

, ,
b e s i lver gr os h en on e for every acorn on that gallows tree ;

,
and here is one more for thee who wi l t doubtless b e there ,

”
in du e s easo n .
The man to ok th e coins but still lingere d , .
Well ! wh at now ? cried Gerard who thou ght him ,
shamefully overp aid al ready D o st seek th e hide off our .
b ones ?
Nay go o d sirs but you have s een to night how
, ,
-
p arlou s a life is mine Ye b e tru e m en an d your prayers

.
,
avai l ; give me then a sm al l t r i fl e of a prayer an t please ,

’
”
y o u ; for I know no t on e .
Gerar d s choler b egan to ris e at th e egotistical ro gue ;

’
moreover ever since his wound h e had felt gu sts of irrita

,
b i li t y . However h e b it his lip and said , Ther e g o two ,
wor d s t o that b argain ; tel l m e fi r s t is it tru e what men ,
s a y of you Rhenish thieves that y e do murder in no cent ,
and u n resisting travell ers as well as r ob them ?

“
The other answered s ul k ily Th ey you cal l thieves ,
”
are not to blame f or that ; the fault lies with the law .
G r a m er cy l so tis the l aw s fault th at ill men b re ak

’ ’
I m ean not s o ; but th e law in thi s land slays an

honest man an if h e do b ut steal What follows ? he wo ul d .
b e pitif ul b ut is discoura ge d herefrom ; p ity gains h i m no

,
p ity and doubles his p er i l : a n b e b ut cut a p urs e his l i fe

,
is forfeit ; th erefore cutteth h e the thro at to b o ot to save ,
his own neck : dead m en tell no t al es Pray then for the .
p o or soul who by blo o dy laws i s driven to kill or els e h e

slaughtered ; were there l es s of thi s unr easonabl e gibb eting
on the highro ad there shoul d b e less enforced cutting oi
,
”
th ro ats i n d a rk wo o ds my masters , .
”
Fewer words had served replied Gerard coldl y I , .
”
asked a qu estion I a m answered and suddenly d otfi n g
, ,
h i s b o nnet
T HE C L O I STER A N D THE HEARTH 1 47
Ob s e cr o
D eum omnip o tentem u t qu a cru ce j am , ,
p endent isti quindecim l a t r on e s fures et h om i ci d ae in e a ,
homicida fur et latro tu p ep en d er i s quam c i t i s s i m e p ro ,
publica s alute in ho norem j usti D ei cui s i t gloria in ae tern um

, , ,
’
Am en .
And s o go o d day .
T h e greedy outlaw w a s s a t i sfi ed at last That i s .
” ”
Latin h e muttered
, an d more than I b argained for
, So .
indeed it was .
An d h e return ed to h i s b usiness with a mind at ease .
Th e friends p o ndered in sil ence th e m any events of th e l ast

few h ours .
A t last Gerard sai d thou ghtfull y That s h e b ear save d ,

-
—
b oth ou r lives b y Go d s will ” ’
.
L i k e enou gh replied D enys ;

, and t al kin g of that ,
it wa s lucky w e did no t daw dl e o ver o ur supp er .
W hat m ean you ?

I m ean they are not a l l hanged ; I saw a refuse of s even
”
or eight as black as ink around ou r fi r e .
Wh en ? when ?
Ere we had l eft it fi ve minutes .
G ood heavens ! an d you said n ot a word .
It woul d but h ave worried you and h a d s et ou r friend ,
a lo okin g b ack an d mayhap tempted him to get his skull

,
S plit All oth er danger w a s o ver ; they coul d n ot s ee u s

.
,
we were ou t of th e mo o nshine an d indeed j ust turning , ,
a corner ! Ah ! there is the su n ; an d h ere are th e gates

of D ussel dorf Coura ge l ami l e di ab le es t m or t l
.
,
’
,
”
My head ! my h ead ! was a l l p o or Gerard co ul d
r ep l y .
o
m any sho cks emotions p erils horrors a dded to the

So , , , ,
wound his fi r s t had tried his yo uthful b o dy and s ensitive

, ,
nature to o s everely .
It wa s no on of th e sam e day .
In a b edro om of Th e S i lver Lion th e ru gged D enys

sat anxiou s watching his young friend
,
.
And h e lay raging with fever del i riou s at inter val s , ,
and one word for ever on h i s lip s .
— —
M a rgar et l Margaret l Margaret !
1 48 THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HE ARTH
C H APTER XXV I
I r wa s the afterno o n of th e next day Gerar d was no lo nger .
light hea de d b ut very i rritabl e an d ful l of fan cies ; and in

-
,
on e of th es e h e b egged D enys to get h i m a lemo n to suck .
D enys who from a rou gh soldi er h a d b een turne d by tender

,
friendship i nto a kind of gr andf ather got up hastily an d , ,
b id ding h im s et his m i nd at eas e l emons h e sho uld h ave ,

”
in th e twink l i n g of a quar t p ot went an d ransacked the ,
shop s for th em .
Th ey were not s o common i n th e North as th ey are now ,
and he was ab sent a long wh i l e and Gerard getting very ,
imp atient when at l ast th e do or O p ened

,
But it was no t .
D enys . Entere d softly an imp o sing fi gu r e ; an ol d gentl e

man in a long sob er gown trimmed with rich fur cherry ,
col oured ho se an d p o i nted sho es with a sword by his side

, ,
in a moro cco scab b ar d a ru ff round his neck not onl y s t arched

,
s everely b ut treacherously sti ffened in furrows by reb ato es

, ,
or a littl e hidden fram ework of wo o d ; and on h i s head a

—
i ou r cornered cap with a fur b order ; on h i s ch i n and b o som
a maj estic white b eard Gerard wa s in no doub t a s to
.
the vo cation of h i s Visitor for th e sword excepted thi s wa s

, , ,
fam i liar to him as th e full dr ess of a physician Moreover .

,
a b oy followed at his heel s with a b asket wh ere phi al s lin t , ,
an d sur gical to ols rather courted than shunned ob s ervatio n .
Th e ol d gentleman cam e softly to th e b e dside an d said ,

’
m i ldly and $ 0 1 1 0 vocc How i s t with thee my s on ?
, ,
Gerard answered gratefully that his wound gave him

littl e p ai n now ; b ut his thro at was p arched an d h i s head ,
heavy .
A wou n d l th ey tol d m e n ot of that L et m e s ee i t . .
A y a y a goo d clean b ite

, , Th e m a s t i fi had sound teeth
.
that to ok this out I warrant m e and th e go od do ctor s

,
’
symp athy seem ed to run 0 11 to the qu adr up ed he had

conj ured his j ackal , .
This must b e cauteriz ed forthwith or we sh all have ,
you startin g b ack from water and tur ning somersaults in ,

’
b ed under our hands Tis the ye ar for raving curs and
.
,
on e hath done your b usiness but we will b a ffl e h i m yet .
”
Urchin g o heat thine iron
, .
“ ”
.
But s i r edged in Gerard
, , twas no d og but a b ea r ,
’
, .
”
A b ear ! Young man remonstrated the senior ,
severely think what you say ; tis ill j e sting with th e m a n

,
’
of art who b rin gs his grey hairs and lon g study to he al y ou .
A b ea r q u ot h a l Had you dissected a s man y b ears as I

, ,
1 50 THE CL O I STER AND THE HEARTH
out h i s h an d o ver the b asin ; b ut I smi l ed at h i s fo l ly and ,
bled him i n the left ankl e s o r e a gai n st h i s wil l an d made ,

”
h i s head a s light as a nut .
D iverging then from th e imme di ate theme a ft er t h e

manner of enthu siasts the reverend teacher pro ce eded thus : ,
Know young man that two scho ol s or ar t conten d

,
'
at this moment throu ghout E u rope Th e Arab i an who se .

,
ancient oracles are Avi cenna; Rh az es Al b u c az i s ; a n d i ts ,
revivers ar e Chauli ac an d Lanfr anc ; a n d the Greek scho ol ,
who se mo dern champions ar e B es s a rio n Pl a t i n us and , ,
M a r s il i u s F i ci n u s b ut who se pris tin e docto rs were m edicine s

’
very oracles Ph oeb us Ch i r o n E s cu l a p i u s an d h i s sons

, , , ,
Pod a l i n u s an d Machaon Pytha goras D em ocr t u s Prak a

goras who invented the arteries and D i oct es qui p r i rn u s
,
1 ,
,
,
,
‘
,
ur in ae an i m u m de dit A l l thes e : taught or al l y Then

’
. .
c a m e Hi pp o crat e s the eighteenth from ZE s cu l a p i u s an d

, ,
of him We have m a nuscripts ; to h im we owe the vital

principle H e al so i nvented the b a nda ge an d tapp ed f or
’
.
,
water on the chest ; a n d a b ov e a ll he di s s ecte d ; yet onl y .
qu a d rup eds for the b rut al prej u di ces of t h e p ag a n vul gar

,
w ithhel d the hum an b o dy from the knife of scien ce Him .
foll owe d Aristo tle who gave u s the a orta the larg est bl o o d
, ,
V essel in the hum an b o dy ”
t
.
Surely s i p the Almigh y gave u s all that i s in ou r

, ,
b o dies and not Aristotl e nor a n y Gre cian m an

, obj ected , ,
Gerard humbly .
Chil d ! of cour se H e gave u s the t h i n g r b u t Aristotl e

did more he gave u s th e nam e of the t h in g
, But yo un g .
men wil l still b e ta l k in g The next great li ght wa s Gal en ;

.
h e stu di ed at Al exandria then the hom e of science He , .

,
j ustly mal content with qu adrup eds di ssected a p es a s , ,
com ing nearer to m a n and bled l ik e a Troj an ,Th en cam e .
Theophi lu s who gave u s the nerv es the lacteal ves sel s

, ,
'
,
”
and the p ia mater .
This worried G erard I cann ot h e st i ll and hear it

.
said that mortal man b est owe d the p arts whi ch Adam our
father to ok from Him who made him of t h e cl ay and us ,
”
his sons .
W a s ever such p ervers ity ? s ai d the doctor h i s colo ur ,
Wh o i s the re a l donor of a th i n g to man ? h e wh o

'
ri sin g
.
plants it secretly in the dark recesses of m an s b o dy or t h e ’
learned wight who reve al s it to h i s i ntelli genc e a n d s o ,
enriches his mind w ith the knowledge of i t ? Compre

h e n s i on is your o nly tru e p o s s es sion A r e y ou answered ? .
”
I a m p u t to sil ence s i r , .
And that i s b etter st i ll ; for g ar r ul ou s p a t i en t s are il l

to cure esp ecially i n fever : I s a y then that E r i s t r a t u s
, . ,
g ave u s the cerebra l ne r ves a n d the mil k ve s sels ; n a y ,

THE CL O I S TE R AND THE HEARTH 1 51
m ore h e was th e inventor of lithotomy whatever you m ay

, ,
s ay. Th en cam e anoth er whom I forget ; you do some

what p erturb m e with your p etty exceptions Th en cam e .
A m m on i u s the author of lithotrity an d here com es Hans

, ,
with th e b asin— to stay your volub ility Blow thy chafer .

,
b oy and hand m e th e b asin ; tis well Arab ians qu otha ’

, .
, .
What are th ey b ut a s ect of yesterday wh o ab out th e year ,
1 0 0 0 did fall in with th e writings of th o se very Greeks ,
an d read them awry havin g no concurrent light of their ,
own ? f or their d emigo d an d cam el driver Mahoun d i m ,

-
, ,
p o stor in science as in religion had strictly forb idden them ,
anatomy even of th e l ower animal s th e which he wh o

, ,
’
s ev er et h from m edicine t ol l i t sol em e mundo a s Tully
, ,
qu oth Nay wonder n ot at my fervour go o d youth ;

.
, ,
where th e general weal stands in j eop ardy a littl e warmth ,
is civic humane and honourabl e

, , Now th ere is s ettl ed .
of late in this town a p estil ent Arab ist a m ere emp iric , ,
who desp isin g anatomy and scarce knowin g Greek from

, ,
Heb rew h ath yet sp irite d away half my p atients ; and I

,
trembl e for th e rest P ut forth thin e ankl e ; and thou

.
,
”
Hans b reath e on the chafer
,
.
Wh ilst m atters were in this p o sture in cam e D enys ,
with the lemons and sto o d surpris ed , What sp ort i s

,
.
toward ? s aid h e raisin g his b rows ,

.
Gerard coloured a little an d told him th e l earned do ctor ,
was going to fl eb ot om i z e him and cauterize him ; that was

all
Ay l inde ed and y ou imp what bloweth h e hot co al s ,
What sh oul d it b e for said th e do ctor to Gerard , ,
b ut to cauteriz e the V ein wh en op ened and th e p oisonou s

bl o o d let fre e ? Tis th e o nl y s afe way
’
Avicenna indee d .
’
re comm ends a ligature of the vein ; b ut how tis to b e do ne
h e s aith not n or kn ew h e hims elf I wot nor any of th e
, ,
sp awn of Ishm ael F or m e I have no faith in such tricksy

.
,
exp edients ; and tak e this with y ou f or a safe principl e :

Whatever an Arab or Arab ist says i s right mu st b e ,
’
wron g .
Oh I s ee now what tis for

,
said D en ys an d art ’
,
thou s o simple as to let him put hot iron to thy living flesh ?
didst ever keep thy littl e fi n ger b u t ten m o m ents in a
candl e ? and this will b e a s m any minutes Art n ot co n .
tent to burn in purgatory a fter thy death ? mu st thou needs

’
buy a foretaste on t h ere ?
I never thou ght of that said Gerard gravely ; the ,
goo d do ctor sp ak e not of b urning b ut of cautery ; to b e sure ,

’ ”
tis all one b ut c autery sound s not s o fearful a s b urning
,
.
I m b ecil e l That is their art ; to confound a plain

1 52 THE C L O IST E R A N D THE H E A R T H
man with d ark words till his hissing flesh l ets him know ,
their m eanin g Now listen to what I have s een When

.
.
a sol dier bl eeds from a woun d in b attle thes e le ech es say , ,

’
Fever .
Blo o d h i m l and s o they burn th e wi ck at t oth er
’
end to o Th ey bl ee d th e bl ed
.
Now at fever s heel s comes .
desp erate weakness ; th en th e m an needs all his bl o o d to

live ; b ut thes e prick ers and b urners h aving n o fo rethou ght , ,
reckin g nou ght of what is sure to com e in a few h ours an d ,
seein g lik e b ru te b easts o nl y what is un der th eir no s es h ave ,
m eantim e robb ed him of th e very blo o d his hurt had sp are d

him to b attl e that we ak ness with al ; and s o h e dies
exhau sted Hundreds h ave I seen s o s cratch ed and prick ed
.
ou t of th e world Gerard an d tall fell ows t oo ; b ut 1 0 1 i f

, ,
they h ave th e luck to b e wounded where no do cto r can b e

had then th ey live ; this to o have I seen
,
Had l ever .
outlived that fi el d in Brab ant but for my mo st lucky mis

chance lack of chirurgery ? The fro st cho ck ed all my
,
bleedin g wounds an d so I lived A ch irurgeo n had pricked

,
.
yet on e m ore hol e in this my b o dy with his l ance an d ,
drained my last drop ou t and my S pirit with i t S eein g,

.
them thu s distrau ght in bleeding of th e bleeding soldier ,
I place no trust in th em ; for wh at slays a veteran may well

”
lay a milk and water b ourgeois low
- -
.
This sounds lik e commo n sens e sigh ed Gerard ,
lan g u i dly but no n eed to rais e your vo i ce s o ; I was not

,
”
b orn deaf and j ust now I hear acutely
,
.
Common sense ! very comm on sens e ind eed sh outed ,
th e b ad listener ; why this is a soldier ; a b rute who s e ,
business is to k i ll m en n ot cure them H e added in very

,
.
tol erabl e Fren ch W oe b e to y ou unl earned m an if you

, , ,
com e b etween a physician and his p atient ; an d wo e b e to

”
you mis guided youth if you listen to th at m an of blo o d
, , .
Mu ch obli ged s ai d D enys with mo ck p olitenes s ;

, ,
but I a m a tru e m an and would rob no m an of his nam e , .
I d o somewhat in th e way of blo o d but not worth m ention ,
in this presence F or on e I slay y ou slay a score ; an d

.
,
f or on e sp o onful of blo o d I draw you S p il l a tubful The , .
worl d is sti l l gull ed b y shows We soldiers vap o ur with .
lon g swords and even in war b eget two fo e s f or eve ry on e

,
we kil l ; but you smo oth go w nsmen with soft phras es and ,
”
b are b o dkins tis y ou that thin m ankind
,
’
.
“
A sick chamb er is no place for j estin g cried the ,
physician .
No do ctor n or f or b awling said the p atient p eevi s h ly

, , , .
”
Com e youn g man ,
s ai d th e s eni or kindly ,
be ,
reason abl e Cu il ib et in s u a art e credendum

. est My .
whol e life has b een given to thi s art I stu died at Mont .
p elier ; th e fi r s t scho ol in France and b y conseq uence in ,

1 54 T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
‘
’
me on e wa s down in h is hou se ; s o I s ai d to myself A ,
stranger and in n eed of my art and cam e in contin entl y

, ,
’
.
”
It w a s the act of a goo d Chr i stian s i r , .
”
Oi a go o d blo o dhound cried D enys co ntemptuou sly ,
.
Wh at a r t thou so green as not to know th at al l th es e

,
i —
lan d lords are in l eague with certa n of their fe l ow citiz en s
l ,
who p ay them to l l on each b o oty ? Wh atever you p ay

this ancient for stealin g your life blo o d of that t h e l an dl ord -
,
t a kes his third for b etrayin g you to him Nay more a s .

, ,
so o n as ever your blo o d go es down the st ai r in that b asin

th ere the landl ord w i ll see it or sm ell i t and send sw i ftly
, ,
to h i s undertaker and get his third out of that j ob

,
For .
it h e waited t ill t h e do ctor got down stai r s the do ctor wo ul d ,
b e b eforehan d and b esp eak h i s underta k er and then h e

, ,
woul d get th e black thi rds S ay I so oth ol d Rou ge et .

,
No ir ? D i t es l
D enys D enys who tau ght you t othink so ill of m an ?
, ,
Min e eyes that are not to b e gul l ed b y what m en s a y

, ,
s eein g this many a year what they do in all th e lan ds I ,
travel .
Th e do ctor wi th som e address m ade u s e of th es e l ast

words to es cap e the p erson al qu estion I to o have eyes .
as well as thou and go not by tradition only but b y what

, ,
I have seen an d not onl y s een b ut done

, I have heal ed ,
.
as m any m en b y bleeding as that interlop ing Arab ist has

kill ed f or want of i t Twas b ut t oth er day I heal ed on e
.
’ ’
threatened with l epro sy ; I b ut bl ed h i m at the tip of th e

no se . I c ured last year a qu artan a g u e : h ow ? bled i t s
f or efi n g er O ur cur e lo st his m emory
. I brou ght it h i m .
b ack on the p o int of my lan ce ; I bled him b ehin d the ear .
I bled a dolt of a b oy and now he i s the only on e who ca n ,
tell his right hand from his left in a whole family of idi ots .
Wh en the pla gu e was h ere ye ars ago no sham pla gu e su ch , ,
a s em p y r i cs p ro claim every six ye a rs or s o but the go o d ,
hon es t Byzant i ne p est I blo o ded an al derman fr e ely an d , ,
cauteri z ed the sym ptomatic bub o es and so p u ll ed h i m ,
ou t of th e grave ; wh erea s our th en chirurgeon a m o st ,
p erni ciou s Arab ist cau ght it hi mself and died of i t aha
, , , ,
calling on Rhazes Avi cenna an d Mahound who coul d, , , ,
they have com e had all p erished a s miserab ly a s him self

, .
”
Oh my p oor ear s sigh ed Gerard
, , .
A n d a m I fal len s o low that one of your presence an d

sp eech re j ects my art and listens to a rud e s oldier s o far
, ,
b ehi n d even h i s own miserable trad e as to b ear an ar b al est ,
a wo rn —ou t invention that German chil dren sho ot at p ig eo ns

,
with but German sol diers mo ck at since ever ar qu eb u s s es

,
c am e a n d put them do w n ?
You foul mouthe d ol d charlat an
-
cried D enys the , ,
arb al es t i s shouldered by tall er m en than ever sto o d in

,
Rhenish ho s e an d even now it kills a s m any more than your

,
no isy stink ing arqu eb u s a s th e lancet do e s than all our toys ,
to gether G o to ! . H e w a s no fo ol who fi r s t calle d yo u

leeches —
S ang s u es i va l
.
’
Gerard gr o aned B y the holy Vi rgin I wish y ou were .

,
.
”
b oth at J er i ch o b ellowing , .
’
Th ank you comrad e Then I l l b ark no more but a t, .
,
’
need I ll b ite
,
If h e has a lance I have a sword ; if he
.
,
b l ee d s y ou I ll bleed h i m Th e mom ent h i s lan ce pr i cks

’
, . .
s
your skin little on e my sword hilt kno cks a gainst h i s rib s ;

, ,
‘
”
I have said i t .
An d D enys turned p al e folded his ar ms an d lo oked , ,
gl o omy an d dangerous .
Gerard sighed wear ily N ow a s all this i s ab out m e .

, ,
give m e leave to s a y a word .
Ay l let the young man cho o s e l i fe or d eath fo r him
Gerard th en indirectly rebuke d his noisy couns ellors by

c on t r a s t a n d exampl e, H e S pok e with unp arallel ed calm .
ness sweetness and gentleness

, And thes e were the words
, .
of Gerard th e s on of Eli I doub t not you b oth m ean m e .
well ; b u t y ou a s s a s s i n a t e m e b et ween y ou
, ,Calmness and .
qu iet are everything to me ; but you are l i ke two do gs ,
growling over a b on e .
And in s ooth b on e I sho ul d h e di d this upro ar last , ,
lon g.
There wa s a dead sil ence b roken only by th e silvery voice ,
of Gerard a s he lay tranqu i l and gazed calmly at the ceiling

, , ,
and trickl ed into words .
F irst V enerab l e s i r I thank you for coming to s e e m e

, , ,
whether from humanity or in the way of ho n est gain ; all ,
trades must live .
Your l earning reverend s i r seems gre at to m e at , , ,
l east and for your exp erience your age v ou ch et h i t

, , .
You s a y you h ave bl ed many and of thes e many , ,
many have not died thereaft er b ut lived an d don e well , , .
”
I mu st needs b elieve you .
The physician b owed ; D enys gru nted .
Others y ou s a y you have bl ed and they are dead

,
— , , .
I must needs b elieve you .
D enys knows few things comp ared with you b ut he ,
knows them well H e i s a man not given to conj ecture . .
Th i s I myself h ave note d H e says he h a s seen th e fevered .
and blo o ded f or the mo st p art die ; th e fevere d and not

blo o de d live I must needs b elieve him . .
Here then all is doub t , ,

.
But thus much is certain ; if I b e bled I mu st p ay you ,

1 56 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
a fee and b e burnt an d excruciate d with a ho t iron wh o
, ,
a m no felon .
Pay a certain p rice in m oney an d an guish f or a doub t

f ul rem edy that wi ll I n ever
,
.
Next to m on ey an d ease p eace and qu iet are certain ,

’
go o ds ab ove all in a sick -ro om ; but twould seem men
,
cannot ar g u e m edicine without h eat an d raised vo ices ;

therefore s i r I will essay a littl e sl eep and D enys w il l g o
, , ,
forth and gaz e on the femal es of th e place and I will keep ,
y ou no l onger from tho s e wh o can a fi o r d to lay out bloo d

”
and mon ey in fl eb ot om y an d cautery .
Th e ol d physician had natural ly a hot temp er ; h e had

often during this b attle of words m astered it with d i ffi cul t y ,
and no w it m astered him Th e mo st d i gni fi e d course was

.
sil ence ; h e s a w this and drew himself u p and m ade loftily

, ,
for th e do or foll owe d clo se b y his littl e b oy an d b ig b asket

,
.
But at th e do or h e choked h e swell ed h e b urst He , , .
whirl ed an d cam e b ack op en m outh ed an d th e littl e b oy -

,
and b i g b asket ha d to whisk semicircularly not to b e run

i —
down fo r d e minimis non curat Medic na even wh en not
,
in a ra ge .
Ah ! y ou rej ect my skil l yo u scorn my a rt My ,

.
revenge sh al l b e to l eave you to yourself ; l o st idiot t ak e ,
your last lo ok at m e and at th e sun Your blo o d b e o n

, .
your head ! An d away b e stamp ed .
But on reaching th e do or h e whi rl ed an d cam e b ack ;

his wi cker tail twirlin g roun d after him lik e a cat s ’
.
In twelve hours at furthest you will b e in th e secondary

stage of fever Your h ead will S plit
. Yo ur carotids will .
'
thump Aha l And let but a p in fal l you wi l l j ump t o

.
,
th e ceiling Then send f or m e ; and I 1 1 n ot com e

. He
’
.
d ep ar ted But at th e do or han dl e gathere d fury wh eele d

.
,
and cam e nying with pal e terror stricken b oy and wicker

, ,
-
ta il whiskin g after him “

Next wil l come— C RAM P S of
.
the ST OMACH Aha ! .
Th en— B IL I OUS VO M IT Ah a ! .
Then C O LD SWEAT and D EA D L Y STUP OR

— , .
—
Then C ON FUS ION OF ALL THE S E NS E S .
Then— B L O OD Y V O M IT .
And after that nothing can save you not even I and ,
if I coul d I woul d not and so farewell ! ,
Even D enys changed col our at threats s o fervent and

precise ; but Gerard o nl y gnashe d h i s teeth with rage at
the noise and s eized his h ard b olster with kindling eye
, .
This added fuel to th e fi r e and b rou ght th e insulted ,
a ncient b ack from th e imp assabl e do or with h i s whisking ,
train .
A n d —
after that MAD NES S !
1 58 THE CL O ISTER AN D TH E HEARTH
CHAP TER XX V I I
TH E worthy physici an went hom e a n d told hi s h ou sekeep er

.
he w a s in agony fr om a b a d bur n Tho se were th e words . .
For in phl o gi stic as in other t hi n g s we cauteri z e our n eigh , .
b our s di gits b ut b urn o ur own fi n g er s H i s hou sekeep er

'
’
.
.
,
app l ied som e ol d woman s rem edy m i l d a s m i l k

’
H e sub t
z .
m i t t e d li ke a l amb to h er exp er i ence : h i s sol e obj e ct in the

cas e of th is p atient b ei ng cure : m ea n t i i n e h e m a d e out h i s
b ill for b roken phi al s an d to o k m easure s to have th e
,
travell ers impri s oned at once H e made o ath b efo re a .
magi strate that th ey b eing stran gers and indebted to h i m

, ,
me ditated instant fli gh t fr om t h e to w nshi p .
Al a s l it w a s hi s unl ucky day H i s sincere d es i re an d

'
hones t endeavour to p erj ure hi m self were b a fi l e d by a

circum sta nce he had never fores een nor in d eed t hou ght
p o ssibl e.
H e had S p oken th e t r uth .
An d I N A N A F F I D A V I T I .
Th e offi cer s on reachi ng Th e Sil ver Lion foun d the

,
~
b irds were fl own .
They went down to the river an d fr o m intel l i gence they ,
received there start ed up the b ank in hot pursuit

, .
Thi s temp orary es cap e the friends owed to D en y s s ’
goo d sens e a n d ob servation After a p e al of l au ghter that

.
,
it was a cor di al to hear and after ventin g h i s watchword

,
th ree tim es h e turn ed short gr ave an d tol d Gerar d D ii s s el

, ,
”
dorf w a s no place for them That ol d fell ow. s ai d h e , ,
went off unn aturally s i l ent for such a b ab bler : we a r e

stran gers here ; th e b a i l i fir i s h i s fr i en d in fi v e minut es
we shall li e in a dungeo n for assaul tin g a D usseldorf di gnity ;
are you stron g enou gh to hobbl e t o th e water s edge ? it is ’
hard b y . Once th ere you have but to lie down i n a b o at

instead of a b ed ; and what is the o dds ?
The odds D enys ? untold and all in favour of th e
, ,
b oat . I p ine for Rom e ; for Rom e i s my ro ad to S even

b ergen ; an d then we sh all l ie in the b o at b ut O N th e Rhi ne , ,
th e famou s Rhine ; th e co ol refreshing Rhine I feel i t s

, .
breez es coming : th e very si ght wi ll cu re a littl e hop o m y -

’
-
thu m b fever lik e min e ; away ! away !

Fi ndi n g h i s excitable friend in th is mo o d D enys settl e d ,
h as tily with the lan dl ord and th ey hurri ed to the river

, .
On i n quiry the y found to the i r dismay that th e p ublic b o at

w a s gone this h al f hour and n o other wo u l d sta rt that day
, ,
THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 1 59
b eing afterno on B y dint h owever of asking a great many

.
, ,
qu estions an d collecting a crowd they obtaine d an o ff er

, ,
of a private b o at from an ol d man and his two sons .
This was duly ridicul ed by a bystander The current .
is to o stron g for thre e o ars .
Th en my comra de an d I will help row s ai d th e ,
invalid .
No n eed said th e ol d m an , Bless your silly h eart .

,
h e owns t o ther b o at
’
.
There was a p owerful b reez e right astern ; th e b o atm en

s et a bro ad s ail and rowing also went off at a S p anking rate
, , .
Are y e b etter l ad f or th e river b reez e ? , ,
Mu ch b etter B ut indeed the do ctor did m e go o d

. .
The do ctor ? Why yo u woul d none of his cures , .
No b ut I m ean— yo u wil l say I a m nou ght— b ut

,
kno cking the ol d fo ol down— som eh ow— i t so oth ed m e .
Amiabl e dove ! h ow thy littl e char a cter op ens more

an d m ore every day like a ro s eb u d I read the e al l wro ng , .
”
at fi r s t .
Nay D enys mistak e m e not neither

, I tru st I had
, , .
b orn e with his idl e threats thou g h in s o oth his vo ic e went ,
throu gh my p o or ears ; b ut h e was an i n fi d el or n ext do or ,
to on e and su ch I have b een tau ght to abhor

,
D id h e not .
as go o d as s a y we o wed our inward p arts to m en with lo n g

,
Greek nam es an d not to Him who s e nam e i s b ut a syll abl e

, , ,
b u t who s e hand is over all th e earth ? P a gan !

S o yo u kno cke d him down forthwith — lik e a go o d
C hristian ”
.
No w D enys yo u will still b e j estin g

,
Take not an
, .
ill m an s p art ’
Had it b een a thunderb olt from H eaven
.
,
he had m et b ut his du e ; yet h e to ok b ut a sorry b olster

from this weak arm .
“
Wh at weak arm ? inquired D enys with twinkling ,
e y es
. I have lived amon g arm s and by S amson s hairy ,
’
p ow n ever saw I on e m ore like a catap ult Th e b olster .
wrapp ed roun d h i s no s e and the two ends kissed b ehind his

head and his forehead resounded an d had h e b een Goliath
, , ,
or Juliu s C aesar instead of an ol d qu acksalver down he ha d

, ,
gone . S t D enys guard m e from su ch feebl e o pp o sites a s

.
thou ! and ab ove all from their weak arms— th ou diab olical
”
young hyp o cri t e .
Th river to ok m any turns an d this som etim es b rou ght

e ,
the win d o n their side instea d of right astern Th en they .
all m eved to the weather side to p revent th e b o at heeling

over to o mu ch ; a ll b ut a chil d of ab out fi v e y ea r s ol d the ,
grandson of th e b oa t m a n a n d his darling ; this u rchin ha d ,

‘
slipp ed on b o ard at the m om ent of starting an d b eing t oo ,

1 60 T HE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
’
light to a ff ect the b o at s trim was a b ove or rather b el ow , , ,
the laws of navigatio n .
They sail ed m e r ri ly on littl e consciou s that th ey were ,
pursu ed by a whol e p o ss e of constab l es a rm e d with th e

b a i l i fi s writ and that th eir pursuers were c omin g up with
’
them ; for if th e win d was strong s o was the current , .
An d now Gerar d su dde nly rememb ered that this wa s

a very go o d way to Rome but not to Bur g undy Oh , .
,
D enys ,
said h e with an al mo st al a rm ed lo ok
,
this i s no t ,
”
your ro ad .
I know i t sai d D enys quietly ;

,
but what can I do ?
I cannot l eave thee till th e fever l eaves thee ; an d it is o n
th ee still for thou ar t b oth red and white by turns ; I have
,
watched thee I mu st e en go o n to Colo gn e I doub t and

.
’
, ,
”
then strik e acro ss .
Thank Heaven said Gerar d j oyf u l ly,

H e adde d .
’
eagerly with a littl e tou ch of s elf deception
,
Twere a s i n -
,
to b e so n ear Colo gn e and not s ee i t Oh m an it is a vast .

, ,
an d ancient city su ch a s I have often dreame d oi b u t n e er

, ,
’
had th e goo d luck to s ee Me m iserabl e by what h a rd .

,
fortune do I com e to it n ow ? Well th en D enys con , ,
t i n u e d the young m an less warmly i t is ol d enough to ,
have b een founded by a Roman lady in th e fi r s t century

of grace and sacked by Attil a th e b arb arou s and afterwards
, ,
sore defaced by th e Norman Lothai re An d i t has a church .
f or every week in the year forbye chap el s and churches ,
innum erable of convents and nu nn eries and ab ove a l l th e , ,
stup endous minster yet u n fi n i s h e d an d therein b ut in , ,
th eir own chap el lie the three kings th at b rou ght gifts
,
to our Lo rd Melchior gold and Gasp ar i r a nk i n c en s e an d

, , ,
B althazar th e bl ack kin g h e b rou ght myrrh ; and over ,
th eir b ones stands the shrine th e wo nder of th e worl d ; it

i s of ever shi ni ng b rass bri ghter than gold stu dded with
-
,
im ages fairly wrou ght and i nl aid wi th exquisite devices and

, ,
brave with col ours ; an d two bro ad strip es run to and fro ,
of j ewels s o gre at so rare each might adorn a crown or ran

, ,
s om its we a rer at n eed ; and up on it stand th e three kings

cur iously counterfeited two in solid s i lver richl y gilt ; these
, ,
b e b areheaded ; b ut h e of ZE t h i op eb o ny an d b eareth a ,
gol den crown ; and in the midst ou r bl es sed Lady in virgin ,
silver with Chr ist in h er a rm s ; a n d at th e corners in

,
.
golden b ranc h es four go o dly waxen tap ers do burn night

,
and day Holy eyes h ave watch ed and renewed that light
.
unceasingly f or a ges and holy eyes sh all watch th em in

,
s aecula . I tell thee D enys th e ol dest s ong the oldes t

, , ,
Fl emish or German legend found them burnin g an d th ey , ,
sh a ll light th e e a rt h to its grave An d there i s S t Ursel s . .

’
c h urch a B r i ti sh s aint s wh er e l i e her b o ne s an d al l t h e

’
, ,
1 62 THE CL O ISTER AND TH E HEARTH
by th e way and th ey tel l m e all th e notable thi ngs b oth ol d
,
and n ew .
A y a y h ave not I seen your no s e under their very

, ,
cowls ? But when I sp e ak of matters that are out of sight

‘
my words they are sm a l l and th e thing it was b ig ; now thy ,
words h e as b ig or b igger than th e thin gs ; art a go o d limn er

wi th thy ton gu e ; I have said i t ; an d for a sai nt as ready ,
with hand or steel o r b olster— as any p oor s i nner li vi n g ;

, ,
an d s o shall I te l l th ee which of al l thes e things thou hast

,
d escr i b ed draws m e to Col o gn e ?

A y D enys , .
Thou an d thou onl y n o d ea d saint b ut my li vin g

’
, ,
friend an d co mrade tru e ; t i s tho u al on e draws D enys of ’
Bur gundy to Colo gn e ?

Gerard hung his h ead .
A t this j uncture on e of the youn ger b o atm en su ddenl y

inquir ed what was amiss with littl e turn ip face ? -
‘
His young nephew thu s d es crib ed had j ust com e aft

grave as a j ud ge and burst ou t cryin g in th e midst wi thout
,
m ore ado On this phenom eno n s o sh arply d efi n e d h e

.
, ,
was subj ected to m any interro gatories s om e co axin gly ,
uttered som e n ot , Ha d b e hurt himself

. had h e over at e -
hims elf ? was h e frightened ? was h e col d ? wa s b e sick ?

was he an idiot ?
To a l l an d each b e uttered th e sam e reply which English ,
writers render thu s oh ! oh ! oh ! an d French writers thu s

, ,
hi ! hi! hi ! S o fi x ed ar e F i ct i on s phon eti cs

’
.
Who can tell what ail s th e p eevish b rat ? sn arle d th e

youn g b o atman im p atiently Rather lo ok th is way and .
tel l m e whom b e thes e after ! Th e ol d m an and h i s o ther

s on lo oked an d saw four m en walking al ong th e east b ank
,
of th e river ; at the sight they left rowin g awh il e an d ,
gathered mysteriou sly i n th e stern whisp erin g and casti n g ,
glances al ternately at their p assen gers an d t h e p edestrians .
The sequ el may show they woul d have employed sp ecul a

tio n b etter in try i ng to fathom the tu rnip face mystery ;
_
-
I b eg p a rdon of my a ge : I m ean the deep min d of dauntless

”
inf ancy .
’
If tis a s I doubt whisp ered one of th e youn g men , ,
why not give them a s q u eak for their lives ; l et u s m a ke

”
for th e west b ank .
The old m an obj ecte d stoutly Wh at sai d b e .

, ,
run ou r heads into troubl e for s t ran gers ! are y e m a d ?

Nay l et u s rather cro ss to th e east side ; still side with the
,
strong a r m ! that i s my rede What s a y you Werter ? .

,
I s a y pl ea s e you r selves
, .
Wh at a ge an d youth coul d not decide Up on a pu ff of ,
wi n d settle d mo st imp artiall y Came a s qu all and the .

,
little vessel heel ed o ver ; the m en j ump ed to Windward to

trim her ; b ut to their horror th ey s a w in the very b o at
from stem to ste m a ditch of water rushin g to le eward and ,
th e next m om ent they s a w nothing b ut felt the Rhine , ,
the col d an d rushing Rhin e .
Turnip face had drawn the plu g

-
.
The offi cer s unwound th e cords from their waists .
Gerard co ul d swim lik e a duck ; b ut th e b est swi m m er ,
canted ou t of a b o at cap siz e d must sink ere h e can swim , .
Th e dark water bub bled lou dly over his head an d then h e ,
cam e up alm o st blind and deaf f or a moment ; th e n ext ,
he s a w the black b o at b ottom upp ermo st and fi gu r e s clin ging ,
to i t ; he sho ok his head lik e a water do g and made for it -
by a s ort of unthinking imitation ; but ere h e reached it he

heard a vo ice b ehind him cry not lou d but with deep ma n ly
distress ,
Adieu comrade a dieu ! , ,
H e lo ok ed and there w a s p o or D enys sink in g sinking

, , ,
weigh ed down b y his wretche d arb al est His face w as .
p ale and his eyes staring W ide and turned d esp airingly on
, ,
his dear friend Gerard uttered a wil d cry of love and terror
.
,
and m ade for him cleaving the water m a dl y ; b ut th e n ext

,
moment D enys was un der water .
Th e n ext Gerard was after him

,
.
Th e offi c er s kno tted a rop e and threw the en d i h .
C HAPTER XXV I I I
T H I N G S go o d and ev i l b alance thems elves in a remarkab le

manner and almo st universal ly
'
Th e steel b ow attached .
to th e a r b a l es t r i er s b ack and carried ab ove his head had

'
’
, ,
sunk him That very steel b ow owing to that very p o sition

.
, ,
’
could not escap e Gerard s hands on e of which grasp e d i t , ,
and the oth er went b etween the b ow and the cord which ,
was a s goo d The next mom ent D enys by m eans of his

.
, ,
cro s sb ow was hoisted with s o eager a j erk that half hi s

,
b o dy b ob b ed up ou t of water .
Now g rip m e n ot ! grip m e not !

, cried Gerard in ,
mortal terror of that fatal mistake .
P as s i b ete gurgled D enys

,
.
S eeing th e sort of stuff h e had to deal with Gerard was ,
hop eful and c al m directly On thy b ack . said he ,

-
shar ply and s eizing th e arb alest and tak i ng a stroke

, ,
forward he aided the desired m ovement Hand on my

shoulder ! slap the water with the other hand l N o—with
, .
a do wnward motion ; s o D o nothing m ore than I h i d .
”
thee . G erard had caught hold of D en y s s long h ai r an d ’
twisting it hard cau ght th e end b etween hi s side teeth , ,
and with the stron g muscl es of h i s youthful neck easil y

kept up th e sol dier s h ead an d stru ck out lu stily acro ss ’
th e current A moment h e had hesitated which side t o

.
mak e for little knowing th e awful imp ortance of that

,
s i mpl e decision ; then s eein g th e west b ank a t r i fl e nearest ,
he m ade towards i t instead of swimm i n g to j ai l l ike a go o d ,
b oy and s o furnishin g on e a novel incident

, Owing to .
the force of th e current th ey slanted considerably an d ,
when they had covere d near a hundre d yards D enys mu r ,
mured uneasily How much more of it ,

”
Courage mumbl ed Gerard , Wh atever a duck .
knows a Dutchman kn ows ; art safe as in b ed

, .
Th e next moment to their surp rise they found them , ,
selves in shal low water an d s o waded ash ore O nce on ,

.
terra fi rma they lo oke d at one another from head to fo ot

,
as i f eyes coul d devour then by on e imp ul se flun g each an ,
arm roun d t h e other s neck and p ante d there with h ear t s ’
to o full to sp eak And at this sacred m oment l i fe was sweet

.
a s he aven to b oth ; sweetest p erhap s to th e p o or exil ed

lover who had j u st saved his friend
, Oh j oy to who se .
,
height what p o et has yet soar ed or ever tried to so ar ? To ,
s a v e a h u m a n l if e ; and that l if e a l ov e d on e Such m oments .
are worth living for a y three score years and ten And, , .
then calmer they to ok hands and s o wal k ed al on g th e

, , ,
b ank hand in hand l ike a p air of swe eth earts scarce knowing ,
or car ing whither they went .
The b o at p eopl e were al l s a fe on th e late concave now ,
convex craft Herr Turnip face the , Inverter of thi n gs -

, ,
b ein g in th e middl e Al l this fracas seeme d not to have .
essentially deran ged his hab its A t l east h e was greeting .
when h e shot our friends into th e Rhine and greeti ng when ,
they got ou t again .
Shal l we wait till they right the b o at 2 ‘
No D enys our fare is p aid ; we ow e them nou ght

, , .
”
Let u s on and b riskl y , .
D enys assented ob serving that they coul d w al k all the ,
way to Colo gn e on this b ank .
”
I fare not to Colo gne was the calm reply
‘
, .
W h y whi ther th en ? ,
To Bur gundy .
To Burgundy ? Ah no ! that i s t oo go o d to b e so oth , .
’
S o oth t i s and sense into the b a rgain , Wh at matters .
it to m e how I go to R ome ?
Nay nay ; you but s a y s o to pleasure m e Th e chan ge
, .
1 66 THE CLO ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
a s so on as they h ad p assed th e b row of the h ill said There , ,
i s now b ut on e course we mu st run to B ur gundy inste ad ,
of walking ; and he s et off and ran the b est p art of a lea g ue ,
without stopping .
D enys was fairly blown and inqu ired what on earth ,
had b ecome of Ger a rd s fever I b e gin to miss it sa dl y ’

.
,
said h e dr i ly .
I dropp ed it in Rhine I trow w a s the reply , ,

.
P resently th ey came to a littl e Vi ll age and here D enys ,

”
purchased a lo af and a hu ge b ottle of Rh enish wi ne For .
,
h e said we must slee p in s ome h ol e or corner

,
If w e lie .
”
.
This wa s no more
'
a t an inn we shal l b e taken in our b eds

‘
.
,
’
than commo n prudence on the ol d sol dier s p art .
The offi ci al n etwork for catching law bre a kers esp ecially - -
,
p l eb eian ones w a s very clo se in that

,
a ge ; thou gh the c o
O p eration of th e public was almo st null at all events up on
'
,
th e Continent The innk eep ers were everywhere under

.
clo se surveillance as t o their travellers for who se a cts they ,
wer e even in som e de gree resp onsible more s o it wo ul d ,

.
seem than for their suff erings .
The friends were b ot h gl ad wh en th e s u n s et ; and

'
delighted when a fter a long trudge under the stars ( for

, ,
th e mo on if I rememb er right did no t ris e ti l l ab out 3

, ,
in th e morning ) th ey cam e to a large b arn b elon gi n g to a

hou se at som e distance A quantity of b arl ey had b een .
lately thrashed ; for t h e h eap of straw on o ne side the

thrashing —fl oor was almo st as high as th e u nthrashed corn
on th e oth er .
Here b e two royal b eds said D enys ; which shall ,
we lie on th e m ow or the straw ?

, ,
Th e straw for me said Gerard , .
Th ey s a t on th e h eap and ate th eir brown b read and , ,
drank their wine and then D enys covere d his friend U p ,
in straw and h eap ed it h igh ab ove him lea ving him onl y
, ,
a breathing hole : Water they s a y is death t o fevered , _ ,

”
m en ; I 1 1 m ak e warm water on t anyhow
’ ’
, .
Gerard b ade him make his mind easy These few .
drop s from Rhine cannot ch i ll m e I feel h eat enou gh in .
my b o dy now to p arch a kennel or b o il a clou d if I was ,

-
in on e . And with thi s epigram his consciousness went

”
s o rapidly h e might really b e said to
, fall asleep .
D enys who l ay awake awhil e he ard that which mad e him

, ,
nestle clo ser Horses ho ofs ca m e rin ging up from D ii s s el

.
’
dorf and the woo den bar n vib rated a s they rattled p ast
,
h owling in a m anner t oo well kno wn and understo o d i n the

i 5 t h century but a s unfam iliar i n E u r op e n ow l a s a red
,
Indian s war -whoop

.
’
.
D enys sho ok wh ere he l a y .

THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 1 67
Gerard slep t lik e a top .
It all swep t b y an d tro op s an d howl s die d away

, .
The stout sol dier drew a long breath whistl e d in a ,
whisp er clo se d his eyes an d sl ep t lik e top 2

, , .
In th e morning h e s a t up and put ou t his han d to wak e

’
Gerard . It l ighted on th e youn g man s forehead a n d f ou n d
:
,
.
it quite wet D enys then in his qual ity o f nurs e forb ore
.
to wak e him It is ill to check sl eep or sweat in a sick

.
’
m an ,
said h e I know that far though I ne er mince d
.
,
”
ap e nor g all ows b ird -
.
After waiting a go o d hour h e felt d esp erately hungry ;

s o he turned an d in self defence went to sleep again
,
-
.
P o or fell ow in his hard life h e had b een often driven

,
to this man oeuvre A t high no o n b e was wak ed by Gerard

.
.
m ovin g an d found him sittin g u p with th e straw smokin g

,
round him lik e a dun g hill Anim al heat versu s mo isture -

. .
”
Gerard c al l ed him a lazy lo o n H e quietly grinned . .
They s et out an d th e fi r s t thing D enys di d was to give

,
Gerard his arb al est etc an d m ount a high tre e o n th e , .

,
ro ad. Co ast clear to th e next Village said h e an d on , ,
they went .
Ou drawin g n ear th e V ill age D enys h alte d an d su dd enly ,
inqu i red of Gerard how h e felt .
What ! can yo u n ot s ee ? I feel a s if Rom e was no

further than yo n haml et .
But thy b o dy lad ; thy skin ? ,

’
N eith er hot nor col d ; and yesterday twa s h o t on e
whil e and col d another But what I cannot get rid of is .
”
this tiresom e leg .
Le gran d m al h eu r l Many of my com r ad es have

found no su ch d i ffi cu l t y .
Ah ! there it go e s again ; itch e s co nsum edly ,
Unhappy youth said D enys sol emnly th e sum of , ,
t h y tro ubl es i s this : thy fever i s gone a n d thy wo und is ,

-
healin g .S ith s o it is added h e i ndul gently I shall tell

, ,
thee a littl e piece of news I had oth erwise withh eld ,
’ ‘
Wh at is t ? aske d Gerard sp arkl ing with curio sity , . ,
THE HUE AND CR Y I S O UT AFTER U S : AND w
ON FLEET HORSES ,
Oh !
C HAPTER XX IX
G ER A RD was staggere d by this s u dden communicatio n and

his colour cam e and went Then h e cl enche d his teeth
.
with ire For men of any S p irit at all are like the wil d b o ar ;
.
h e will run from a sup erio r force owing p erhap s to his not ,
b eing an ass ; b ut if y ou stick to his heel s to o long and to o

clo se and in short b o re him he will whirl and come tearing
, , , , ,
at a mul titu de of hunters and p erhap s b ore you , Gerard .
then s et his teeth and l o oked b attl e But th e next moment .
his countenance fell and h e said pl aintively

, And my axe ,
”
is in Rhine .
They consulted t o gether Pru dence b ad e them avoid .
”
that Village ; hun ger said b uy fo o d .
Hunger sp ok e l ou dest Prudence m o st convincingly

. .
They s ettl ed to strik e acros s th e fi el d s .
They halted at a haystack and b o rrowe d two b undles

of hay and lay on th em in a dry ditch ou t of sight b ut in ,
nettl es .
They sallied out i n turn and cam e b ack with turnip s

’ ‘
These th ey munch ed at interval s in their retreat until

sunset .
'
Presently they crep t ou t shiverin g into the rain and

darkness and got into th e ro a d on th e other side of th e
,
Vil lage .
It was a dismal night dark as pitch and blowing hard

, , .
Th ey coul d neith er s ee nor h ear nor b e seen n or heard ;

, , ,
and for au ght I know p assed like gho sts clo s e to their fo es
, .
Thes e th ey almo st forgot in th e natural ho rrors of th e black

temp estuou s night in which they seemed to grop e and h ew
,
their way as in black marbl e Wh en th e mo on ro se th ey .
were many a l eagu e fro m D i i s s el d or f But th ey still trudged .
on Presently they came to a hu ge building .
Coura ge ! cried D enys I think I know t his convent

,
-
C olo gn e has no
.
A y it i s
, We are in the s ee of Juliers
. .
p ower here .
Th e n e xt moment they were s a fe within the w a lls .

1 70 THE C L O ISTER AND f T H E HEARTH
mine e ar this whil e said the monk puttin g on e hand h e , ,
hind his b ack and sh ak ing h i s fi n ger h alf threat eningly hali ,
playf ul ly at Gerard H e was even s o kind and thou ghtful .
as to mind m e that S olomon b uil t the Lord a hous e w ith

rare hangings and that this in him was counted graciou s ,
and no s i n Oh l h e can quote S cripture rarely

. But I .
”
a m not s o simpl e a m on k as you think m y l a d cried t h e ’
o
, ,
go o d father with sudden d efi a n c e ad d ress i ng not Gerard ,
but— V acancy
,
This on e toy fi n i s h ed Vi gils fasts and

. , , ,
prayers f or m e ; prayers standing prayers lyin g o n th e

‘
,
”
chap el fl o or and prayers in a right go od tub ot c ol d water
,
.
H e nudged Gerard an d wink ed his ey e kno wingly

'
Noth .
in g h e hates and dreads l i k e s eein g u s m onk s at our orison s '
up to ou r chins in col d water

,
For corpus domat aqua . .
’
S o now g o confess thy littl e trump ery s i n s p a r d on a b l e in

'
youth an d secularity an d l eave m e to mine sweet to m e , ,

”
as h oney and to b e exp iate d in proportion
,
.
Gerard b owe d his head but could not h elp s aying

'
, ,
Wh ere shal l I h n d a confessor more holy and clement ?

”
In each of th es e cell s replied th e mo n k simply (they ,
were now in th e corridor ) ; there g o to B rother Ans el m , ,

”
yo nder
’
Gerard foll owed th e m o nk s direction and m ade for ’

,
a cell ; but th e do ors were pretty clo s e to on e another a n d ,
it seem s he mis t ook ; f or j ust as h e was a b out to tap h e

'
.
,
heard his ol d frien d cryi ng t o him in an a gitated whi sp er

'
,
Nay ! n ay ! nay l H e turn ed , and th ere w a s the m onk

at his cell door in a stran ge s t ate of anxi ety going up an d
-
, '
,
d own and b eating th e air doubl e handed l ik e a b ottom -

,
sawy er Gerard rea l ly thou ght th e ce l l h e was at mu st b e

;
inhab ited b y som e dan gero u s wi l d b east if not by that ,
personage who se p resence in th e convent ha d b een s o

distinctly pro claimed H e lo oke d b ack inqu irin gly and .
w ent on to th e next door Then hi s ol d friend no dded hi s .
head rapidl y bursting in a m oment into a comp aratively

,
blissful expression of face and shot b ack into his den H e , .
to ok his hour glass turn ed i t and went to work on his -

, ,
r e g al l es ; and often h e l ooked u p and s ai d to hi mself ,
Wel l a day the s an ds h ow s w i i t they r u n when the man

'
,
- -
,
”
is b ent over e arthly t oys .
Father Anselm w as a Venerabl e m onk with an am ple ,
head and a face al l di gnity and love

, Th ere fore Ge r ar d .
in confessin g to him and replying to hi s ge n tl e thou gh ,
searchin g questions coul d not h elp t hi nki n g Here is a

' '
—
, ,
b ead i Oh d ea r l oh dear ! I wonder whether you will

”
l et m e dr aw it wh en I have done confessin g And s o h i s .
'
own head g ot co n fused and he forgot a crim e or two How , . .

ever he did not lower th e b olsterin g this tim e no r was h e

, ,
s o uncandi d a s to detract from the p agan character of th e

b olstered .
The p enance i n fl i ct ed was this : he was to enter t h e

convent church and pro strating himself kis s th e lowest
, ,
step of th e al tar thre e tim es ; then kn eelin g o n th e fl o or ,
to s a y three p atern osters and a cre d o : this done com e ,

”
b ack to m e on the instant .
Accordingly h i s short m or t ifi ca t i on p erformed Gerard

, ,
returned and found Father Anselm spreadin g plaster

, .
”
After th e so ul the b o dy said h e ; know that I a m ,
th e chirurgeon here for want of a b etter This i s going

, .
on thy l eg ; to cool i t not to burn i t ; th e Saints forb id , .
D urin g th e op eration th e monastic leech who ha d ,
naturally b een intereste d b y th e D ussel dorf branch of

’
Gerard s confession r ather sided with D enys up o n bl eed ,
”
ing. We D ominicans s el do m l et blo o d nowadays ; th e
’
lay leech es s a y tis from timidity and want of skill ; but in ,
so oth we have long foun d that simpl es wil l cure m o st of

,
th e ill s that can b e cured at a ll B esides they never kill .

,
in cap abl e hands ; an d oth er rem edies slay lik e thunder

b olts A s f or the blo o d th e V ul gate saith expressly it is
.
,
’
the life of a man And in m edicin e or law as in divinity
.
, ,
—
,
to b e wiser than th e All wis e i s to b e a fo ol Moreover .

,
simpl es are mighty Th e littl e four fo oted creature th at .

-
kill s th e p oisonou s sn ak e i f b itten herself fi n d s an herb , ,
p owerful enou gh to qu ell t hat p oison thou gh st r o n ger an d ,
of swifter op eration than any mortal m al ady ; and w e ,
tau ght by her wisdom and our own traditio ns still search
"
, ,
and try th e V ir tu es of tho s e plants th e go o d Go d hath

strewed thi s earth with som e to feed m en s b o dies som e ,
’
to heal th em Only in d esp erate ill s w e m 1 x heavenly with

.
earthly V ir tu e W e steep th e hair or th e b ones of som e

.
dead saint l n th e m edicin e and thu s work m arvellou s cures , .
Think you father it is al on g of th e reli qu es ? for P eter

, ,
”
a Floris a learned leech an d no p agan d enies it stoutly
, , .
Wh at knows P eter a Fl oris ? An d what know I ? I

take not on m e to s a y we can comm and th e saints and ,
w ill they nil l th ey can draw corp oral Vi rtu e fro m th eir ,
blest rem ains But I s ee that th e p atient drinking thu s

.
in faith i s often b ettere d a s by a charm D oubtl ess faith .
’
in the recip ient i s for much in a l l th ese cures But s o twa s .
ever . A sick woman that al l the Jewish leeches fail ed ,

’
to cure did b ut touch Christ s g a rm ent an d was heale d in
,
a moment Had s h e n ot tou che d that sacred p iece of cl oth

.
s h e had never b een healed Had s h e without faith n ot .
touched it only but worn it to her grave I trow s h e had b een

, ,
-
none th e b etter for t But we do il l to search thes e things

’
.
1 72 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
t oo curiously All we s e e around u s calls fo r faith
. Hav e .
then a littl e p atience We shall s o on know all Meantime

. .
,
I thy confessor for th e nonce do strictly forbi d thee o n

, , ,
thy soul s h ealth to hearken learned l ay folk or things

’
,
'
religi ous Ar ro gance is their b ane ; with it th ey shut

.
heaven s op en do or i n the i r own faces

’
Mind I s a y learne d .
, ,
laics Unl earned ones have often b een m y m asters in

'
humil ity an d m ay b e thine

,
Th y wound is c a red for ; in .
thre e days twil l b e but a scar ’

An d now God sp ee d thee
'
.
,
and th e saints mak e thee as go o d and a s happy as thou art

”
b eautiful and gracious Gerard hop ed there was no nee d .
to p art yet for h e was to dine in th e refecto ry

,
But Father .
Anselm tol d him with a shade of re gret j ust p erceptible

,
and no more that h e di d no t leave his cell this week b eing

,
himself in p enitence ; and with th is h e to ok Gerar d 5 head

delicately in b oth hands and kissed him on th e b row and , ,
al mo st b efore th e cell do or had clo sed on him was b ack to ,
his p ious offi c es Gerar d went away chil l ed t o the heart

.
by the isolation of th e m onastic life and saddene d to o , .
Al as ! he thought here is a kind face I must never ,
lo ok to s ee a gain on earth ; a kind voice gon e fro m mine

ear and my h eart forever There is nothing b ut meeting .
and p arting in this sorrowful worl d Well -a day l we l l a .

- -
day ! This p ensive m o o d was interrupte d by a youn g

m onk who cam e for him and to ok him to th e refe cto ry ;
there h e found s everal monks s e ated at a tabl e an d D enys ,
standing lik e a p oker b eing examined a s to the towns h e ,
shoul d p ass thro ugh : th e friars then clubb ed their know

ledge and marked ou t th e route noting all the reli giou s
, ,
houses o n or near that roa d ; and this they gave Gerard .
Then supp er and after it th e ol d monk carried G erard to

,
his cell and they had an eager chat and th e fri ar incident
, ,
al ly reveale d the cau s e of his p antomim e in th e co rridor

Ye had wel l —nig h f a ll en into Brother J erom e s clutches
.
’
.
Yon was his cell .
Is Father Jerom e an ill man then ? ,
A n ill man i and t h e friar cro sse d him s elf ; a saint ,
an anchorite th e very p i llar of this hous e ! H e had sent y e

,
b arefo ot to Loretto Nay I forgot y are b ound for Italy ;

.
, ,
’
—
th e sp iteful ol d saint up on earth had sent y e to Cant er ,
b ory or Com p os t el l a But Jerom e was b orn ol d and wi t h .
a cowl ; Anselm and I were b oys once and wicked b eyond ,
anything y ou can imagine ( Gerard wore a som ewhat i n

credulous look ) : this keep s u s humbl e more or less an d ,
”
makes u s reasonably lenient to youth and hot blo o d .
’
Then at Gerard s earnest requ est one more heave nly
, ,
strain up on th e p sal terion and so to b ed the troubled spirit

’
, ,
calmed and th e sore heart so othed

, ,
1 74 THE CL O ISTER AND THE H EARTH
To wa rd s s unset they found themselves at equ al d i s

tances from a little to wn an d a m on a stery o nl y th e latter ,
was 0 11 t h e ro ad D enys wa s for the inn Gerar d for th e

.
,
convent . D enys gave way b ut on condition that once i n ,
Burgundy th ey shoul d always stop at an inn Gerard co n .
sented t o thi s the more readil y that h i s ch a rt with its l ist

of co nvents ended here S o they turned off th e ro ad . An d .
n ow Gerard ask ed with su r prise wh ence this su dden aver

s ion to places that ha d fe d and lo dged them gratis s o often .
The sol dier hemm ed and hawed at fi r s t b ut at last h i s ,
wrongs burst forth It cam e out that this w a s n o su dden

.
aversion but an ancient and ab iding horror which h e ha d

, ,
suppressed till n ow but with i nfi n i t e d iffi cul t y and o ut of

, ,
”
politenes s : I s a w they had put p owder in your drink ,
sai d h e , s o I forb ore them However b eing th e last .

, ,
why n ot ease my min d ? Know then I have b een lik e a fi s h

out of wa ter in all tho se gr eat dungeo ns You straightway .
levant wi th some old shavelin g : s o y ou s ee n ot my purga

”
to r y .
Forgive m e ! I have b een s el fi s h .
’
A y a y I forgive thee littl e one ;
, ,
t i s not thy fault ,
a r t not th e fi r s t fo ol that has b een priest rid and m onk b it - -

.
,
”
But I ll not forgive th em my misery
’
Then ab out a cen .
,
tury b efore Henr y V I I I s commissio ners he deliv ered his .

’
,
indictment These gloomy p i les were all b uilt ali k e

. Inns .
d i f fered but here a l l was monotony

, Great gate littl e .
,
gate s o m any step s an d then a gl o omy Cloister

, H ere th e .
dortour th ere the gr eat cold refecto ry where you m ust s i t

, ,
mumchance or at l east inaudible he who liked to S p eak

, ,
”
his min d ou t ; and then said h e nob ody i s a man h ere , , ,
but all are sl aves and of what ? of a pe evish tinkling h ell

, , ,
A n twere a trump et now aye sounding

’
that never sl eep s .
,
al ar um s t w oul d n t freez e a man s h e art s o Tinkl e tin kle

,
’ ’ ’
.
, ,
tinkl e and you must s i t to m eat wi th may b e no stomach

,
for fo o d Ere your m eat settl es in your stomach tink le

.
, ,
t i n k l e l an d y e mu st t o church with may b e n o stomach

'
for devotion : I a m not a ho g at prayers for one T i nkl e , .

,
tinkle and now you m u st to b e d with your eyes O p en

, .
Well by then you have contrived to shut them som e

, ,
uneasy imp of d arkness h a s got to th e b ell —rop e and ti nkl e , ,
tinkl e it b ehoves you s a y a prayer in the dark wh e th er

, ,
you know one or not If they heard t h e so r t of pr a yers

.
I mutter when they b re ak my rest with the i r t i nk l e l W ell ,
you drop off a gain and get a b out a n eyefu l of sl eep : 1 0 it ,
i s tinkl e tinkle for m atins

, , .
”
And the only clapp er you l ove i s a woman s put i n
,
’
Gerard hal f contemptuous l y .
B eca us e th er e i s som e m u si c in th a t even wh en i t

‘
THE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
scolds , was th e stout reply An d then to b e always .
.
—
checked If I do but p ut my fi n g er in the salt cellar straight ,
way I hear Have you n o knife that y ou fi n g er the s alt ?

,
And if I but wip e my knife on th e cloth to save tim e then ,

’
tis Wip e thy knife d irty o n th e bread and cl ean up o n th e
, ,
clo t h ! 1
,
O h sm all of so ul ! these littl e p eevish p edantries
f al l chill up on go o d fellowship like we e i cicles a m elting -
”
do wn from straw en eaves .
I hold cleanl iness no p e dantry said Gerard Shoul dst ,

.
”
l earn b etter manners o nce for al l .
’
Nay ; tis they who lack manners Th ey stop a .
fell ow s mouth at every word :

’
A t every oth er word you m ean ; every ob scene or ,
bl asph emous on e .
Exaggerator g o to ! Why at th e very l ast of thes e

, ,
dungeons I found the p o or travell ers sittin g all chill ed and

mute roun d on e shaveling like ro gu es awaitin g their turn , _
to b e hanged ; s o to cheer them u p I did b ut cry out , ,
Courage tout l e m ond e l e dia

, ,
Co nnu l what b efell ?

’
Marry this Bl asph em e not ! quo th e b ourreau
, . .
‘
.
Plait il s a y I
-
,
’
D o esn t h e whe el an d wy te on m e in a
.
’
sort of Al satian F r ench turning al l the P s into B s ,

’ ’ ’
”
I had mu ch a do not to lau gh in his fac e .
B eing thys elf unabl e to sp eak ten words of h i s lan guage

without a fault
“
Well all t h e wor l d ou ght to sp eak French
,
’
What .
’
avail s o many j argo ns excep t to put a frontier atwixt m en s
he a rts ?
But what s aid h e ?
What s i gni fi e s it what a fo ol says ?
O h not a l l t h e zw or d s of a fo ol ar e folly or I sh oul d
, .
“
not listen to y ou .
Well then h e said S uch as b egin b y m aking free with

, , ,
the devil s n am e aye en d by do ing it with all th e nam es

’
,
in heaven Father said I

.
’
I a m a soldi er and this is ,
’
, ,
b ut my consi gne or watchword Oh t h e n i t is j u st .

’
, ,
'
a custom ? s aid h e I n ot divining th e ol d f ox and think

.
,
ing to clear myself said A y it was Then that is ten

, , .
’
tim es worse said h e Twill bring him ab out your ears

,
’
.
on e of t hes e d ays H e still com es where h e hears his name

.
often called Ob serve ! no g ratitu de for the tidings which

.
’
neither his missal s nor his b reviary had ever let him know
’
Then h e wa s s o go o d as to tell m e Soldiers d o commo nl y ,
the crime s for whi ch a l l oth er men are broke on the wheel ;
”
a savo ir murder rap e and p i llage , ,
.
’
And i s t not tru e ?
Tru e or not it wa s il l ma n ners replied D eny s
, ,
1 76 THE CLO ISTE R AND THE HEARTH
gu arde dly And s o says this courteou s ho st of mine
. ,
B eing the fo es of mankind why make enemies of go o d ,
S pirits into th e b argain by stil l shouting th e names of evil ,
ones ? and a lot more stu f f .
Well but D enys whether you hearken h i s rede or

, , , ,
slight i t wherefore blam e a man for raisin g h i s voice to

,
save your soul ?

H ow can hi s voice save my soul wh en a keep s turnin g ,
o f his P s into B s ? ’ ’ ’
Gerard was staggered : ere h e coul d recover at this

thun derb olt of Gallicism D enys went triumphant off at a ,
tangent and stigm atize d all mo nks a s hyp o crites

, Do .
but lo ok at them how they creep ab out and cannot eye ,

”
you like honest m en .
”
Nay sai d Gerard eagerly
, that m odest downcast ,
g a z e i s p art of th eir discipline tis cu sto dia ocu l or u m ’ ’

.
,
Cusse d to ads eating h oe hac horum ? N o such t hing ;

’
j ust s o lo ok s a cut purse Can t meet a tru e man s eye
-
.
’
.
D oh cowl monk ; and b ehol d a thief ; do n cowl thief an d

‘
, , ,
l o a mo nk
,
Tell m e not they will ever b e abl e to lo ok
.
’
Go d Almighty in the face when they can t even l o ok a tru e ,
man in th e face down here Ah here it i s black as ink ! .

, ,
into th e well we g o comrade Miséricord e there go es the

, .
,
’ ’
tin k l e al ready Tis th e b est of tinkl es though ; t i s for
.
dinner : stay listen ! I thou ght s o z the wolf i n my stomach

'
cried Amen ! This last statement h e c onfi r m ed wi th

two o ath s and mar ched l ik e a Victoriou s g a meco ck i nto th e
,
convent thinking by Ger a rd s s i lence h e had convi nced h i m

,
’
an d n ot d reaming how profoundly h e ha d dis gu sted h im .
C HAPTER XXX I I
I N the refectory allusion was m ade at th e tabl e where ,
G erard sat to th e sudden death of th e m onk who had

,
undertaken to write out fresh C opies oi the ch arter of th e

monastery an d the rul e etc , , .
Gerar d cau ght this and timidly ofi er ed his s ervice s , .
There was a hesitation which he misto ok Nay not fo r .

,
hire my lords but for love and as a t r i fl i n g return for

, , ,
m any a go o d night s lo dging th e brethren of your order

’
”
have b estowed on m e a p o or wayfarer .
A monk smil ed approvingly ; but hinted that th e l at e

b rother was an excell ent p enman and his work coul d not ,
b e continued b ut by a master Gerard on this d rew fr om .
his wall et with some trep id ation a vellum deed ; the b ack
of which he had cl eaned and written upon by way of sp eci
men The monk gave qu ite a start at sight of i t and very
.
,
Thank y ou ! tha n k you ! Go o d D enys .
”
I was a s curril ous va gab ond .
Nay nay s a y not s o neither

, , , .
But we soldiers a r e rude and hasty I give myself the .
’
lie and I o ffer tho se I mi sunderstoo d all my esteem
,
Tis .
unj ust that thou san ds sho uld b e defam ed for the hyp o crisy
of a few .
Now a r e y ou reasonab l e You hav e p ond ered wh at I .
said ?
Nay it is th ei r own doin g
,
.
Gerar d crowed a littl e we a ll lik e to b e proved in th e ,
right ; an d wa s a ll attentio n when D enys ofi er ed to rel ate

how h i s conversio n was eff ected .
Well then at d inn er t h e fi r s t d ay a yo un g mo nk

,
-
b eside m e d i d op e r his j aws an d l a u ghed right ou t mo st

m usic al ly 1
G o o d s ai d I at last I have f al len o n a m an
’
,
, ,
and not a shorn ap e S o t o sound h i m further I slapp ed

’
.
, ,
his broa d b ack and adm i nistered my c o nsi gn e Heaven .
forb id ! says h e I stared

. For the do g lo oked as s a d .
a s S olomon ; a b etter mim e s a w y ou n ever even at a

I s ee war is n o sh a r p ener of th e wits s ai d h e
,
’
Mystery . ,
.
W hat are th e cl ergy for b ut to fi gh t the fo ul fi end ? an d

k
what else are mon s for ? 1
Th e fi en d b e in g d ea d ,
”
Th e fri a r s a r e s p ed .
You may plough up the convents and we p o or monk s ,
sh a ll have nou ght to d o— b ut turn s ol di ers an d s o brin g

,
'
,
him to l ife a gain Then there was a great la ugh at my

.
’ '
’
exp ense . Well y ou are th e monk for m e s aid I
,
An d , .
y ou are the cro ssb owm an for m e

’ ’ ’
quo h e An d I ll b e , .
b ound y ou could tell u s tal es of the war should m ak e ou r

’
hair stand on end E x cu s ez l th e b arb er has p ut that
.
’
out of th e qu e stion qu oth I and th en I had th e l au gh
, , .
Wh at wr etch ed r i b a l d r y i ob served Gerard p ensively .
The candid D enys at once a dmitte d he had s een m erri er

j ests hatche d with l ess cackl e Tw as a great m atter to .
’
’
have got rid of hyp o crisy S o s ai d I I can give yo u .

, ,
th e ch aire de p oul e i i that m ay content y e , That we .

’
will s ee wa s th e cry and a si gn al went round

,
’
, .
D enys th en related burstin g with gl ee how at b edt i m e

, ,
he had b e en tak en to a cell instead of th e great dortour ,
and strictly forb idd en to sl eep ; and to aid his Vi gil a b o ok ,
had b een lent him of pictures representin g a hundred m er ry

‘
adventures of mo nks in pursuit of the femal e laity ; and

how in du e cours e h e had b een taken ou t b arefo oted and
down to the p a rlo ur where w a s a supp er fi t f or the duke
, ,
and at it twelve j oll y fria rs , t h e r oar i n ges t b oy s he had

THE C L O IS TER AND THE HEARTH 1 79
ever m et i n p eace or war How th e story the to ast the .

, ,
j est the wi n e cup ha d gone round and som e had played

,
-
,
c a rds wi th a gorgeou s p ack where S aint Th eres a and S aint , ,
C atherin e etc b ediz ened with gold sto o d for th e four

, .
, ,
qu eens ; and black white grey an d cr utched friars for the , , ,
four knave s ; and had stak ed their very ro saries swearin g ,
lik e tro op ers when th ey lo st And how ab out midnight .
a sly monk ha d stolen out but had by him an d others b een ,
a s cannily followed i nto th e g a rden a nd seen to th ru st h i s ,
hand into the ivy an d out with a rop e I a d d er With this -

.
h e had run up on th e wall which was ten feet bro ad yet , ,
n ot s o nimbly bu t what a r u sset kirtle had p opp ed up from

th e outer world a s quick a s h e ; and s o to b illin g and co oin g :
that thi s situ ation had struck h i m as rather felin e than
eccl esiastical an d drawn fro m him th e app rop riate com
,
m ent of a m ew ! The m o nk s had j oine d th e m ews i c al

cho ru s and the lay Visitor shrieked and b een sore d i s c om
,
forted ; b ut Ab el ard o nl y crie d What are y e there y e , , ,
j e al ou s miauling knaves ? y e sh all caterwaul to som e tun e

’
to m orrow night
-
I ll fi t eve r y man j ack of y e W ith a
.
-
f ar d i n gal e That this b rutal threat h ad reco nc il ed him

.
—
to stay anoth er day a t Gerard s requ est ’
.
Gerard gro an ed .
Meantim e unabl e to disconcert s o braz en a monk an d

, ,
th e d em oisell e b eginnin g to whimp er they ha d danced ,
caterwaulin g in a circl e then b estowed a sol emn b enediction ,
on the two w al l fl ow er s and off t o th e p arlour where they

-
, ,
fou nd a p a ir lying dea d dru nk an d other two a f fectionate ,
to tears That th ey ha d straightway carrie d off th e inani

.
mate and dragged off th e lo ving and l a ch r y m os e k i ck ed

, ,
°
them all m erril y each into h i s cell ,
And s o sh u t u i n m e l con t en t
”
p a s ur e es s .
Gerard was dis gusted : an d said s o .
D enys chu ckled and p ro ceeded to tell h im how the next

,
day h e an d th e youn g m onks had drawn th e fi s h p onds an d -
s ecrete d mu ch pike car p tench an d eel for their o wn u se :

, , ,
an d how in the dead of night h e had b een taken sho el ess

, ,
by cro oked ways into th e chap el a gho st lik e place b eing ,

-
,
d ark and then down som e step s into a cryp t b elow the
,
c hap el no or where su ddenl y p aradis e had burst on him

, .
”
Tis there the holy fath ers ret i re to pray
’
put in ,
Gerar d .
Not al ways sai d D enys ; wax candl es by th e do z en

,
w er e lighted and princely cheer ; fi f t een soup s m ai gre with

, ,
marvell ou s twangs of venison grou se and hare in them , , ,
and twenty di f ferent fi s h es ( b eing Friday ) co ok e d wi th ,
wo n drou s ar t and each b e b etween two b uxom la s s es and

, ,
1 80 THE CLO ISTER AND THE HEARTH
each lass b etween two l ads with a c ow] ; all b ut m e : and
to think I had to w oo by inte r preter I doubt the knave .
’
put in three words for himself and on e for m e ; if he didn t ,
hang him for a fo ol And som e of the we a k er vessel s were

.
novices and not wont to h ol d go o d wine ; had to b e co axed

,
ere th ey woul d put it to their white teeth ; m a is ell es s y ’
faisaient ; and the story and th e j est an d th e cup went , ,
round ( b y th e b y they had fl a g on s made to simul ate

- -
,
breviaries ) ; and a monk tou ched th e cittern an d s ang ,
ditties with a vo ice tunable as a l a rk in sprin g The p o sies .
did turn the faces of th e wom en folk b right re d at fi r s t

but ell es s y faisaient
’
Here Gerard explo d ed . .
Mis erable wretches ! Co rrupters of youth ! P erverters

of i n no cence ! but for yo ur b eing there D enys who have , ,
b een tau ght no b etter oh wo u l d Go d th e church had fallen , ,
on the whol e gang Imp iou s a b ominabl e hyp o crites !

.
,
”
Hyp o crites ? cried D enys with unfei gned surpris e , .
W h y that is what I cl ept them ere I knew them ; and you

,
withsto o d m e Nay th ey are sinners ; all go o d fel lows ar e

.
,
that ; b ut by S t D enys hi s helm eted skull no hyp o crites

, .
, ,
b ut right j olly ro aring blades .
D enys said Gerard sol emnly

, you littl e know the ,
p eril y ou ran that night That church you d efi l e d amongst .
you is haunted ; I had it from on e of th e elder mo n ks .
Th e dead wal k there their light feet have b e en heard to ,
p atter o er the ston es

’
.
Miséricord e ! whisp ered D enys .
A y more , said Gerard lowerin g his voice almo st to

, ,
a whisp er ; celestial soun ds have issued from th e purli eu s

of that very cryp t you turned into a tavern V oices of .
the dead h olding un earthly communio n have chill ed the

ear of midnight and at times D enys th e faithful in the i r
, , ,
nightly watches have even heard mu sic from d ead li p s ;

and c h ords mad e by no m ortal fi n ger swept by no mortal
, ,
hand have rung faintly l ike echo es d eep among th e dead

, , ,
in tho se sacred vaults .
D enys wore a lo ok of dismay Ugh ! if I had known .

,
mules and wain rop es had not hauled m e thither ; and s o

-
”
(with a sigh ) I had lo st a merry t i me .
Wh ether further discussion might have thr own a n y more

light up o n t he se gho stly sounds who can tell ? for u p cam e ,
“
a b earded brother from the monastery sp u rring his ,
mul e and waving a p iece of vellum in his hand

, It was .
the deed b etween Gh y s b r e ch t and Floris Brandt Gerard .
v al ued it deeply as a remembrance of home : he turned

p al e at fi r s t but t o thi nk h e had s o nearly lo st i t and to ,
’
D en y s s i n fi n i t e amusement not o n ly gave a pie ce of money
to the l a y brother b ut kissed the mule s no se ,
’
.
1 82 THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
The sal ic law seemed not to have p enetrated t o French
inns In this one at l east wimpl e and ki r t le reign e d suprem e ;
.
doublets and ho se were few in numb er an d feebl e i n act ,

.
Th e l andlord himself wandered obj ectl ess etern ally taking ,
off his cap to folk for w ant of thou ght ; and the women ,
as th ey p assed h i m in turn thru st him qu i et l y a s i d e without ,

v
lo oking at him a s we remove a live twi g in bustli ng throu gh

,
a woo d .
A mai d brought in supp er an d th e mistress followed ,
her empty handed

,
.
’
Fall to my ma sters said s h e cheerily ;
, y h a v e but ,
”
on e enemy here and he lies un der your knife ( 1 shrewdl y .
su sp ect this of formula ) .
They fell to Th e mistres s dr ew her chair a little towa rd

.
the tabl e ; and provi ded comp any as well as meat ; go ssip ed
genially with them l ik e ol d acqu aintan ces : but this form
go ne through the bu sy dam e was so o n off and sent in her
,
dau ghter a b eautiful young wom an of ab out twenty who

, ,
to ok th e vacant seat She was not quite s o b ro ad and genial

.
as the elder but gentl e and ch eerful and showe d a womanly

, ,
tenderness for Gerard o n l earning th e distance the p o or b oy

had come and had to go She stayed nearly hal f a n -h our
, .
-
,
and when s h e left th em Gerard said This an inn ? Why , ,
it is lik e home .
Qui fi t Fran cois i l fi t cour to is sai d D enys burstin g , ,
with gr a t ifi ed pride .
Courteou s ? nay Christian ; to wel com e u s l i ke hom e ,
guests and ol d friend s u s va grants h ere to day and gon e , ,

-
to morrow
-
But inde ed who b etter m erits pity and kin d
.
ness than th e worn traveller far from h i s folk ? Hola ! here s ’
”
another .
T h e n ew-comer was the chamb er m aid a woman o f -

,
a b out twenty fi ve
-
with a co cke d no se a l arge laugh ing
, ,
mouth and a S p arkl ing black eye and a b are arm very stout
, ,
b ut not very shap ely .
The moment s h e cam e i n one of th e travell ers p assed ,
a somewh at fre e j est o n her ; th e next th e wh ol e comp any

were ro aring at his exp ense s o swiftly ha d her practised ,
ton gu e done h i s busin ess Even as in a p assage of arms .

,
b etween a novice an d a master of fence fo il s clash— no vi ce ,
pinked On this another and then anoth er mu st bre ak

.
, ,
a lance wi th her ; but Mar ion stuck her gr eat arm s up o n

her haunch es and held th e whol e ro om in play
, Th is .
country girl p o ssessed in p erfection that rud e an d ready

humour which looks m ean and vul gar on p ap er but carrie s ,
all b efore it sp oken : not wit s rap ier ; i t s blud geon Nature ’
.
had done much for her in th i s wa y and d a ily practi ce in an ,

i nn t h e res t .
Yet sh al l s h e not b e photo graphed by m e b ut feebly ,
indicated : for it was j ust four hundred years ago th e ,
rail lery wa s co ars e s h e returned every stroke in kind , ,
and thou gh a V irtuou s woman s aid things without winking , ,
which no de cent man of ou r day would s a y even among m en .
Gerard s a t gap ing with a stonishment This wa s to him .
”
almo st a n ew variety of that interestin g sp ecies homo , .
H e whisp ere d D enys Now I s ee why you Frenchmen s a y ,
a wom an s tongue is h er sword

’
j u st then s h e l evel led
another assa i lant ; and th e chivalrou s D enys to console ,
”
and supp ort th e weaker vessel th e iro n k ettl e among ,
th e clay p ots a dministered h i s consigne

, Courage m a , ,
mie l e, etc .
Sh e turned on him directly How can h e b e dead .
a s long a s there is an archer l eft alive ? ( General lau ghter

’
at h er al ly s exp ense ) .
‘ ’
It is washing day my m asters said she with , , ,
su dden gravity .
Apres ? We travell ers cannot strip and g o b are whil e

”
y ou wash our clothes obj ected a p eevish ol d fellow by th e
,
fi r e s i d e who had kept mum chance during th e raill ery b ut

, ,
crep t ou t into th e sun shine of commonplaces .
”
I aimed not your way anci ent m an replie d Mario n , ,
sup erciliously But s i n ce y ou a s k m e (h ere s h e s canned

‘
him sl owly from h ead to fo ot ) I trow y ou might take a ,
turn in th e tub clothes and all and no harm don e (l au gh

,
-
,
ter ) . But what I sp oke for I thou ght— this young sire ,
- might lik e his b eard starch ed .
P o or Gerard s turn had com e ; his ch in cro p was thin

’
an d silky .
Th e l ou dest of all th e l au gh ers this tim e w a S t h e traitor '
D enys wh o se b eard was of a go o d l ength an d singularly

, ,
stiff an d b ristly ; s o that Shakesp eare thou gh h e never ,
s a w him hit him in the bull s eye

’
.
,
”—
F u ll of s t ra n g e oa t h s ,
and b ea r d ed li k e t h e pa r d . A3 You Li k e I t .
Gerard b ore th e Am azonian satire mighty cal mly He .
“
h ad littl e p ersonal vanity Nay sai d .
,
b e with a smil e
,
mine is a l l unworthy your p ains ; tak e
,
you this fair growth in hand ! and h e p ointed to D en y s s 1

’
vegetable .
Oh tim e for that when I starch the b esom s

,
.
Wh il st they were all sho uting o ver this p alp abl e hit th e ,
mistress returned and in no more tim e than it to ok h er to

,
cro ss th e threshol d did our Am azon turn to a s eeming ,
Madonna m eek and mil d .
Mistresse s are wo n derful subj ugators Their lik e I .
t h ink breathes not o n th e glob e Housemaids d ecide ! It .

,
1 84 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
wa s a waste histrionic ab ility thou gh ; for the lan d l ady
of
had heard and did n ot at heart disapprove th e p eal s of
, ,
lau ghter .
Ah Marion l ass said sh e goo d h u m ou r edl y

, ,
if you ,
-
,
’
laid m e an e gg every tim e you cackl e Les Tro is Poissons ,
”
woul d never l ack an omelet .
”
Now dame said Gerard ,
what is to p ay , ,
Wh at for ?
Our supp er .
Wh ere is th e hurry ? cannot you b e content to p ay

when you go? lo s e th e g uest fi n d th e money is th e rul e , ,
’
of Th e Three Fish .
B ut dam e outside The Thre e Fish it i s thu s

,
written Ici— oh n e lo ge
B ah ! L et that flea stick o n th e w a ll ! Lo ok hith er ,
and sh e p ointed to t h e sm oky ceiling which was covere d ,
with hiero glyphics These were accounts vul go scores ; .

,
intelligibl e to this dame and h er d aughter who wr ote them ,
at need by s i mply m ounting a low sto ol and scratching with ,
a knife s o as to show lines of ceilin g th rou gh the dep o sit

of smoke Th e dam e expl ained that th e wri t ing on th e wall
.
was put th ere to frighten m oneyless fo l k from the inn alto

gether or to b e acted on at od d time s when a non p aying
,
-
face sho u l d com e in and insist on b ein g served We .
”
can t refus e them plump you know
’
Th e l aw forb ids u s , . .
An d h ow know y ou mine is not such a face ?

Out fi e ! it is th e b est face that has entered The
,
”
Thre e Fish this autumn ’
.
And mine d ame ? said D enys ; do st see no knave r y

,
here ?
Sh e eye d him c al mly Not su ch a goo d one as t h e .
lad s ; n or ever will b e But it is th e face of a tru e man

’
. .
”
For al l that added she drily an I were ten years younger
, , ,
I d as l ieve not m eet that face 0 1 1 a d a rk night t oo far from

’
home .
Gerard stared D enys l aughed Why dame I would

. .
, ,
but s i p the nigh t d ew o ff th e fl ow er ; and you needn t ta k e ’
t en years off nor ten days to b e worth riskin g a scratched

, ,
face for .
There ou r mistress said Marion wh o h ad j u st com e

, , ,
in said I not t other day you coul d m ake a fo ol of them

’
st i ll an if y ou were prop erly minded ?

,
I dare s a y y e did ; it sounds like som e daft wench s ’
sp eech .
D ame said Gerard this is wonderful

, , .
W hat ? Oh ! no no that is no wonder at all Wh y , , .

”
,
I have b een h ere all my life ; and readin g face s is the fi rs t

"
thing a girl picks up in an i n n .
1 86 T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEART H
fo olish fo olish m an ! Now y ou still turned to th e sp eak er
, ,
”
her or him an d that is common s ense,
.
D enys b urst into a ho arse laugh You never were .
more out W h y thi s silky smo oth fa ced co mp anion is

.
, ,
-
a very Turk— al l but his b eard H e i s wh at d ye ca ll em .

’ ’
’
o ser than ere an archer in th e D uk e s b o dy guard H e is -
.
more wrapp ed up in one s i ngl e D utch lass c a ll ed M a rg a ret ,

”
than I a m in th e whol e b un dl e of y e b rown and fair , .
”
Man al ive that is j ust the contrar y sai d t h e ho stess
, , .
Yourn is the b ane an d hisn th e cure Clin g yo u still to , .
”
Margar et my dear I hop e s h e is an honest girl
, . .
D ame s h e is an an gel , .
’
A y a y th ey are all that till b etter acqu ainted
, , I d .
as lieve h ave her no more th an honest an d th en she will ,
serve to keep you ou t of wors e comp any A s for y ou .

,
soldier there is troubl e i n store for you

, Your eyes were .
”
never m ade for th e go o d of your soul .
“ ”
Nor of his p ou ch e i ther said Marion str i king i n , , ,
and his lip s they wil l sip th e dew as h e cal ls i t 0 11 m any

, , ,
”
a b ramble bu sh .
Overmu ch clack ! Mar ion ; overmuch cl ack .
’
O d s b o dikins mistress ; y e di dn t hire m e to b e one ,
’
0 your three fi sh es di d y e ? and M arion s ul k ed t h i r t y ,
'
seconds .
Is that th e way to sp e ak to ou r mi stress ? remon

s t r a t e d th e landlo rd who had s l ipp ed i h , .
”
Hol d your whi sht said his w i fe sharply ; it i s not ,
your business to check th e girl ; s h e is a go o d servant to

”
you .
What i s the co ck never to crow and t h e hens at it

'
, ,
”
a n day ?
Yo u can crow as l ou d as you like my man — out 0 ,
’
doors . But th e h en means to rul e t h e r oos t ‘
I know a byw ord to that tune sai d Gerard , .
D o y e now ? out wi t ,
’
F e m m e v eu t eu t ou t e s a i s on ,
E s t r e d a m e e n s a m a i s on ”
.
’
I n ever hear d it b efore ; but t i s as sooth a s go sp el .
A y they that s e t these b ywords a roll ing had eyes an d

, .
ton g u es and t on g ue s and eyes

, B efore al l the world give .
”
m e an ol d saw .
“
An d m e a young husb and sai d Marion N ow , .
there was a chance for you all and nob o dy spoke Oh ! , .
”
it is to o late now I ve changed my mind ,
’
.
All the b etter for some p o or fell ow suggested D enys , .
And now t h e arrival of th e young mistress or as s h e , ,
was c a ll ed the little mistress was the signal for them all
.
,
CL O ISTER AN D
'
TH E TH E HEARTH 1 87
to draw round the fi r e lik e o ne happ y family travellers , , ,
ho st ho stess and e ven s ervants in th e outer r i ng and tell

, , ,
stories till b edtime An d Gerard in his turn tol d a tre

.
m en d ou s on e ou t of h i s rep ertory a M S colle ction of a cts , .
”
of the saints and made th em all shu d der d el iciou sly ; b ut
,
so on after b egan to no d exhau sted by the e ff ort I should , ,
s ay Th e youn g mistress s a w an d gave Mario n a lo ok

.
, .
She instantly lighted a rush and laying h er hand on Gerard s ,

’
shoul der invited him to follow her

, Sh e showed him a ro om .
where were two ni ce white b eds an d b ade him cho o se , .
”
Either i s p aradise said h e I ll take this on e, Do .
’
.
y ou know I h ave not lain in a n a k ed b ed o nce since I left

,
my hom e in Holland .
Al ack ! p o or soul i said s h e ; well then th e so o ner , ,
my fl a x an d your down (h e ! h e ! ) come to gether th e b etter ; ,
so — allons ! and s h e hel d ou t her cheek a s b usiness lik e -
a s if it had b een her han d for a fee .
Al lons ? what do es that m ean ?

Ah em l What do n t th ey
’ ’
It m eans goo d night -
.
,
salute th e chamb ermaid in your p art ?

Not al l in a m oment .
’
Wh at do th ey m ake a b u sines s on t ?
,
Nay p erverter of words I m ean w e m ake n ot s o free

, ,
with strange wom en ’
w
.
Th ey must b e strange om en if they d o n ot think you

strange fo ols then H ere I S a coil, Why al l the ol d greasy
. .
,
g reyb eards that lie at o ur inn do kiss u s chamb ermaids ;

f a u gh l and what have we p o or wretch es to s et on t oth er
’
sid e the comp t b ut now and then a nice youn g A l a ck l

’
time nies chamb ermaids can t b e sp ared long in the nursery
, ,
s o how is t to b e ?
’
An t pl eas e you arran ge with my comrade for b oth

’
.
”
H e i s muliero se ; I a m not .
N ay tis th e curb he will want no t the S pur

,
’
Well ! , .
well ! you shall to b ed without p aying the u sual toll ; an d

’
oh ,
but tis sweet to fall in with a youn g man who can
withstand thes e a n c i en t i l l cu stoms and gainsay b razen ,
”
_
hu ssies Shalt have thy reward

. .
Thank you ! B ut what are you doing with my b ed ?

Me ? oh only taking off these sheets and going to
, ,
”
put on the p air th e drunken miller s lep t in last night .
Oh no ! n o t You cru el black h e a rted thing ! There !

, ,
-
th ere !
A la b onne h eu r e l Wh at will not p ers everance e f fect ?
But note now the frowardness of a m ad wench ! I cared not
for t a b utton
’
I a m dead sick of that sp ort this fi ve years
. .
But you denied m e ; s o then forthwith I b ehoved to have

i t ; b elike had gone throu gh fi r e and water for t Al as
’
.
,
1 88 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH ,
youn g sir we women ar e kittle cattl e ; p o or p erverse to ads

,
’
excuse u s : an d k eep u s in ou r place savoir a t arm s length , ,
and s o go o d n i gh t l -
A t th e do or sh e turned and said with a compl ete ch an ge ,
of tone and mann er : Th e V irgin gu ar d thy h ead and th e ,
holy Evangelists watch th e b e d where l ie s a p o or yo u n g

wand erer far from hom e ! Amen !
And th e n ext m oment h e h eard her run te arin g down t h e
stairs an d so on a p eal of l au ghter from the sal l e b etrayed
,
her whereab outs .
N ow that is a ch aracter said Gerard profoundl y and , ,
yawn ed over the discovery .
In a very few minutes h e wa s in a dry b ath of col d clean ,
linen inexpressibly refreshin g to him after so l on g disuse :

,
—
then came a deliciou s glow ; and then S evenb ergen .
In th e mornin g Gerard awok e i n fi n i t el y refresh ed and ,
was for rising but found himself a clo se prison er His linen
,
.
had vanished Now this was p aralysis ; for the night gown
.
-
i s a recent institution In Gerard s century an d indee d ’

.
,
long after m en did not play fast and l o o s e with clea n sheets
,
(when they coul d get th em ) but crep t into th em clothed

with— their inno cence l i k e Adam : ou t of b ed th ey seem
,
to have taken mo st after his el dest son .
Gerard b ewa i led his captivity to D enys b ut th at instant

th e door op ened and in sailed M a rio n with their linen newly
, ,
washed and ironed on her two arms and set it down o n th e , ,
t a ble .
Oh you go o d g i rl cried Gerard , .
"
Al ack have yo u foun d m e out at last
,
Yes indeed Is this another c u s tom ?

, .
Nay n ot to tak e them unb idden : but at ni ght we ay e

,
qu estion travell ers ar e they fo r linen washed S o I came

, .
into you but y ou were b oth sound

, Then said I to the .
little mistre ss L a l where is th e sens e of waking wearie d

,
’
m en t ask them i s Ch arl es th e Great dead and woul d they
, ,
liever carry fo u l linen or cl ean esp ecially this one with a ,
skin like cream ? And so he h a s I declare s ai d the young , ,

’
”
mistress .
That was m e remarked D enys with th e air of a , ,
commentator .
Guess once more and you ll hit th e mark ,

’
.
Notice him not Marion h e i s an impudent fel l ow ; , ,
and I a m sure we canno t b e gr ateful enough for your go o d

ness and I a m sorry I ever refused y ou — anything you
,
fancied you shoul d l i ke .
Oh are y e there
, said l e s p i e gl e I tak e that to ,
’
.
mean you would fain b ru sh th e morning dew off a s your ,

Th e friends a greed it wa s Elysium to de al with such a
sho em aker a s this N ot but what my Germ an sho es
.
”
have lasted well enou gh sai d Gerard the j ust ,
.
Outsid e the town was a p ebbled walk .
’
This is to keep the burghers feet d r y a walk ing o ’
,
-
S undays with their wives an d dau ghters s aid D enys ,

.
Thos e simple words of D enys on e strok e of a car eless ,

“ ” ’
ton g u e p a i nted
,
hom e in Gerard s heart Oh how .
,
sweet ! said h e M ercy ! wh at is this ? A gib b et l and

.
u gh two skeletons thereo n ! O h D enys what a sorry sight

, , ,
to wo o by l
Nay s a i d D enys ,
a comfortabl e sight ; for every ,
ro gu e i th e a i r there is one th e less a foot

’
— ”
.
A littl e f ar ther on th ey cam e to two p i ll ar s and b etween ,
these was a hu ge wheel clo sely stu dde d with iron prongs ;
and entangled in thes e were b on es and fra gm ents of cloth
mis erably disp erse d over th e wh e el .
Gerard hi d h i s face in his hands Oh to think thos e .

,
p atch es and b ones a r e all that i s left of a man ! of one who

”
was what we are now .
"
Excusez ! a thing that went on two l eg s a n d stole ;
are we no more than that ?
How know y e h e stole ? Have tru e men never s u fi er e d
d eath and torture to o ? ‘
No ne of my kith ever found their way to th e gi bb et ,

”
I know .
The b etter their luck Prith ee h ow di e d the saints ? .

,
”
Har d But not in Burgundy
. .
Ye massacred them wh olesal e at Lyo ns and that is ,

’
on Bur g u ndy s threshold T o y ou the g ib b et proves the .
crime b ecau se you read not story

, Al as ! had y ou sto o d .
on Calvary that bloo dy day we sigh f or to this hour I tremble ,
to think you had p erhap s shoute d for j oy at th e gi bb et

b uil ded there ; for the cro s s w a s but the Roman gall ows ,
Father Martin says .
Th e blaspheming ol d hound !
Oh fi e ! fi e ! a holy and a b o ok le arned man Ay
’
-
, .
,
’
D enys y h a d read them that suffered there by the b are
, , ,
light of the g i b b et D rive in the mails i y h a d cried :

.
‘ '
’ ’
drive i n th e sp ear ! Here b e thre e mal efacto r s Three .
’
roués Yet of tho se little three one w a s the fi r s t Christian
.
saint and another was the S avi our of the world which
,
”
gib b eted h i m .
D enys assured him on his honour they managed things

b etter in Burgundy H e added to o after profound r e
.
, ,
fl e c t i on that th e h orro rs Gerard had allu ded to had m ore

,
than once m ade h i m curs e and swear with rage when tol d
by t h e go od curé in h i s native vi llage at Easterti de : but
THE CL O ISTER AND THE HE AR TH 1 91
th ey chanced in an o utlan dish nation and near a thous and ,
years ago ne Mort d e m a Vie l et u s hop e it is not tru e ;

.
,
or at least sore exaggerated D o but s ee how all tal es .
gather as they roll !

Then h e r efl ect ed again and al l in a mo m ent turned ,
red wi th ire D o y e not blush to play with your b o ok

.
craft on your u nl ettered friend and throw dust in his eyes , ,
evening th e saints with th ese rept i l es ?

Then su ddenly h e recovered h is go o d humour S ince .
your h eart b eats for vermin feel f or the carrio n crows ! ,
they b e a s go o d vermin as th es e ; woul d y e s en d them to

b ed supp erless p o or p retty p opp ets ? Why these b e their
, ,
larder ; the p angs of hunger woul d gnaw them d ead b ut ,
for cold cut p urs e hung up h ere an d there

-
.
Gerard who had for som e tim e maintaine d a dea d sil en ce

, ,
informed him th e sub j ect was clo se d b etween th em and f or ,

“
ever . There are thin gs said h e in which ou r hearts
, ,
se em wide a s the p oles asunder and ek e ou r h eads B ut I , .
”
l ove thee dearly all th e sam e h e a dded with i n fi n i t e gra ce
, ,
and tend erness .
Towards afterno o n they h eard a faint wailing noise on

ahead ; it grew distincter as th ey p ro ceeded B ein g fast .
walkers they so o n cam e up with its cau se : a s core of p i ke

m en accomp anied by s ever al co nstables were m a rching
, ,
alon g and i n advance of them was a herd of anim al s th ey

,
were driving These creatures in numb er rather m ore th an

.
,
a hundred were of variou s a ge s on l y very few were down

, , ,
right old : th e m al es were downc as t an d silent It wa S t h e .

'
femal es from whom all the outcry came In other word s .

,
th e anim al s thu s driven al on g at the l a w s p oi n t were m en ’
and wom en .
Go o d He aven ! crie d Gerard wh at a b an d of them ! ,
But stay surely al l tho s e chil dren cannot b e thieve s ; why

,
t here are som e in arm s What on earth is this D enys ?

.
,
D enys advised him to ask that b ourgeo is with the

b ad ge .This is Bur g undy : here a civil ques t io n ever
”
dr aws a civil reply .
Gerard went up to th e offi c er and removing his cap a , ,
civi lity which was imme diately returned said For our , ,
Lady s sak e s i r what do y e with these p o or folk ?

’
, ,
Nay what is that to you m y lad ?

, replied th e ,
functionary su sp iciou sly .
Master I m a stranger an d athirst for knowledge

,
’
, .
That is another m atter Wh at are w e do ing ? ahem

Why w e— D o st h ear J acques ? H ere is a stranger seeks
. .
,
”
to know what we are doing an d the two machines were ,
tickl ed that there shoul d b e a man who did not know some
thing they happ ene d to know I n al l ages thi s has tickl ed . .
1 92 THE C L O ISTER A ND THE HEARTH
However the chu ckl e was brief and mod erate d by their
,
native courtesy an d the offi ci al turned to Gerard a gain

,
.
Wh at we are doing ? hum ! and n ow h e hesitated not ,
from any doub t as to what he was do ing but b ecause h e ,
wa s hunting for a singl e word that should convey th e matter .
C e qu e nous i a s o
i n s m on gars ? — Mais dam N O US
— — ,
TRAN S V AS ONS .
You decant ? that shoul d m ean y ou p our from on e

vessel to another .
Precisely H e explained that l ast year th e town of

.
Ch armes had b een sore thinned b y a p est i l ence whol e ,
houses emptied and trades short o f hand s Much ado to .
get in th e rye an d th e fl a x half sp o il ed

, S o th e b ail i ff an d .
’
al dermen had written to th e duke s s ecretary ; and th e
duk e h e sent f ar and wide to know what town wa s to o full .
That are w e had the b aillie of Toul w rit b ack

, Then .
”
s end four or fi ve score of your to wnsfolk was the order , .
Was not this t o decant th e full town into the empty and ,
is n ot the go o d duke th e fath er of h is p eopl e and will not ,
let the duchy b e weakened n or its fa i r towns laid waste ,
by sword nor p e stilence ; b ut meets th e on e with p ik e and ,
arb al est ( touchin g his cap to th e sergeant and D enys alter

mately ) and t other with p olicy ? L ON G L IV E THE
,
’
D UKE!
The p i k em en of course were not to b e outdone in loyalty
s o th ey shouted with stentorian lungs L ON G L IV E THE
D UK E! Then the decanted on es p artly b ecause loy al ty ,
—
was a non reasoning sentiment in tho s e days p artly p erhap s ,
b ecause they feare d som e further ill consequence should

th ey al one b e mute raised a feeble tremulou s shout ,
“
L on g , ,
l i ve t h e D u k e
But at this insulte d nature reb elle d P erhap s indeed

, , .
the sham sentiment drew ou t the real for on the ve r y heels , ,
of th at royal noise a lou d and piercing wail burst fr om every

,
woman s b o som and a deep deep groan from every man s ;

’
, ,
’
oh ! th e air fi l l ed in a moment with woma n ly and manly

anguish Judge what it mu st have b een when the ru de
.
p i kemen hal ted unb idden al l confused ; as if a wal l of ,
sorrow h ad started up b efore them .
”
E m avant roared th e sergeant and they m arched
, ,
again b ut muttering an d cursing

, .
Ah the u gly sound said the civilian wincing , L es , .
malheureux ! cried h e ruefully : for where is the singl e

man can hear the su dden agony of a multitude and not b e
moved ? Le s i n gr a t s l They are going whence they were d e
trop to where they will b e welcome : from starvation to plenty
-
and th ey obj ect They even mak e dismal n oises . One .
”
would thi nk we were thru stin g th em forth from Bur g und y .
THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
Hé
bel gars ; as you
l as l and th e hands
came down from the s k y and 1 1 9 t h p o inted at the fra gm ents .
A statu ette of adversity .
And you weep s o for that ?

Needs I must b el gars My m ammy will massacre , .
-
”
me D o they not al r eady ( with a fresh burst of wo e )
'
c c cal l me J J Jean net

- -
ou C —
c —casse tout ? It wanted
- - - -
'
but this ; that I should b reak my p o o r pot H é l a s i fall ai t .
‘
i l donc m ere d e D i eu ? ,
7
Coura ge littl e love sai d Gerard ; f t i s not thy h eart

, ,
‘ ’
lies broken ; m oney will so on m end p ots S ee now here .

‘
is a piece of sil ver and there scarce a stone s throw off i s , ,

‘ ’
a p otter ; take the b it of silver to h im a n d z b u y another ,
p ot and th e C opp er the p otter will g ive t h ee k eep that to

,
r
play with thy

Th e l ittl e min d to ok i n al l t h is a n d s m i l es b egan t o
‘
'
stru ggl e with th e tears : but sp asm s are l i ke waves they ,
cannot g o down the very m oment th e wind of st r oub l e is .
lull ed S o D enys thou ght w el l t o b rin g up hi s res erve of

.
consol ation Cou ra ge m a mie ; l e di a b l e est mort i

.
,
c
'
'
cried that inventive warrior gaily

‘
Gerard shru gged h i s .
sho ul ders at su ch a way of ch eerin g a littl e g i rl .
W h a t a fi n e t h i ng
I s a l u t e w i t h on e s t rin g ”
,
said h e .
i
" '
’
Th e littl e girl s face br ok e into warm suns h ine .
1
Oh the go o d news ! oh the go o d news ! { s h e s a n g

, , ,
'
ou t with such hear tfelt j oy it went off into a j h on ey e d ,
whine ; even as ou r : g a y ol d tune s have a p atho s under .
”
neath S o then. said s h e they will no l onger b e abl e,
-
, ,
to threaten u s littl e ; girl s with him ; makin g our l ives a

”
b urden ! An d s h e b ounded off to tell Nanette sh e .
sai d .
There is a theo r y that everyth in g h a s i t s c ounterp ar t '
li t
t t rt l e D enys it would seem had found th e min d h i s consign e
,
t e ci
Wh i le h e was ro aring with lau ghter a t i t s unexp ected ‘
success and Gerard s amazem ent a little han d p ull ed h i s

’
j erkin and a litt l e face p eeped round his wai st ; Curio sity
w a s n ow the dominant p assio n in t hat sm all but vivid .
countenan c e .
E st c e t oi qui l a tué b eau sol dat ?

-
’
,
”
Oui ma mie sai d D enys a s gr u fll y a s ever he could,
’
, , ,
rightly deeming this woul d smack of sup ernatural puissance

to o wners of b ell lik e trebles C es t mo i c a vaut une
-
’
p etite emb rassade— p a s ?

. .
,
J e croi s b en A ie l aie l .
CLO ISTER EA ND T H E ~HE ARTH
'
TH E 1
1 95
'
Qu
’
n
u
tu 2 as -
‘
é z
‘
g a p i qu e !
y piqu e ! '
1
-
Quel d om ma g e l j e vais la coup er ” 1

' '
’
Nein c e 1 1 es t rien ; et p isque t a s tu é c c m échant
,
’
T es fi er emen t b eau tout d m eme toi

.
”
’
t es b en m i ex qu e ,
’
,
”
m a grande s oeur .
Will you not kiss m e t oo m a mi e ? said G erard , , .
J e n e demande p a r m i ex Tiens tiens t i en s l c est ’

. « '
.
, ,
doulce celle ci Ah ! qu e j a i m on s l es h om m e s l D e s
-
.
’
fam es ca n e m a u r a i t j amais donné l arj a m blanc p l u t ot ’ ’ ’
ca m a u r a i t ri a u n ez
, ,
' ‘
’
C est s i p eu d e ch os e l es fam es ’
‘
~
»
.
, .
S erviteur b ea u l x s i r e s l
’
, Bon voi a ge ; et n ou b l i ez p oint ~
la J ea n n et on l
Adieu p etit c oeur said Gerard and on they m ar ched ;
, , ,
b ut presently lo okin g b ack th ey s a w the contemner of

women in th e mid dl e of the ro ad m akin g them a reverence , ,
and blowin g t h em k i s s es with little May m ornin g face

'
.
Com e on crie d Gerard lustily I shall w i n to Rom e

,
’’
.
yet Holy St B avon what a sunb eam of inn ocence hath .

,
shot acro ss our blo o dthi r s ty ro ad ! Forget thee little ,
J ea n n et on ? not likely amidst al l this slobb ering an d gibb et

‘
, ,
i n g a n d decanting
, Come on thou l a g ga r d l forward ! .
,
D o st call this m arching ? r emonstrate d D e nys ;

wh y we sh a ll w al k 0 er Christmas D a y and n ever s ee 1i t
’ ‘
, .
A t the next t oWn they cam e to su ddenly an arb al e strier ,
ran ou t o f a tav ern after th em and in a moment his b ea rd ,

’
and D enys s were lik e two brus h es s t u ck to gether It was .
a comrade H e insisted on their comin g into th e tavern

.
with him an d br eakin g a b ottl e of w i ne

, In course of .
conversation h e tol d D enys there w a s an insur r ecti o n in

,
the D uk e 5 Fl emish p rovi nces and sol diers were ord ere d
’
thith er fr om all p arts of Bur g u ndy Indeed I marvell ed .

,
to s ee thy face turned this way .

’
I go to embrace my folk th at I have n ot seen thes e

z
three years Ye ca n quell a b it of a risin g without m e I

.
trow .
Su ddenly D enys gave a start D o st hear Gerard ? .

~
,
this comrade i s b ou nd fo r Hollan d .
What th en ? ah a l etter ! a letter to Margaret ! b ut ,
will h e b e s o go o d s o kind ? ,
Th e soldier with a torrent of blasphemy inf orm ed him

h e woul d not o nly tak e i t but go a leagu e or two out of ,
his way to do i t .
In an in stant ou t c ame m k h or n and p ap er fro m Gerard s ’
wall et ; and he wrote a lo ng letter to Margaret and tol d ,
her b r i efl y what I fear I have spun t oo tediously ; dwelt

mo st on th e b ear and t h e plun ge in the Rhine an d th e
character of D enys who m he p ainte d to the life
, ,
And ,
.
1 96 THE CL O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH
with m any endearing expressions b ade her b e of go o d
cheer ; som e trouble and p eril there had b een but all th a t ,
was over now a n d h i s on l y grief le ft was that h e coul d not

, , , ,
h op e to h ave a word from her hand t i l l h e should reach

Rom e H e ended with comforting her again as hard as h e
.
'
could And s o ab sorb e d was h e in hi s love and his wo rk

.
that he did not s ee a l l th e p eopl e in the ro om were standing

, _
p eep ing to watch the nimble an d tru e fi n ger execute such

,
rare p enmanship
D enys proud of hi s friend s sk ill let him alo ne till
.
, , ,
presently th e writer 3 face worked and so on th e s c al ding ’
tears b egan to run down his youn g cheek s on e after another , ,
on th e p ap er wh ere h e was then writing comfort comfo rt , .
Then D enys ru dely r ep u l s ed t h e c u r i ou s and asked h i s

‘
comrade with a f a ltering voice wh eth er h e had the heart

to let s o sweet a love l etter miscarry ? Th e other swore -
by th e face of S t Luk e h e wo uld lo se th e f or efi n g er of his

.
right hand so oner .
S eein g him s o ready Gerard charged h i m al s owith a ,
sh ort col d l etter to his p arents ; and in it he drew hastily

,
with his p en two hands graspin g ea ch ot h er to si gnify f

‘
farewell B y the b y on e d r op of b itterness found its way

.
- -
,
into his l etter to Margaret But of that anon . .
Gerard now ofi er ed money to th e sol dier H e h esitated, .
but declined i t No ! n o t art comrade of my comrad e ;

.
”
and may ( etc ) but thy l ove for th e wench tou che s
.
me I l l b reak anoth er b ottl e at my charge a n thou w i lt

’
.
,
”
and s o cry quits .
Well said comrade cried D enys

, Hadst taken , .
money I had invited thee to walk in th e courtyard and

,
”
cro ss swords with m e .
“
Wh ereup on I h a d cu t thy comb for the e retorted .
,
th e other .
Hadst done thy endeavour drol e I doubt not , , .
They drank the new b ottle sho ok hands adhered to , ,
cu stom and p arted on opp o site routes

, .
This delay however som ewhat put ou t D en y s s c a l cu l a

, ,
’ '
tions and evening su r prised t h em ere they reached a little

,
town h e was making for where wa s a fam ou s hotel How , .
ever they fell i n with a ro adside aub erge and D enys seein g
, , ,
a b uxom girl at the do o r said This seems a decent inn , , ,
and led th e way into th e kitch en They ordere d supp er .

,
to which no obj ection was raised only the landlo rd r e ,
qu ested them to p ay for it b eforehand It was not an .
un common prop o sal in any p art of the world Stil l it was .
not universal and D enys was nettled and dashed hi s hand

, ,
som ewhat o stentatiously into h i s purse and pulle d ou t a

”
gold angel Count m e th e chan ge and sp eedily
. sa id , ,
1 98 T HE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ART H
'
Come come said D enys

,
sh alt have money to buy
, ,
masses for thy dead lad ; I swear i t Meantim e tell m e .
why y ou weep .
For you .
F or m e ? Art mad ?
No ; I a m not mad Tis you that were mad to op en .
’
”
your purse b efore him .
The mystery seem ed to thicken and D enys we aried , ,
of stirring up the mu d by qu estions held his p eace t o see ,
if it woul d not cl ear of itself Th en the gi rl fi n d i n g h erself .

,
n o longer qu estioned seem ed to go through som e internal,
comb at A t last s h e sai d do ggedl y and al ou d

. I wi ll , , .
Th e V irgi n give m e courage ? What matters it if they

'
”
k il l m e since h e is dead ? S ol dier the lan dl o rd i s ou t
, ,
-i
.
Oh i s h e ?
,
W hat do landlords leave their taverns at thi s tim e

,
o f night ? also s ee wh a t a temp est ! We are sheltere d here

'
but t other side it blows a hurricane

’
.
D enys said nothi ng .
H e is gone to fetch th e b and .
Th e b and ! what b an d ?
Tho se who wi l l cut your thro at and tak e your gold ,
Wretched man ; to g o and shak e gold in an in n k eep er s ’
”
face l
The blow cam e s o unexp ecte dl y it staggered even D enys ,
accu stomed as h e was to su dden p e rils H e muttered a

’
singl e word b ut in it a volume

, .
Gerard !
Gerard ! Wh at is that ? Oh ti s thy comrad e s na m e ,
’ ’
,
"
p o or lad Get him ou t quick ere they c om e ; a n d fl y to
.
the n ext town .
And thou ?
They w i ll kill m e .
That shall they not Fly wi th u s . .
’
Twill avail m e n ou gh t z on e of the b a nd W ill b e sent
‘
”
t o k i ll m e Th ey are sworn t o slay all who b etray them
'
. .
’
I ll tak e thee to my native place full th ir ty lea g u e s
from hence and put thee under my own mother s win g
,
’
ere they sh all hurt a h air 0 thy head But fi r s t Gerard ’

. .
Stay thou here whil st I fetch him !

As he was darting off the gi rl seized him co nvu lsively , ,
and with all th e iron stren gth excitem ent lends t o women .
”
Stay me not ! for p ity s sake h e cried ; tis l ife or ’
,
’
”
d eath .
“ —
Sh l s h l wh i sp ered th e gi rl shuttin g h i s m outh ,
hard with her hand and putting her p ale lip s clo se to him
,
’
an d her eye s that seem ed to turn b ackwards strai ning

, ,
towar ds som e indistinct sound .

THE C L O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH 1 99
He listened .
He heard fo otstep s many fo otstep s and no vo ices Sh e , , .
“
whisp ered in his ear T h e y a r e c om e , .
And trembled like a leaf .
D enys felt it was s o Travellers in that numb er would .
n ever have come in dea d sil ence .
The fee t were now at the very do or .
How many ? said h e in a hollow whisp er , .
Hu sh ! and sh e put her mouth to his very ear .
An d who that had s een this man and wom an in that

,
attitu de woul d have gu essed what freez ing h earts we r e

,
theirs and what t err i b l e wh i s p er s p ass ed b etween them ?

,
‘
S even .
How arm ed ?
Sword and dagger : an d the gl a n t with h i s axe They .
”
call him the Abb o t .
And my comrad e ?
Nothing can save him B etter lo se one l i fe than .
two . Fly !
’
D en y s s blo o d fro z e at this cynic al advi ce .
’
creature you know not a sol dier s heart
, .
H e put his head in h i s hands a mom ent and a hundred ,
thoughts of danger b a tfl ed whirle d thr ou gh his b rain .
Listen girl ! There i s o ne chance for ou r lives if

, ,
thou w i lt but b e tru e to u s Run to the town ; to th e .
n earest tavern and tell the fi r s t soldier th ere that a soldier

, ,
here is sore b eset but armed and hi s life to b e saved if

, ,
they w i ll b ut run Then to the b ail i f f . But fi r s t to th e .
soldiers . Nay not a word but b us s m e go o d l ass and

, , , ,
’ ”
fl y ! m en s lives hang on thy h eels .
She kil ted up her gown to run H e cam e round to th e .
ro ad with her saw h er cro ss the ro ad cringing with fear

, ,
then glid e away th en turn into an erect shadow th en m elt

, ,
away in th e storm .
And now h e must get to Gerard But how ? H e had .
to run th e gauntl et of the whole hand H e asked himself .

,
what was th e worst thin g th ey coul d do ? for h e had le a rned

in war that an enemy do es not what you h 0 p e h e will do , ,
b ut what you hop e he will not do Attack m e a s I enter .
”
the kitchen ! Then I mu st not give them tim e .
Just a s h e drew n ear to th e latch a terribl e thou ght ,
cro ssed him Supp o se they had al ready de al t with Gerard

. .
”
Why then thou ght h e ,
nou ght is l eft b ut to k i ll and b e
, ,
kil led ; and he strung h i s b ow and walked rap idly into ,
the kitchen There were seven hideou s faces s eated roun d

.
th e fi r e and th e landlord p ouring th em ou t n eat brandy

, ,
’
blo o d s forerunner in every age . 1
Wh a t l c omp any ! cried D eny s gaily ;

‘
; one m i nute’f
.
,
my lads and I ll b e with you ; a n d h e snatch ed U p a
’
lighted candl e off the tab l e O p ened th e do or that l ed to ,
th e staircas e and went up it h allo o i ng

,
Wh at Gerard ! .
,
whither hast th ou skul ked to ? Th ere w a s no answer H e .
h all o o ed louder Gerard wh ere art thou ?

, ,
After a moment in which D enys l ived an hour of agony , ,
a p eevi sh hal f inar t ic ul ate noise issue d from the ro om at

,
-
th e hea d of the littl e stairs D enys burst i n and th ere .

,
wa s Gerard asl eep .
Thank Go d ! h e sai d in a choking voice th en b egan

“
, ,
to sing loud untuneful di tties ? Gerard p ut his fi n g er s into

,
his ears ; b ut presently h e s a w i n D en y s s face a horro r ’
that contrasted strangely with this su dd en m erriment .
Wh at ail s thee ? said b e sitting up and staring , .
Hush ! s aid D enys an d h i s hand sp ok e even m ore ,

”
plainly than h i s lip s Listen to me . .
D enys then p ointing s i gn i fi c a n t l y to th e do or to show ,
Gerard sh arp ears were listenin g hard b y continu ed hi s ,
song al oud b ut under cover of it threw i n short muttere d

,
syll ables .
( Our lives are in p eril ) .
( Thieve s )
( Thy doublet ) .
( Thy sword ) .
Aid .
Corning .
Put off time Th en aloud .
Well now wilt have t oth er b ottl e ? —S a y n a y

, ,
’
.
”
No not I, .
But I tell th ee there are hal f a dozen j olly fell ows ,

- -
.
Ti r ed
Ay , b ut I am to o wearied ,
said Gerard .
Nay nay ! Th en he went to the do o r and called

,
ou t cheerfully Landlord the young milk sop will n ot rise

, , .
’
Give tho s e honest fell ows t oth er b ottl e I will p ay for t .
’
”
in th e morning .
H e heard a brut al and fi er c e chu ckl e .
Havi ng thu s by ob servation made sur e th e kitchen do o r

was shut and the miscreants were not actu all y listening
, ,
he exam ined th e ch amb er do or closely : th en quietly shut

i t but did not b olt i t ;
, and went and in sp ected the
window .
It was to o small to get ou t oi and yet a thick b ar of ,
iron h a d b een l et in th e stone to make it smal ler ; and j ust

a s h e made this chill i ng di scovery the outer do o r of the ,
house was b olted with a lou d clang .
D enys gr o an ed Th e b e a sts are i n the s h a mbl es

. .
202 THE CL O ISTER AND T HE HEARTH '
’
And now they grasp ed hands and lo oked i n one another 5 ’
’
eyes ; oh such a lo ok ! D enys 5 h and was cold and Gerar d s
, ,
warm .
They to ok their p o sts .
D enys bl ew out th e can dl e .
We must keep sil ence n ow .
But in th e terr i ble tension of their nerves and very soul s

they found th ey co ul d hear a whisp er fainter than any m an
co ul d catch at a ll outside that do o r Th ey co ul d hear each .
other 5 hearts thump at times

’
.
“ ”
G ood n e ws 1 breathed D enys lis t ening at th e do or ,
.
T h ey a r e ca s ti n g l ot s .
Pr a y t h a t i t m a y b e t h e A b ot b .
”
Ye s . Why 1
I f he com es a l on e I ca n ma k e s u re of him .
D en y s
3,
Ay
“ I f ea r I s h a l l o m ad i f t h e d o n ot com e s oon
g , y .
g
S h a l l I f e i n s l e ep ? S h al l I s n or e 1
W i ll t h a t
”
Pe r h a ps .
D o t h en , a n d G od h a ve m er c y on us
D enys snored at interval s

There was a s cu fi l i n g of feet he a r d in the kitchen and
.
then all was still .
D enys snore d a gai n Then to ok up his p o sition b ehind . .
the door
But h e or they wh oh ad dr awn the l ot s eemed deter
.
, , ,
mine d to ru n no fo olish risks Nothing w a s attemp ted in a .
hur ry .
When they were al mo st starv ed with col d an d waiting ,
f or th e atta ck th e do or on th e stairs O p ened softly and

,
clo sed ag ai n Nothing more

'
. .
There was another harr owin g sil ence

Then a single light fo otstep o n the sta i r ; and no thing
more .
Then a l ight crep t under th e do or ; and nothing more .

.
Presently there was a gentl e scratching not h al f s o loud , .
’
as a mouse s an d the f al se d oo r p ost op ened by de g ree s
,
-
,
and left a p er p en d i cu l a r s p a ce throu gh which the light

’
streamed i h The do or had it b een b olted would now

.
, ,
have hung by the b a r e t i p of th e b olt whi ch went into the .

,
real do or p o st but as it was it swu ng gently op en oi itself

-
, , . .
It O p ene d inwar ds s o D enys did not rais e h i s c ro ssb ow ,
from th e ground but merely gr asp ed his dagger , .
The candle wa s h el d u p a n d shaded from b eh i nd by a .
man s hand
’
.
THE C L O ISTER '
AND T H E HEARTH 2 03
H e wa s . i n sp ect i n g t h
~
b eds from th e threshol d s a t i sfi ede ,
that h i s victim s Were b o th in b ed .

.
The man glided into th e ap artment .

But at t h e fi r s t .
'
step som ethin g in th e p o sition of th e cupb o ard a n d chair ,
mad e him uneasy H e ventured no further b u t p u t th e

.
, .
candl e on th e fl oor and sto op e d to p eer under th e ch ai r ;

but a s h e sto op ed an iro n h and grasp ed his shoul der and
, ,
a da gger wa s driven s o fi er cel y throu gh his n eck that the

p o int cam e ou t at h i s gull et Th ere wa s a terri b l e hicc ou gh .
,
but no cry ; an d h al f a doz en sil ent strok es foll ow ed in swift

su ccession each a death blow and the assassin w a s l aid
, ,
noiselessly on the fl oor .
D enys clo sed th e do or b olted it gently drew th e p o s t , ,
to and even whil e he was do ing it whisp ered Gerard to brin g

,
a cha i r It wa s done
. .
“ H el
pm” e s et h im up .
”
D ea d ?
Pa r b l eu .
Wh a t f or l ‘
.
g
F r i h t en t h em Ga i n t i m e .
Even wh il e saying th is D enys had whipp e d a piece ,
of string r o un d th e dead man s neck and tied him to ’
th e ch a ir and there th e ghastly fi g ur e s a t fronting the

,
do or .
D en y s , I ca n d o b e t t er S a i n t s f or i ve m e
. g
‘
k
W h a t 1 Be qu i c t h en , w e h a ve n ot m a n y m om en t s .
An d D enys g ot his cro ssb ow rea dy and tearin g off h i s ,
straw mattress reare d it b efore him and prep a red to sho o t

,
the moment th e do or shoul d op en for he had no hop e any ,
more woul d come singly wh en th ey foun d t h e fi r s t did ,
not return .
Whil e thu s employed Gerard was b usy ab out th e seated ,
corp s e an d to h i s am az em ent D enys s a w a luminou s glow

,
spreadin g rap i dl y over the white face .
Gerard bl ew out th e can d l e ; and on this th e corp se 3 ’
fac e shone st ill more lik e a gl owworm 5 h ead ’

.
D eny s sho ok in his sh oes and his teeth chattered ,

.
Wh at ’
i n H e a ve n 3 n a m e , i s t h i s h e w h i s pe r e d
u
,
B u sh 1 t i s b u t p h os ph or s , b u t t w 1 l l s e r ve
’
.
A w a y 1 t h ey w i l l s u r pr i s e t h ee .
In fa ct uneasy mutteri ngs w ere heard b elow a nd at ,
last a deep voice said Wh at m akes h i m s o long ? is th e

,
drol e r i fl i n g them ?
It wa s th eir comrad e th ey susp ecte d then not th e ,
enemy S o on a step cam e softly b ut rap idly up th e sta i rs :

.
the do or was gently tried .
Wh en this resi sted which was cl early not exp ecte d , ,
th e sham p o st was very cautio u sly moved and an eye no ,

2 04 THE CL O ISTER AND T HE HEARTH
doubt p eep ed through the ap erture : for there was a howl
of dismay and the m an was h eard to stumbl e b ack an d
,
burst into th e kitch en wh ere a b ab el o f voi c es ro s e dire ctly ,
on his return .
Gerard ran to th e dea d thief and b ega n to work o n him

again .
Ba c k , m a d m a n wh i s per ed D en y s .
Na y , n a y g
I k n ow t h es e i n or a n t b r u t es ; t h ey wil l n ot ve n t u r e
.
h e r e a w h il e . k
I ca n m a e h i m t e n t i m es m or e f e a r f u l
”
.
“
A t l e as t c l os e t h a t Op en i n g
Le t t h em n ot s e e y ou a t y ou r d evil i s h
w or k .
G erard clos ed th e sham p o st and i n h alf a mi nute h i s ,
brush m ade th e dead head a sight to stri ke any m an with

di smay H e p ut his ar t to a strange u s e an d on e u m
.
,
p arall el ed p erh ap s in th e history of m a nk ind H e il l u m i n .
’
ated his dead enemy 5 face to frighten his living fo e : th e
staring eyeb alls h e made glob es of fi r e ; th e teeth h e l eft
white for s o th ey were m ore terribl e by the contrast ; b ut
,
the p alate an d tongu e h e tipp ed with fi r e and made on e ,
lurid cavern of th e red d epths th e chap fall en j aw revealed :

and on th e b row he wrote in b urning letters I a M or t “ "
.
And while h e was do i ng i t the stout D enys wa s qu akin g ,
and fe a rin g th e vengeance of Heaven ; for one man s ’
’
courage is not another s ; and th e b and of miscreants b elow
were qu arrel lin g an d d isputin g lou dl y an d now without ,
dis g uise .
The step s that led down to th e kitch en were fi f t een ,
but th ey were n e a rly p er p en dicul ar : there was therefore

in p oint of fact no distance b etween th e b esiegers and
b esieged and th e latter now cau ght almo st every w ord
, .
A t last on e was heard to cry ou t I tell y e th e devil ha s ,
g ot him and b randed him with h ell fi r e I a m more lik e -

.
t o leave thi s cursed house than g o again into a room that

i s full of fi en d s .
Art drunk ? or mad ? or a cow a rd ? said a nother .
’
Call m e a coward I 1 1 give th ee my dagger 5 p o i nt an d ,
’
se n d thee wh ere Pierre sits 0 fi r e f or ever ’

.
Come no qu arrel ling when work is afo ot

, roared a ,
tremendous diap ason or I ll b rai n y e b oth with my fi s t

’
, ,
”
and s end y e where y e shall all g o so on or late .
T h e A bb ot whisp ered D enys gravely ,

’
.
H e felt th e voice h e had j u st heard co ul d b elong to no

m a n but the colossus h e h a d seen in p assin g throu gh th e
kitchen It made th e p l ace vib rate Th e quarrelling
. .
co nt i nued some time and then there w a s a dead sil ence , .
“
L oo k ou t , G er a r d .
Ay . W h a t w i l l t h ey d o n ext 3
We s h a l l s oon k n ow .
Sh a ll I w a i t f or y ou , or c u t d o wn t h e fi r s t t h a t o ens t h e d oor 1
’1
p
.
20 6 THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEAR TH .
.
whi sp ered D enys eag erly an d Gerard s Up lii t e d sword

.
,
’
"
descended and s evered the wrist with two swift blows A .
b o dy sank down m oani n g outside .
The hand remained inside immovabl e with blo o d , ,
trickling fr om it down th e w al l Th e fi er ce b olt sli ghtly .

,
b arb ed had gone throu gh it and deep i nto the r eal do or

,
.
p o st
s ai d D enys with terr i bl e cyni cis m
.
“ T wo .
,
H e strun g h i s cro s s b ow a nd kneel ed b ehin d h 1 s , c over

,
a gain 2 l i ;
‘
t
“-
T h e n ext W i ll b e t h e Ab b ot
wounded man m oved
.
Th e , an c r awl ed
t hi s comp an i ons on th e sta i rs ch en d oor ,wa s
g
.
, .
s ut
ere nothin g wa s h eard now bu t 1 2m}
.
Th
last inci d ent ha d reve al e d the mort al
w eap ons u s ed by th e b e s ieged
I b e gin to think th e A bb ot s st omach is n ot so gr e
.
’
at
”
,
as his b o dy s ai d D enys
m
.
,
Th e words were s carcely ou t of h i s outh when th e

foll owing events happ ened al l in a coupl e of seconds Th e .
.
kitchen do or wa s op ened ro ughly a he avy b u t a ctive man

.
,
darted up the sta irs w it hout a n y m anner of dis gu i se a n d,

.
,
a singl e p onderou s blow se nt th e do or not o nl y off i t s hinges

b ut right a cro ss t h ero om o n to D enys s f o r t ifi c a t i o
’
n which ,
.
it stru ck s o ru dely as ne arl y to lay h i m fl a t A n d in the .
d o orway sto o d a c olo ssu s with a glitt erin g axe

‘
H e s a w the dead man with th e mo on 5 blu e ligh t o n ha lf ’
his face and th e red light on the other hal f and inside his
,
cha pfallen j aws : he stared h i s arms fell his knees kno cked
.
, ,
to gether and h e crou ched with terror

, .
LA M O RT l h e cried i n tones of terro r an d tu rned , ,
and fl ed In wh ich a ct D enys started u p and shot h i m

. .
.
through b oth j aws H e spran g with on e b oun .
kitchen and there leaned on his axe sp ittin g blo o d an d

, ,
teeth an d curses .
D enys strung his b ow and put his hand int ohis b reast .
H e drew it ou t dismayed .
”
My last b olt is gone he groaned , .
But we h a v e our swords and you h ave sl a i n th e gi ant , .
No Gerard said D enys gravely

f ‘
, , I have no t An d , .
the worst is I have wounded him Fo ol ! to sho ot at a .
retreating lio n H e had never face d thy h a n d i w ork a gain

.
,
”
but for my m eddlin g .
Ha l to your guard ! I hear the m Op en th e do or .
Then D enys d epressed by th e on e error h e had com

,
m i t t ed in al l thi s fearful n i gh t f e1 t co nvinced his last hour ,
had com e H e drew his Sword but l ike on e do omed

. But , “
THE CL O ISTER AND ?THE HEAR TH
'
'
207
red light fl i ck er s on t h e t ceil i n g Gerard

'
a
'
fl ew to the window and lo oked out Th ere were m en with .
torches and breastplates gleaming red

, We are saved ! . .
”
Arm ed m en ! f And h e dashe d h i s s wor d t h r ou gh th e
'
‘
windo w shoutin g Q u i c k l qu i ck l we a r e sore pr essed ,

'
. o
.
i
‘
1
"
; yelled D enys ; they co n e ! strike non e b ut ,
h1m
That very m om ent the Abb ot a nd two rrl en with naked
weap ons rushed into the ro om Even as th ey came the .
,
ou t er t d oor w a s hamm ered fi er c el y

’
and th e Abb ot s com ,
rades h ea ring i t a n d s eein g the torchlight turne d and fl ed

‘
, ,
.
N ot s o the terribl e Abb ot : w i l d wi t h rage and p ain h e

’
'
,
sp urned his dead comrade ; chair and all acro ss th e ro om

.
, ,
then as the men f a c ed h i m on each side with kindling

'
"
eyeb all s h e wave d his tremendou s axe like a feather right

,
an d left and cl eare d a sp ace th en lifted it to h ew them

, ,
b oth in pieces .
His antagonists Were inferior in strength b ut not in ,
swi f tness and darin g and ab ove al l th ey had settled how , .
to attack him Th e mom ent h e reared h i s a xe they fl ew

.
,
at him like cats and b oth to gethe r If h e struck a full, .
blow with h i S w ea p on h e would m os t l i k el y k ill on e b ut

- .
'
t h e other would certainly kil l him : h e s a w this and i n t el l i

.
.
gent a s well as p ow er f u l h e thru st th e handl e fi er c el y in ,

‘
’
D en y s s fac e and tu r nin g j ob b e d with t h e ste el at Ger ard
, , , .
D enys went staggerin g b ack covered with blo o d G erard .
had ru sh ed in lik e lightnin g and j u st as th e axe turned , ,
to descend on him drove his sword s o fi er c el y throu gh the ,
giant s b o dy that the very hilt sounded on his rib s like th e

’
blow of a pu gili st an d D enys stag gering b ack to help his , ,
fri end s a w a steel p oi nt com e out of the Abb ot b ehind

,
.
Th e stricken giant b ellowed lik e a b u ll dropp ed his axe ,
and clutching G erard s thro at trem endously shook him ’
l ike a chil d Th en D enys with a fi er ce snar l drove his

.
sword into the giant s b ack Stand fi r m n ow ! ’

and he
‘
pu s hed th e cold ste el throu gh an d thr ou gh th e giant an d

ou t at his b reast .
Thu s horribly sp itte d o n b oth sides t h e Ab b ot gave a ,
viol ent shudder and his heel s hammere d the gro und con
'
vu l s i vel y His lip s fast turning blu e op en ed wide an d

.
, ,
deep and he cried

,
—
LA M oBT l LA M OR T l LA — ‘
M ORT I 1 the fi r s t time i n a ro ar of desp air and then twice ,
in a horror stricken Whisp er n ever to b e fo rgotten , .
w
Ju st then t h e str eet do or was forced
Suddenly the Abb ot s a rms whirl ed like indm ills and
.
his hu ge b o dy wrenched wildly and carried th em to the

,
do orway twisting their wr ists and nearly throwing them

,
0 11 their legs .
208 THE . C L O ISTE R A N D THE HEARTH
He ll win clear yet
’
,
cried D enys out steel ! and in
again )
They tore o ut their smoking swords b ut ere th ey could ,
stab agai n the Abb ot leap e d full fi ve feet high and fel l
, ,
with a tremendou s crash against the do or b elow c arrying ,
it aw ay with him like a s h eet o f pap er an d throu g h the ,
ap erture the glare oi torches burst on th e awestruck faces

ab ove hal f blinding them
,
. .
The thieves at th e fi r s t a l a r rn h a d made fo r the b ack '
,
'
do or but driven thence by a strong gu ard ran b ack t o the

,
kitchen j ust in time to s ee th e lo ck forced ou t of the so ck et

, ,
an d h a lf —a do zen maile d archers burst in up on th em

-
On .
these in pure desp air th ey drew their swords .
But ere a blow was stru ck o n either side the stai rcas e ,
door b ehind them w a s b a t t er e d into their midst with on e

p o nderou s blow and with it the Abb ot s b o dy came flyi n g
,
’
,
hurl e d as th ey tho u ght by no mortal hand and ro l led on ,
th e flo or sp outing blo o d from b ack an d b o som in two furiou s

j ets and quivered but b reathed no m ore
, ,
.
Th e thieves smitten with dismay fell on th eir knees

d ire ctly and t h e a r ch er s b ound them whil e ab ove t h e
, p
,
‘
, ,
rescued ones still sto o d like statu es ro oted t o th e sp ot their .
dripping swords extended i n th e exp ectin g

th e i r indomitabl e enemy to leap b ack o n th em a s wonder
fully a s h e h a d gone .
C HAPTER XXX IV
W H ERE b e the tru e m en ?
Here we b e Go d bless you all ! God bl ess y ou !
.
There was a rush to th e stairs and half a do zen hard ,
but friendly hands were hel d ou t and grasp ed them warmly .
”
Y h a ve s a ved our lives lads cried D enys
'
’
y h a ve saved
’
, , ,
ou r lives this night .
A w i ld sight met the eyes of th e re scued p a i r Th e .
ro o m flaring with torches the glitterin g breastplates of ,
the archers their bro nzed faces the white ch eeks of th e

, ,
b ound thieves and the bl eeding giant who se dead b o dy

, ,
these h a rd men left lyin g th ere in its ow n gore _

.
Gerard went round the archers and to ok them each by

the hand with glistening eye s and on this they al l kissed ,
him ; and this tim e h e kissed them in return Then h e .
said to on e handsome archer of his ow n a ge Prithee go o d , ,
s oldier , have an eye to m e A stran ge d rowsiness overcom es .

Why
man the thi eves ar e b ound and w e a re d r y
, , ,
that b oun d them U p ! an d show u s thy wine ; for n o

.
b ottles see I here .

.
Wh at h e the rasc al s b ound ?

, stamm ered t h e p al e '
lan dlord ; go o d news W — W — w ine ? that wi l l I honest .

,
.
An d h e ro se with unsure j oints a nd ofi er e d t o lead the
'
'
way to th e wine cell a r B ut D enys int erp o sed You

‘
.
.
.
.
a re all in th e d a rk c om r a d eS u H e i s i n le a gu e W ith t h e
‘
- - -
,
”
thieves .
“
Al ack g oo d sol dier m e in l ea gu e wi th th e accur s ed
, ,
‘
robb ers ! Is that reasonabl e ?
Th e girl said s o any w a y , .
"
The g i rl ! Wh at g i rl ? Ah ! Cu r s e h er t r a i t r es s l o
,
”
Well inte r p o sed th e o th er a rcher ; t h e gi r l is n ot
‘
here b ut gone on to th e h a il i fi
, S o l et the burgh ers settl e .
whether thi s craven b e gui lty or no : for we cau ght h i m not

"
in th e act : and l et him draw u s ou r wine .
O ne mom ent said D enys shrewdly , Why curs ed .
h e th e gi rl ? If h e b e a tru e man h e sho ul d bless her a s ,
W e do .
Al as s i r ! said -the l andlord

, I h a v e b ut m y go o d ,
s
_
nam e to live b y and I curs ed her to y ou b eoa u s e yo u s ai d

, ,
sh e had b elied m e .
Humph ! I trow thou a r t a thief and where is the ,
thief that canno t lie with a smo oth face ? Th e r efore h old
. -
him comr ades : a pri s oner can draw wi ne an if hi s hands

,
b e not b ound .
Th e lan dlord o f fered no obj ection ; b ut o n th e contrary

said h e wo ul d with pleasure sho w them wh ere hi s littl e
.
Sto ck of w i ne was but hop ed they woul d p ay for what ,
th ey shoul d drink for his re nt was du e thi s two month s

,
‘
'
.
Th e archers smil ed grimly at his simplicity a s th ey ,
thou ght i t ; one of them laid a hand quietly but fi r m l y on

his shoulder the other le d on with th e torch
, .
.
They had reached th e threshold when D enys cri ed ,
Halt !
Wh at is t ? ’ ‘
Here b e b ottles in this corner ; adva nce thy ligh t .
The torch b earer went towards him-

H e had j u st tak en .
ofi his scabb ard and wa s prob in g the heap the landl ord had
j ust b een crou ch ed up on .
Nay nay cried the landl o rd

, , the win e is in the ,
.
”
next cell ar There is nothin g th er e
. .
Nothing i s mighty hard then said D enys and d rew ’

, ,
'
,
out som ethin g with his hand from th e h e ap .
I t proved to b e onl y a b one .
D enys threw it on th e fl oor : it rattl ed .

THE CL O ISTER AND '
. . THE H E ARTH 21 1 ;
There i s nought there b u t t h e b ones of th e hous e

'
said t h e l andlord .
Just no w twas nothing N ow that we have fo un

’
d .
s om et h i n g t i s n othing but b o nes Here s a n ot h er H u m p h l

’ ’ ‘
.
lo ok at this on e comrade ; and y ou com e t oo and lo ok at i t , ,
and brin g yon smo oth knave alo ng ”

.
Th e arch er with th e torch who se n am e wa s Philipp e , ,
hel d th e b o ne to th e light and turned it round an d ro und

.
Well ? said D eny s - .
W el l i f thi s was a fi el d of b attle I sh oul d s a y twas

,
”
,
’
th e shankb one of a man ; no m ore n o l ess But tis h t a , .

-
’ ’
”
b a t t l efi el d n or a churchyard ; tis an i n n
‘
' -
, .
,
’
b ut y on k n a ve S a sh y fac e is as go o d a
‘
light to m e as a fi el d o f b attle
. I read the b on e y i t . .
,
‘
Bring yo n face nearer I say Wh e n th e chin e is amissing

'
- ~
, .
,
and th e hous e do g can t lo ok at you w i t h ou t h i s tail creep ’

:
ing b etween h i s l egs who wa s the thief ? Go o d brothers

’
mine my m ind it doth misgive m e

,
Th e d eep er I thrust '
.
,
-
th e more th ere b e : Mayhap if th es e b ones could tell their “
tale they woul d mak e tru e m en s flesh cree p th a t heard i t ’

.
Alas ! young man ; wh a t h i d eou s fancies are the s e !

.
.
=
,
The b ones are b ones of b e ev es and sh eep and kid s and , , ,
n ot as y ou i t h i n k of m en and women Holy saints preserve

'
.
, ;
us l
Hol d thy p eace d thy words are air .
Thou hast not , .
'
got burghers by th e ear that know n ot a veal knu ckl e from ,

"
their gr an dsire s r i h s ; b ut s oldiers — m en tha t have gon e’

' '
.
- '
to lo ok for th eir dear comrades ; and foun d their b ones picked

a s cl ean by the crows a s thes e I doub t have b een by the e
and thy m at es Men and women saidst thou ? And
. .
’
prithe e w hen S p ak e I a word of wom en s b ones ? Woul dst

,
.
’
make a chil d susp ect thee “ Fiel d of b attle comrad e ! W a s ,
n ot thi s hous e a fi el d of b attl e h al f an hour a go ne ?

-
D rag
him clo se to me l et m e read his face : now then what i s , ,
t his thou ,
an d h e thrust a small obj ect su ddenly
:
in his face .
“
Alas ! I know not .
Well I would not swear neither : but it is t oo like th e

,
thumb b one of a man s hand ; mates my fl esh it creep s ’

i , .
Ch u r eh y a r d ! how know I this is not on e ?

‘
i
And h e now drew h i s sword ou t of th e scabb ard and

~
,
b egan to rake the heap of earth and b roken cro ckery a n d

b ones out on the fl oor .
Th e lan dlord assured him h e b ut wasted his time We .
p o or innkeep ers are r sinners said h e ; we giv e short ,

’
.
m easure and b aptiz e the wine : we are fain t o do thes e things ,
th e law s are s o unj u st to i 1 s ; b ut we are not assassins How .
could we a f ford to kill ou r customers ? May Heaven s ’

21 2 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HE ARTH
lightning str i k e m e dead i t th ere b e any b ones ther e b ut
su ch as have b een u sed for m eat Tis the kitchen wench .
’
’
flings them h ere : I swear by Go d s h oly mother by holy ,
Paul by holy D ominic and D enys my p atron saint

, ,
ah !
D enys held out a b one under h i s eye in dead s i le nce .
It was a b one n o man however i gnorant however lyi ng , , ,
coul d confoun d with tho s e of sheep or oxen Th e sight of .
it shut the lying lip s and pal sied the heartless h e a rt , .
Th e l an dl ord s hair ro s e visibly on his head l i ke spik es

’
,
and his knees gave way a s if his limb s had b een stru ck fr om
under him But t h e archers dragged him fi er cel y u p an d
.
,
k ept h i m erect under th e torch staring fas cinated at th e

'
dead skull which white a s th e livin g cheek opp o sed b ut no

, ,
whiter gl a red b ack a gain at i t s murderer who s e p al e lip

, ,
’
now op ened and op ened b ut coul d utter no sound ,
.
Ah ! said D enys solemnly and trembling now with ,
rage ,
lo ok on the so ck ets out of which thou h ast p icked
th e eyes and l et them blast thine eyes that crow s sh al l
, ,
p ick out ere this week shal l end Now hold thou that .
,
whil e I se a rch on Hold i t I s a y or here I r ob th e gall

.
, ,
lows and b e threatened th e quaking wretch with his

naked sword till with a gro an h e to ok th e sku l l and held
,
i t al mo st fainting
,
.
Oh ! that every murderer and con t river of murder could , ,
s ee h i m sick an d staggering with terror and wi th his hair

, , ,
on end holding the col d skull and feeling that his ow n

, ,
hea d would so on b e l ik e i t And so o n th e heap w a s

‘
scattered and al as ! n ot one nor t w o b ut many skul l s were

, ,
brou ght to light th e culprit mo aning at each discovery

, .
Su dde nl y D enys uttered a strange cry of distres s to

com e from s o b ol d and hard a m an ; and held up to th e
torch a mass of human hair It was l ong glo ssy and .
, ,
golden . A woman s b eautiful hair A t th e sight of it the ’

.
a rchers instinctively sho ok th e craven wretch in the i r

'
hands : and h e whined .
I have a little sister with ha i r j u st s o fair and shinin g

“
a s this gul p ed D enys
, J e s u l i f it sho u ld b e h ers ! .
There quick take my sword and dagger and keep th em

, ,
from my hand l est I str i ke him dead and wron g the gi bb et

’
, .
And thou p o or inno cent victim on who se h ead this mo st

, ,
lovely hair did grow h ear m e swear thu s o n b ended knee ; , ,
never to leave this m an till I s ee him broken to p iec es on

th e wheel even for thy sake .
H e ro se from his knee Ay had h e as many lives a s .

,
’
here b e hairs I d have them all by God and he put the
, , ,
hair into his b o som Then in a su dden fu ry seized the .
landlord fi er c el y by the neck and forc ed h i m t o h i s k nee s ; ,

wh en an accident stopp ed h i m and indeed ca rri ed him a ,
step or two in the O pp o site direction .
Th e cons tables had gon e up th e st a ir in singl e fi l e .
But th e h ead constabl e no so oner s a w th e pho sp horescent

co r p se seated by the b edside than h e sto o d s t u p efi ed ; a n d ,
next h e b e gan to sh ake l ike on e i n an a gue a n d t err or .

, ,
,
gainin g on h i m m or e an d m ore h e uttered a sort of howl

,
-
,
and recoil ed swiftly Forgetting the step s i n sh i s recoil

.
,
h e tu m bl ed over b ackward on h i s ne a rest comp anio n; b ut

h e sh ak en by th e shout of di sm ay an d catch i ng a gl i mp s e
, ,
of s om ething ho rrid was alrea d y stag gerin g b ack ; and i n

,
'
no condi t io n to sustain th e h ead constabl e who li k e mo st , ,
head constab les was a p o ndero us man , Th e two carried .
away th e thi rd and th e th ree the fourth and th ey stream ed

, ,
into the kitch en and s ettl ed on th e fl oor o verlap p in g each

, ,
other li k e a sequ ence l ai d out o n a car d clerk - -
comin g h astily with his torch ran an i n v ol u n t a r y t il t a gainst

th e fourth man wh o shar ing t h e m om en t um of th e ma ss
, , ,
kno cked h im instantly on h i s b ack the a c e o f that fair ,
quint ; and there h e lay kickin g an d wavin g h i s t orch ,
app arently in triumph b ut really in convul sion sense a n d , ,

‘
win d b ein g driven ou t to geth er b y th e concu ssion

” ’
Wh at is to do now i n Heaven s nam e ? cried the
’
al d erman; startin g up with consider ab l e al a rm B ut D enys .
exp la i ne d an d o f fered to accomp any his w o1 sh i p

, So b e .
it, said th e l atter His m en p ick ed th emselves r uefully

.
up ,an d the al derm an put him self at their h ea d an d exam

i n e d th e p remises ab ove and b elow A s for th e p risone r s .
,
th eir interro gatory was p o stp o ned till th ey coul d b e c on .
fronte d with the servant .
B efore dawn th e thieves al ive and dead an d a ll th e

, , ,
relics and evi d ences of crime an d retrib ution were swept ,

’
away into th e law 5 net an d th e inn was sil ent and al mo st ,
desert ed . There rem ained b ut on e cons t abl e an d D enys ,
an d Ger ar d th e latter still sl eep ing h eavily

, .
CHAPTER XXX V
G ER A R D awoke and found D enys watch i ng him with som e

,
anxi ety .
It i s you f or sl eep in g ! Why tis high no on ,

’
.
”
It was a bl ess ed sl e ep
_
said Gerard ; m eth i nks ,
Heaven sent it m e It hath put as it were a veil b etween

.
m e and that a wful night To think that you and I s i t her e .
al ive and well How terrible a dre a m I seem to h a ve had !

.
THE CL O ISTER A N D THE HEARTH 21 5
lad that i s th e wise Wa y to look at these things

Ay , ,
when onc e they are p ast why th ey are dreams shadows , , , .
Br ea k t h y fast and then thou wil t think n o more o n t

’
, .
Moreover I promise d to brin g thee on to th e town by no on

, ,
and take thee to his worship .
Thou sh al t not b reak troth for m e .
Gerard th en sopp ed som e rye b rea d in red wine and ate

it to b re ak his fast : then went with D enys o ver th e s cene
of comb at and cam e b a ck shu ddering and fi n a l l y to ok the
, ,
ro ad with his friend a n d k ep t peering throu gh the h edges , ,
and exp ecting su dden attacks unreasonably till th ey ,
a ch e d th e littl e town D enys to ok h i m f t o Th e White

E
.
art
No fear of cut thro a t s h ere sa i d h e I know the -
, .
landlord this many a year H e i s a b urgess and l ooks to

.
; ,
’
b e b ail iff Tis h ere I was making for yestreen But we lo st .
ti me and night 0 er t ook u s — —and ’

z
And you s a w a woman at th e do or and wou l d b e wise r

,
than l a J s h e tol d u s th ey were nou ght .
Why what save d our lives i t not a woma n ? A y and

, ,
”
risked her ow n to do i t ,
.
That i s tru e ; D enys ; and thou gh wom en are nothi n g '
to m e I lon g to thank this p o or girl an d reward h er a y

.
,
'
,
'
, ,
thou gh I s hare every doit in my purs e with h e r D o not .
’
you ?
P arbleu .
Where shall we fi n d h e r ?
Mayhap th e al derman will tell u s We mu st g o to .
him fi r s t .
Th e al derm an received th em with a mo st singular and

inexplic abl e expression of countenance However after a .
,
mo ment s r efl ect i on h e wore a gr i m s m il e and fi n a l l y pro

’
,
'
c ee d e d to put interro gatories to Gerard and to ok down th e ,
Thi s do ne h e tol d them that they m u s t s t a y

’ ’
a n swers . .
,
\
in th e town t i ll th e thieves were tried an d b e at h and to ,
give evi dence on p eril of fi n e and imprisonm ent Th ey

‘
.
.
,
“
looked very blank at this
twill not b e lon g th e culp rits
.
However said h e , ,
’
,
having b een taken red handed H e added And you .

,
know in any case you coul d not leave the place this week
,
.
D enys stare d at this remark and Gerard smil ed at what ,
he thou ght th e simplicity of the ol d gentl em an in drea m ing

.that a provincial town of Burgundy had attractio n to
detain him from Rome and Margaret .
1
H e now went to that which was neare s t b o th th eir
°
h earts Yo ur worship sai d h e we cannot fi n d ou r

'
’
.
.
, ,
b enefactress i n th e '
Nay b ut wh o i s your b enefactress ?

'
,
Wh
why th e go o d girl t h a t c a m e to you b y night
‘
o?
and s ave d our lives at p er i l of h er own Oh s i r ou r .
,
hearts b urn within u s to thank and bless her ; where is

sh e ?
Oh , sh e is in pri son .
CHAPTER XXX V I
IN prison s i r ; go o d lack for what misdee d ?

, ,
‘
Well s h e is a witness and m ay b e a necessary on e

, ,
.
W h y Messire B aili f f put in D enys

”
,
you lay not a ll , ,
your witnesses by th e h eel s I trow .
The al derman pl eased at b eing call ed b a i li ff b ecam e

, ,
communicative In a cas e of blo o d we detain all testi

.
m ony that is lik e to give u s l eg b ail and so defeat j u stice , ,
and that i s why we stil l keep the women folk Fo r a man .
at od d times hide s a week in o ne mind but a woman if sh e , ,
d o her duty to th e realm 0 Friday s h e shal l undo it a t ore

’
Sunday or try Co ul d you s e e yo n wench now you sh ould

, .
,
-blubb ering at havi ng b etrayed fi v
fi nd her a e mal es to th e
g a llows Ha d th ey b e en fem al es we mi ght have tru ste d
. ,
to a subp oena For they desp i s e on e anoth er And there

. .
’
they show som e s ense But now I think on t there were .
,
other reasons for l ayin g thi s one by th e heel s Hand .
”
m e tho se dep o sition s young s i r And he put o n h i s
, .
glasses Ay l s h e wa s implicated ; s h e wa s one o f th e

.
’
b an d f
A lou d disclaimer burst from D enys and Gerard at once .
”
N o need to d eave m e said the al derm an Here , .
’
t i s in bl ack an d white Jean H a rdy ( that i s one of th e .
thieves ) b ein g questioned confessed that —humph ? Ay

, , ,
here tis ’
And that the gi rl Manon was th e de coy and
.
,
her sweetheart was G eorges V i p on t on e of the b and ; an d ,
h anged last m onth : and that s h e had b een d ej ect ever

since and b a d O p enl y blamed th e b and for h i s death saying
, ,
i f th ey had not b e en rank cowards he had never b een tak en , ,
and it is h i s opinion sh e did b ut b etray them ou t of very

sp ite and ,
His O p inion crie d Gerard indi gn antly ; what si gu i

,
fi es th e O pinion of a cut thro at burning to b e revenge d on -

,
her who has del ivered him to j ustice ? An d an you g o to

that what avai ls h i s testimony ? I s a thief never a liar ?
,
Is h e not aye a liar ? an d here a m otive to lie ? Revenge ,

’
why tis th e strongest of al l the p assions
, And oh s i r .
, ,
what madness t o qu e s t i on a detecte d felon and liste n to h i m

'
dan ger H e knew t h e d og ge d l a w ; and t h e do gged men

.
'
that executed i t H e t h r ew hi m self suddenl y on his kne es

'
at th e al derman s feet Oh s i r ! think of th e di ff erence

’
.
,
b etween tho se cruel m en and thi s p o or weak wom a n ! Coul d

y ou have th e heart to send her to the sam e death with them
coul d you have the heart t o condemn u s to lo ok on an d s ee
her slaughtered who b ut that s h e risked her life f or ours
, , ,
had not now b een in j eop ardy ? Alas s i r l show m e and ,
my comrade some p ity i f y ou have n one for her p o or soul

.
, ,
.
D enys and I b e tru e men an d you w ill rend ou r hearts it ,
y ou kill th at p o or simpl e girl What can we do ? Wh at i s .
left for u s to do then b ut out ou r thro ats at her gall ows .

’
”
foot ?
The al derman was tou gh b ut mortal ; the prayers and .
,
agi tation of G er a r d fi r s t astounded then touched him He

'
. .
showe d it i n a curious way H e b ecam e p eevi sh and

' '
'
”
fretful . Th ere get u p do said h e I doubt whether
, , , .
anyb o dy woul d s a y as m any words for m e Wh at h o .

,
D aniel ! g o fetch th e to w n cl erk An d on that functionary .
entering from an ad j oining room Here is a fo olish lad ,
fretting ab out yo n gi rl Can we stretch a p oint ? s a y we

‘
admit her to b e ar witness and qu estio n her favourab ly , .
The town cl erk was o ne of your im p o ssib i lity m en .
Nay s i r we cannot do that : s h e was not co ncerned

, ,
in this bu siness Had s h e b een accessory we might have

.
,
”
off ered her a p ardo n to b ear witness
But sh e di d b ett e Ins te
ad o
.
Gerard b urst i h r f b ein g

, .
a cc es sory sh e stayed t h e cri m e ; and s h e p roffered h er s ei f

,
a s witness by ru n n ing hither with the t al e .
’
Tush youn g man tis a matter of l aw
, The al der , .
m a n and the clerk then had a long dis cu ssion th e one .

,
m ainta i nin g the other denying that s h e stoo d as fair in

, ,
l aw as if s h e had b een accessory to th e attempt on our .
’
trave l lers li ves An d th i s was lu cky for Manon : f or the
.
al derman irritated by the cl erk -reiteratin g that h e coul d

,
n ot do this and coul d not that and coul d not d o t other

’
, , ,
”
sai d h e woul d show him h e cou l d do anythin g he cho se .
And he had Manon ou t an d up on the landl ord of Th e ,
White Hart b eing her b ondsman and D enys dep o sitin g ,
fi v e gol d pieces with him and th e girl prom i sing not without , ,
some co axi ng from D enys to attend as a witness b e l i b erated , ,
her but eased his conscience b y t el l i n g h er in h i s own terms

,
his reason for this leniency .
Th e town had to buy a new m m for everyb o dy

hanged and present it to th e b o u rreau o r comp ound with
, , .
him in money : and s h e was not in his O p in i on worth this

municip al exp ense wh ereas de cided ch aracters lik e her ,
'
.
late confederates were And s o D enys and Gerard carried

, .
.
her 0 11 Gerard dancing round her for j oy D enys keep in g

,
,
up her h eart by assuring her of the demise of a troubl esom e

.
p ers onage a nd s h e weep in g inau spiciously

, However on .
,
the ro ad to The White Hart the public found her out ,
and havin g heard the whol e sto ry from the archers who ,
naturally tol d it warmly in h er favour followed h er hurrah ,
in g a n d encouraging her til l fi n d i n g herself b ack ed b y ,
n umb ers s h e plucke d up heart Th e l a n dl or d t oo s a w at .
a glance that h er p resence in th e inn woul d draw cu stom ,
and received her p olitely and a ssigned her an upp er cham ,
b er : here s h e b uried herself and b ei n g a l on e rained tears ,
a gam .
P o o r littl e mind it was like a ripple up and down, , ,
down and u p up and down , Biddin g the landlord b e very .
ki nd to her and keep h er a prisoner without l etting her feel

,
i t the friends went out : and 1 0 ! as they stepp ed into th e

,
street they s a w t w o pro cessions comin g toward s them fro m

~
opp o site sides O ne was a large on e a ttended with nois e

.
,
and b owls and tho se indescrib abl e cries by which ru d e

natures reveal at od d times that rel ationship to th e b easts
of the fi el d and forest which at other tim es w e su cceed in ,
hiding Th e other very thinly attended b y a few nuns

.
,
and friars cam e slow and silent

, .
The priso ners goin g to exp o sure in th e mark et place -

.
The gathered b ones of th e Victims coming to the church

y ard .
And the two m et in th e narrow str eet n early a t t h e inn .
door an d coul d not p ass ea ch ot h er for a lon g time an d th e

, ,
b ier that b ore th e relics of mortality got wedged a gainst

, ,
the cart that carried th e m en wh o h a d mad e tho s e b on es .
what th ey were an d in a few h ours mu st die for it them

‘
-
,
.
selves . Th e m ob had not the quick inte l li gence to b e at

once stru ck with this stern meeting : but at l ast a woman
cried L o ok a t your wo rk y e do gs ! and th e crowd to ok
’
, ,
it like w i l d fi r e and there was a horrible yell and the cul

, ,
p r i t s gro aned and tried to hide th eir heads up o n th eir

b o soms but coul d not t h ei r h a n d s b ei n g t i ed ; And th ere
'
, ,
th ey sto o d ; images of p ale holl ow eyed d esp air and oh -

,
how they lo ok ed on th e b ier and envied tho se whom th ey ,
had sent b efore them on th e dark ro ad they w ere go ing

up on them selves ! And th e t w o m en who were the cau se
‘
of b oth pro cessions sto o d and lo oked gravely on and even ,
Manon , h ear in g the disturb a nc e crept to th e window and , , ,
hiding h er face p eep ed trembling throu gh h er fi n ger s a s

, ,
wom en w il l .
This strange meeting p arted D enys an d G erard The .
form er yiel ded to curio sity and revenge th e latter d o ff ed ,
his b onnet and p iou sly followed th e p o or rem ains of tho se

,
who s e fate ha d s o nearly b een his own F or som e tim e he .
was the on e lay mourner : b ut when th ey had reached the

suburb s a long way fro m th e gr eater attractio n that w a s
,
i
fi ll ng th e m arket — pl ace m ore than on e artisan threw ,
down his to ol s and m ore th an one shopm an l eft h i s shop

, ,
and touched with p ity or a sens e of ou r co mmo n humanity ,
and p erhap s de cide d som ewh at by th e exampl e of G erard ,
followe d th e b ones b areheaded and s a w them dep o site d ,
with the p rayers of the Ch urch i n hal lowed ground .
After the funer al rite s Gerard stepp ed re sp ectfully up

to th e curé and o f fered to b uy a mass for their s oul s
,
.
Gerard s on of Cath erin e always lo oked at two sides of

, ,
a p enny : and h e tri ed to purchase this m as s a t r i fl e un der

th e u su al terms on a ccount of th e p itiab l e circumstances
, .
B ut th e go o d cu ré gently b ut adro itly p arried his ingenuity ,
and blan dl y s crewed him up to th e m arket p rice .
In th e course of th e bu sines s they discovere d a sim i larity

of s entiments P iety and worl dl y p ru dence are not very
.
rare comp anions : still it is unu sual to carry b oth s o far a s

thes e two m en did Their collision in th e p rayer market
.
l ed to mutu al esteem as wh en knight encountered knight ,
worthy of his steel Moreover th e go o d cur e l oved a b it

.
of go ssip and fi n d i n g his cu stom er w a s one of tho se who

,
h ad fou ght the thieves at D omfront woul d have h im into ,
his p arlour an d he a r th e whol e from h i s own lip s And .
his he art w arm ed to Gerard an d h e said Go d w a s go o d , ,

’
to thee .I thank Him for t with al l my soul Thou art .
a go o d l ad H e added d r ily
. Shouldst have told m e this ,
tal e in th e churchyard I doubt I had given thee t h e .

,
”
mass for love However said h e ( th e thermom eter
.
,
su ddenly falling ) ’
ti s i ll lu ck t o g o b ack up on a b argain
, .
’
But I ll bro ach a b ottl e of my ol d Medo c for th ee : and few
b e th e gu ests I woul d do that for The curé went to h i s .
cupb oar d and whil e h e g mp e d for the choi ce b ottl e h e

, ,
muttere d to himself A t their ol d tricks a gain !,
Plait il ? s aid Gerard

-
.
I said nou ght Ay here t i s .

,
’
N ay your reverence, You surely sp oke : yo u said .

,
A t the i r ol d tricks again !
S aid I s o in so o t h ? and his reverence smiled He .
then p ro ceeded to b ro ach th e wine an d fi l l ed a cup fo r ,
each . Then h e put a lo g of wo o d on th e fi r e for stove s ,
were none in Burgundy And s o I said A t th eir ol d .

‘
trick s ! did I ? Com e s i p th e go o d wine and whil st it , , ,
lasts story for sto ry I care not if I tell you a littl e tal e
, , .
’
Gerard s eyes sp ark l ed .
Thou lovest a story ?

As my life .
2 22 T HE .
- C L O ISTE R AND THE ‘HEARTH
’
’ ’
fact T i s well quoth the b ishop ;
. that saves tim e and ,
tr oubl e Now to your excu se ; i f ex cu se t h ere b e Mon f ’

'
‘
. 1 .
sei g neur I have b een cur e of that p arish seven year s and
, ,
fi f t y chil dren have I b aptized an d b uried not fi ve At ,

.
fi r s t I u se d t o say Heaven b e praised the a i r of this , ,

”
vill ag e i s main h ealthy ; b ut on sear chin g th e register
b o ok I found twa s al ways s o and on prob ing th e m a t t er ’
,
o
it came out that of t h os e b or n at D omfront all b ut -h ere , ,

-
and the r e on e did g o and g et han ged at Ai x , But thi s wa s .
to d efrau d not their curé entire Church of

her du es since p endards Op a y n o funeral fees b eing
,
‘
Ther eup on k no win g by s a d experience

'
bu ried in a i r
'
'
.
,
their greed and h oW t h ey gru dge -th e Church eve r y s ou I '

’
, ,
'
laid a trap to keep th em from hanging ; for gr e e d aga inst "
g reed there b e of
, th em th at wi ll di e in t h e i r b e d s li k e tru e
’ ’
m en er e the Church shal l g ain tho s e fun eral fees for nou ght
'
Then th e b ishop l a u gh e d t il l t h e t ear s ran down an d qu es '
s
,
t i on ed th e churchwarden ; an d h e was f a i n t o c on f e s s that

' '
'
t oo many of the p arish did com e to that u nlu cky end at

.
-
Aix Th en said th e b i shop

. I do app rove th e -act for
,
’
, ,
m yself an d my su cce s sors ; an d s o b e it ever till th ey m end ,

’ ’
their m anners and di e in th eir b eds An d th e next d a y
'
-
. .
ca m e t h e ringl eaders crestf al l en to th e curé and sa id

'
, ,
P arson y e were ever go o d to u s b arrin g this untowar d

‘
, ,
m a t t er z p rithee let there b e no ill blo o d anent s o trivial

.
a thin g And th e curé said My ch il d r en j I were unworthy

.
’
,
'
‘
to b e your p asto r coul d I not forgive a wr ong ; g o in p ea ce ,
and get m e as many ch i ldr en as m ay b e that b y th e doubl e ,
fe es th e curé you love m ay miss st a rvation }

’
An d th e b ishop often tol d th e story and it k ept his ’

,
m emo ry of th e curé alive an d a t l a s t b e shifted him to a

.
,
'
d ecent p ar ish where h e can off er a glass of ol d Med oc t o

'
a '
,
"
such as are worthy of i t T h ei r n a m e it i s not l e gion
'
'
'
.
. .
A light brok e i n u p on Gerard h i s c ou n t en a n ce f s h owe d

'
’
Ay l I sai d his ho st I a m that c ur e: ?s énow thou

'
canst gu ess why I said A t their ol d tricks My l ife o n t .

’ ’
they h a ve wh e e d l e d my su cce sso r int o remitti n g tho s e

funeral fees You are we l l ou t of that p arish z A n d ss o a m
. .
.
'
”
I .
The curé s littl e niece burst i h Uncle t h e wei gh i n g l

’
, ,
’
la ! a stranger ! An d burst ou t .
The cur e ro se d ire ctly but woul d not p art with Gerard , .
Wet thy b eard o nce mo re and com e with m e , .
In th e church p orch they found th e sexto n with a hu ge

p air of scal es and weights of al l sizes S everal humble .
p ersons were standing b y and so o n a woman stepp ed for ,
ward with a sickly chil d and said Be it heavy b e it light

'
, ,
THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 22 3
’
I vow in rye m eal of th e b est whate er this j ch i l d shal l
, ,
weigh and th e same will duly p ay to Holy Church an if

,
'
he shall cast h i s trouble Pray go o d p eopl e for this chil d .

, , ,
-
and for m e h i s mother hither com e in dol e an d care !

Th e chil d wa s weighed and yell ed as if th e sc al e had ,
b een th e font .
Courage ! dame cried Gerard This is a go o d , .
”
s i gn There is pl enty o f life h ere to b attle its troubl e
. .
”
Now bl est b e the tongu e that tells m e s o said th e
, ,
p o or woman Sh e hu sh ed her p onderling against h er

.
b o som and sto o d al oof watching wh i lst anoth er woma n

, ,
brou ght her ch i l d to scale .
But p resently a loud dictatorial vo ice was h eard Way , ,
there mak e way for the s ei gn eu r l

,
T h e s m a l l f ol k p a r t e d o n b oth sides like waves pl ou gh ed

by a lordly galley an d in marched in gorgeous attire his , ,
cap adorned b y a feather with a top az at its ro ot his j erkin ,
richly furred satin doubl et re d ho se sho es lik e skates, , , ,
di am ond hilte d swor d in velvet scabb ard and hawk on his

-
,
wrist the lord of th e m anor

, H e flun g himself into th e .
scal es a s if h e w a s lord of the z o diac a s well a s th e m ano r :

~
whereat th e h awk b alance d and flapp e d ; b ut stu ck : t h en ~ ~
wink ed .
Wh il e th e sexton h eave d in th e great weights the curé ,
tol d Gerard My lord had b een sick unto death and vowed
, ,
his weight in bread and chees e to the p o or th e Church takin g ,

”
her tenth .
P erm it m e m y lo r d ; if your lo rdship continu es to , ,
press yo ur lordship s sta h on the o ther scal e you w i l l d i s t u r b ’ ‘

-
,
”
the b alance .
His lordship grinn ed a n d remove d his s t af f a nd l eane d ,
o h it The curé p olitely b ut fi r m l y obj ecte d to that to o 1

‘
'
. .
M i ll e di a bles ! what a m I to do with i t th e n ? cried ,
t h e oth er .
D eign to hol d it out s o my lord wide of b oth scales , , .
Wh en my lord did this and so fell into the trap h e had

‘
laid f or H ol y Church th e go o d curé whisp ere d t o Gerard

’
'
.
, ,
C retensis incidit in Cr ”et en s em ! which I tak e to mean .
D iamo nd cut diamond H e then said with an ob sequiou s .
air ,
If th at your lord ship grudges Heaven full weight y ou
5 ‘
,
might s et th e hawk on y our l a c qu ey a n d s o save a p ound

’
.
h
Gramercy for thy rede curé crie d th e great man

r ep r
, , ,
oa ch f u l l y Shall I for on e S orry p ound grudge my

h
’
po or fowl the b en efi t of Holy Church ? I d as lieve th e
.
devil should have m e and all my hous e as h er any day i ,

’
”
the year .
Swee t is a f fection
.
whisp ered the curé ,

.
B etween a bi r d and a b rute whisp ered Gerard , .

Tush ! an d th e cur e lo oked t er r ifi ed .
Th e s ei gneur s weight was b o ok ed an d Heaven I tru st

’
and b eli eve di d not weigh his gratitud e in th e b alance of

th e sanctu ary .
F or my unl earn ed reader is no t to supp o s e there wa s

anythin g th e l east eccentric in th e man or h i s gratitu de ,
to th e Giver of health and all go o d gifts Men lo ok fo r .
w ar d to death and b ack up o n p ast sicknes s with di fferent

,
eyes . It em wh en m en dr ive a b argai n th ey strive to get

, ,
th e sunny side of it it m atters not o ne straw whether it

is with m an o r Heaven th ey are b argaining In this res p ect .
w e ar e the sam e now at b ottom a s we were four hundre d , ,
years a go : o nly in tho s e days w e di d it a gr a i n or two more

nai vely and that nai vet e shon e ou t more p al p ably b ecau se
, , ,
in that ru d e a ge b o dy prevail i n g over mind a l l s entiments

, ,
to ok m aterial forms Man rep ented with s courges p raye d .

,
by h ead b r i b e d th e saints with wax tap ers put fi s h into

, ,
th e b o dy to sanct i t y th e s oul s oj ourned in col d water fo r ,
emp ire over th e emotions and thank ed Go d for returning ,
health in 1 cwt 2 stone 7 l h 3 oz 1 dwt of b rea d and ch ees e

. . . . .
Wh i l st I have b een preaching wh o p rea ch s o rarely an d ,
s o ill the go o d curé has b een oli c i tin g th e lord of the manor
,
s
to step into the church an d give order wh at shall b e do ne ,
w ith his great great gran df ath er -

.
O ds b odi k i n s l what have you du g him u p ? ,
Nay my lord h e n ever wa s b uried

, , .
Wh at the ol d di et was tru e af ter all ?

,
S o tru e that th e workm en th is very day found a s k el e

t on erect i n th e p illar t hey are rep airing I had s ent to .
my lord at once but I knew h e woul d b e here , .
’
It i s h e ! Tis h e ! said his des cendant qu ickening ,
b i s p ace L et u s go s ee the ol d b oy
, Th i s youth i s a .
”
stranger I think , .
Ger a rd b owed .
Know then that my great-great- gran dfather hel d h i s

h ead hi gh and b eing 0 1 1 th e p oint of d eath revolted aga in st
, ,
lying under th e aisl e with h i s forb ears fo r m ean fol k to

p ass over S o a s the tradition go es h e s w or e h i s s on ( m y
.
, ,
great grandfath er) to bury him erect in on e of the pill ars

-
,
”
of th e church ( here th ey entered the p orch ) For ’
.
N O BAS E MAN S HAL L PAS S O V ER M Y

,
qu oth h e ,
’
ST OMACH P este l an d even whil e sp eakin g his lord
.
,
ship p arried a droitly with his stick a skull that cam e h Op p i n g

at h i m b owled by a b oy in the mid dl e oi t h e ai sle who to ok
, _ ,
to his h eel s yell i n g with fear the mom ent h e s a w what he

had done H i s l ordship hurl ed th e skul l furiou sly after
.
him a s h e ran at which th e curé gave a shout of dismay

,
and put forth h i s a r m t o hind er h i m but w a s to o la t e , .

Th e curé l au gh e d at his simplicity Nay t i s b ut a .
,
’
statu ary hawk Wh en they have a b ir d of gentl e b reed

.
th ey cannot trai n th ey mak e his image and sen d it to this , ,
shrin e wi th a p resent an d pray th e saint to work up o n ,
th e stub b orn min d of th e ori gin al an d m ake it du ctil e as ,
wax : that i s th e notion an d m ethink s a r easonab l e on e , ,

”
to o .
Gerard assented B ut al ack reveren d s i r were I a .

, ,
saint m ethink s I shoul d side with the inno cent dove rather
, ,
”
than with th e cru el hawk that rends h er .
”
B y S t D enys you ar e right
. said th e curé But , .
,
qu e voulez Vou s ? the saints ar e d eb ona i r and have b een

'
-
,
fl e sh th ems elves an d know m an s frailty an d ab surdity

’
.
,
”
’
Tis th e B ishop of Avigno n s ent this on e .
Wh at ! do b ishop s h awk in this co untry ?

O ne an d al l Every nobl e p erso n h a Wk s and live s.
,
with h awk o n wrist Why my lord abb ot har d b y an d his .

, ,
’
lordship that h as j u st p arte d fro m u s h ad a two year s ,
“
feu d as to wh ere th ey shoul d put th eir hawk s down on that

ve ry altar th ere E ach cl aim ed th e right han d of th e al tar
.
f or his b ird .
Wh at desecration !
Nay ! nay ! thou knowest we m ak e the m do f f b oth
glove and h awk t o tak e th e blessed eu ch arist Th eir .
j ewell ed gloves will th ey give to a s ervant or simpl e C hris

_
tian to b ol d : b ut the i r b el oved hawks th ey w ill put down

on no pl ace less than th e alt a r .
G erard inqu ir ed how th e b attl e of the hawk s end e d .
Why th e a bb ot h e yiel ded a s th e Church yield s to

, ,
.
l aym en H e se arch ed ancient b o oks and found that th e

.
,
l eft han d was the more ho nourabl e b ein g in truth th e right ,
h and since th e altar is east b ut lo ok s we stward

, S o he , .
gave my l o rd th e so i —disant right h an d an d co ntented h i m ,
self with th e real ri ght h and an d even s o m ay th e Church ,
stil l o utwit the lay nobles an d their arro gance s aving yo ur ,

”
presence . 1
Nay sir I ho nour the Church

, , I a m convent bred .
,
”
an d ow e a ll I have and a m to Holy Church .
Ah that a ccounts for my sud den l i king to the e Art

, .
”
a graciou s youth Com e an d s ee m e wh enever thou w ilt
. .
Gerard to ok this as a hint that he might g o now It .
j ump e d with his own w i sh ; f or h e was curious t o h ea r what '
D enys h ad seen an d don e all this time H e m ad e hi s rever . ?
ence an d wal k ed out of the church ; but was no so oner cl ear

of it than h e s et of f to run with al l h i s might : and tearing ,
round a corner ran into a large stomach who s e o w ner

, ,
clutch ed him to k eep him self s t eady un der th e sho ck ; but

,
did not rel ease h i s hol d on regaining h i s e quil i bri um .

THE C L O IS TER AND THE HEARTH 22 7
Let go, man said Gerard , .
Not s o Yo u a r e my prisoner
. .
Prisoner ?
Wh at for in Heaven s name ,

’ ‘
2
”
What for ? Why sorcery , .
S OR CER Y ?
S orcery .
C HAPTER
'
XXXV I I
TH E culprits were condemned to stand p inioned in th e

—
,
m arket place for t wo ho urs that shoul d any p ersons reco g ,
niz e th em or any of them a s guilty of o th er crim es th ey ,
might dep o se to that e f fe ct at the trial

;
.
,
They sto o d however th e whol e p erio d and no o ne
, , ,
advance d anything fresh a gainst them This was th e l ess .
rem arkabl e th at they were night b irds vamp ires who ,
preye d in th e dark on weary travellers m o stly stran gers , .
But j u st as th ey were b eing tak en down a fearful scream ,
was h eard in th e crowd and a woman p o inted at on e of ,
them with eye s almo st starting from their s o ckets : b ut

,
er e s h e coul d sp eak s h e fainte d away

'
Then men and wom en crowde d round her p artly t o ,
a i d h er p artly from curio sity

, Wh en s h e b egan to recover .
th ey fell to conj ectures .
Twas at him s h e p o inted

’
.
’ ’
Nay twas at this on e , .
”
Nay nay said anoth er , twa s at y on hangdo g with
, ,
’
th e hair hun g round h i s n eck .
All further conj ectures were cu t short The p o or crea .
ture no so o ner recovere d h er s ens es th an s h e fl ew at the

landlord l ik e a lioness My chil d ! Man i m an ! Give .
”
m e b ack my child An d s h e s eize d th e glo ssy gol den hair
.
that th e offi cer s had hung round his neck an d to re it from ,
his n eck and covered it with kisses ; then h er p o or co n

, ,
fused mind clearing s h e s a w even by this token that her ,
lo st girl wa s dead an d sank su ddenl y down shrieking and ,
sobb in g s o o ver the p o or hair th at th e crowd ru sh ed on ,
the assassin with on e savage growl H is life had en ded .
th en and sp eedily for in tho s e days all carried death at ,
their g i rdl es But D enys drew his sword directly and

.
,
“
shouting A mo i c a m a r a d es l k ep t th e m ob at b ay
,
.
Who lays a fi n ger on him dies O ther archers b acked .
h i m and with som e d i f fi cu l t y they kept him uninj ured

, ,
wh i l e D enys app e al ed to tho s e wh o shouted for h i s
blo o d.
Wh at sort of vengeance is thi s ? woul d y ou b e s o m ad

as rob th e wh eel and give th e vermin an easy death ?,
Th e m ob was kept p assive by th e arch ers steel rath er ’
than by D en y s s words and gr owl e d at interv al s with

’
fl a sh i n g eyes Th e municip al offi c er s s e eing this collecte d

.
,
round and with the arch ers made a g uard an d prudently

, ,
carried th e accu sed b ack to gaol .
Th e m ob ho ote d them an d th e p rison ers indiscriminately .
D enys saw th e l atter safely lo d ged then mad e for Th e ,
Whi te Hart wh ere h e exp ected to fi n d Gerard

,
.
On th e way h e s a w two gi rl s workin g at a fi r s t fl oor -
window H e sal uted th em

. Th ey smil ed H e entered . .
into conversation Th eir m anners were easy the i r com

.
,
pl exio n high .
H e invite d th em t o a rep ast at Th e Wh ite Hart .
They obj ected H e ac quiesce d in their refu s al

. They con .
sented An d in this charming so ciety he forgot all ab out

.
p o or Gerard wh o m eantime wa s carried 0 1 1 to ga ol ; b ut

,
o n th e way su ddenly stopp e d havin g now som ewhat r e ,
covere d his p res ence of mind an d dem anded to know by ,
who s e authority h e was arrested B y th e vice —b aillie s ’

.
,
said th e constable .
—
Th e Vice b ai l lie ? Al as ! what h ave I a stran ger ‘
, ,
done to o f fend a Vi ce b aill ie ? For this charge of sorcery -
mu st b e a blind No sorcerer a m I b ut a p o or tru e lad

.
far from his h om e .
This vagu e shift dis g uste d th e offi c er Show him th e

cap ias Jacqu es said h e
, , .
J acques h el d ou t th e writ in b oth h ands ab out a yard ’

and a h alf from Gerard s eye ; and at th e sam e mom ent
th e large constabl e su ddenly p inne d him ; b oth offi c er s were
o n tenter ho oks l est t h e prisoner shoul d grab the do cum ent
-
,
to which th ey atta ch ed a sup erstitiou s imp ortance .
But th e p o or p risoner h ad no su ch thou ght Q uery .
whether h e would have tou che d it with t h e tongs H e j ust .
craned out h i s neck and read i t and to his i n fi n i t e surprise ,
found th e Vice b a i l i ti wh o h ad signed th e writ was th e

-
friendly al derman H e to ok courage and assured h i s cap

.
t or there wa s som e error But fi n d i n g h e mad e no i m .
p ression dem anded to b e tak en b efore th e al derman

, .
What s a y you to that Jacques ? ,
Imp o ssibl e We have no orders to tak e him b efore

.
his worship Read th e wr it

. .
Nay but go o d kin d fellows what harm can it b e ? I

, ,
will give you e ach an écu .
Jacqu es what say y ou to that ?

,
23 0 T HE CL O ISTER AND TH E HE AR T H
and leave a s t i n k of b rimstone Inst a ntly th ey were alone
'
.
“
th e curé unl o cked h i s countenan ce a n d wa s hi mself a gain

‘
”
Show m e th e trick o n t said b e al l curio sity ’
, ,
.
”
I c a n n ot s i r u nl ess th e ro om h e d arkened
, ,
.
The cur e sp eedi ly clo sed ou t th e light with a wo o den

”
shutter Now then .
,
.
?
But on wh a t s h al l I put i t s aid Gerard H ere is
'
no d ead face Twas that m ade it lo ok s o di re

.
’
Th e .
cur e gr op ed ab out the ro om Go o d ; h ere i s an im age : .
”
’
tis my p atron saint .
H eaven forb id ! Th at were profanatio n .
P shaw ! twill rub off wil l t not ? ’

,
’
Ay b ut it go es against m e t 0 t a k e su ch lib erty with

'
,
”
a saint obj ected t h e s or c er er
,
'
Fid dl estick ! said th e divin e .
To b e s u r e by p uttin g it on h i s holiness wi ll show yo u r

'
reverence it is n o S atanic art .
May hap twas for that I did prop o s e i t ’

said th e cur e ,
subtly .
'
Thu s encouraged Gerard fi r e d the eyes an d no stril s oi , .
th e image an d made th e curé j ump Then lighted up th e .
hair in p atches ; and s et th e whol e face shinin g l i ke a gl ow

worm .
By r Lady shoute d th e curé

’
tis strange and smal l
, ,
’
my wonder that they to ok you for a magician seeing a dead ,
face thu s fi r e d N ow com e thy ways with m e ! .
'
H e put on his grey gown and g reat h at and in a few ,
minutes th ey found themselves in p resen ce of th e al derma n .
B y his side p oisoning his mind sto o d th e accuser a singular

, , ,
fi gu r e in re d ho se and red sho es a black gown with blu e ,

-
b an ds and a co ck ed hat
,
.
After sal uting th e al derman th e curé turned to this ,
p ersonage and said goo d h u m ou r e d l y S o Man g is at thy , , ,

’
work a gain b abbling away honest m en s lives ! Come your
, ,
worship this is the ol d tal e ! two of a tra de can n e er a gree

,
’
.
Here is Mangis who professes sorcery and woul d sell him , ,
s elf to S atan to ni ght b ut that S atan i s not s o weak as b uy

-
,
what h e can have gr atis t his Man gis who woul d b e a , ,
sorcerer b ut is o nl y a quack s al ver accu ses of m a gi c a tru e

,
~
,
l ad who did but u s e in self defence a s ecret of chemistry

,
-
”
well known to m e and all churchmen
-
.
But h e is no churchman to dab bl e i n such mysteries , ,
obj ected th e alderman .
H e is more churchman than l aym an b eing convent ,

” “
bred and i n th e l esser orders said th e ready curé
, Th ere , .
fore sorcerer withdraw thy plaint without more words !

, ,
”
That w i ll I not your rev erence repli ed Mangis , ,
stoutly A sorcerer I a m but a white one not a black

.
, ,
THE CL O I STER AND THE HEARTH 23 1
on e . I m ake no p act with S atan but on th e contrary still ,
b attle him with lawful and n ecessary arts I ne er p rofane .

’
the sacram ents a s do th e bla ck sorcerers n or turn myself

, ,
into a cat an d g o su cking infants blo o d nor e en their ’

,
’
b reath nor set dead m en 0 fi r e

, I but tell th e p easants ’
.
when their cattl e and th eir h ens are p o ssess ed and at what ,
time of th e m o o n to pl ant rye and what days in each month ,
are lucky for wo oin g of wom en and selling of b ullo ck s an d

so forth : ab ove all it is my art and my trad e to detect ,
th e black magicians a s I did that whol e tr i b e of them who

,
”
were burnt at D ol but last year .
A y Mangis , And what is th e up shot of that famou s

.
fi r e thy tongu e did kindl e 2

‘
Why th eir ashes were cast to th e wind

, .
Ay But the tru e en d of thy comedy is this

. Th e .
parliam ent of D ij on h ath since sifted th e m atter and found ,
they were no sorcerers but go o d and p eaceful citizen s ; and ,
but last week did order m as ses to b e sai d f or their soul s ,
and exp iatory farces and mysteries to b e pl ayed f or them

in seven town s of Burgundy ; all which will n ot of tho se
cinders m ak e m en and women again N ow tis ou r cu stom .
’
in this land wh en we have sl ain th e inno cent by hearkenin g

,
fal se knaves lik e th ee not to blam e our credulou s ears but, ,
th e fals e tongu e that gulled th em Wherefore b ethink .
th ee th at at a word from m e to my lord b ishop thou wilt

, ,
smell b urnin g pine nearer th an e er knave sm elt it and lived ’
and wilt travel on a smoky clou d to him who se h eart tho u

b earest ( for th e word devil in the Latin it m eaneth fal se
”
accu ser an d who se livery thou w ea r es t .
And th e cur e p ointe d at Mangis with his sta ff .
That is tru e i f eg s said th e al derman’

for red an d
, ,
”
black b e th e foul fi en d y s colours .
B y this tim e th e white sorcerer s cheek was as colourless

’
a s his dress was fi er y Indeed the contrast am ounted to .
pictorial H e stammered ou t
. I resp ect Holy Church ,
a n d her will ; he shall fi r e the churchyard and all in i t for , ,
m e : I do withdraw th e plaint .
Th en wi thdraw thyself said th e vice —b aili f f

”
, .
Th e moment h e was gone th e curé to ok th e co nversa ,
t i on al tone and tol d the alderman courteou sly that th e

,
accused ha d received th e chemical sub stance from Holy

Church and had restore d it h er by giving it all to him
'
, , .
Then tis in go o d hands was th e reply ;

’
youn g man , ,
”
you are free Let m e have your reverence s prayers
.
’
.
D oub t it n ot ! Humph ! V ice b aillie the town owes ,
m e four s il V er frank s this three months and more ,

.
f They shall b e p aid curé a y ere th e week b e ou t

‘
.
, ,
0 n this goo d u n d er s t a n d i h g C hurch and State p arte d

,
.
’
As so o n a s h e was in th e street Gerard cau ght th e priest s
hand and kissed i t
,
.
Oh sir ! Oh your reverence

,
You h ave saved m e
, .
from th e fi er y st a ke Wh at can I say what do ? wh at .

,
Nou ght fo olish l ad B ounty rewards its elf

, N ath e . .
less— Humph ?— I wish I ha d done t without l easing It ’

.
”
ill b ecom es my functio n to utter fal seh o o ds .
F al seho o d s i r ? G erar d was m y s t ifi ed

,
.
D idst not hear m e say thou h adst given m e that sam e

’
pho sphoru s ? Twill co st m e a fortnight s p enance that
’
,
”
l i gh t w or d Th e curé sigh ed a n d h i s eye twinkl e d cunnin gly
.
,
.
N ay nay crie d Gerard ea gerly

, ,
N ow H eaven .
forb id ! That was no f al s eho o d father : well you knew ,

”
the ph o sphoru s was yours is yours An d h e thru st th e , .
b ottl e into th e curé s hand But a l as tis t oo p o or a

’
.
,
’
g i ft : w i ll you not tak e from my purs e som ewh at f or Holy

Church ? an d now h e h el d ou t his purs e with gl istening
eyes .
Nay said the oth er b ru squ ely and p ut his hand s

, ,
quickly b ehind him ; not a do it Fie l fi e ! art p aup er et .
exul . Com e thou rath er each day at no o n an d t a k e thy

diet with m e ; for my he a rt war m s to th ee ; and h e went
off very ab ruptly with his h ands b ehind him .
Th ey itch ed .
But th ey itch ed in vain .
’
Where th ere s a heart there s a Rub icon ’
.
Gerard went hastily to th e inn to rel ieve D enys of th e

anxiety s o long and mysteriou s an ab sence must have cau s e d
him H e found h im s eated at his eas e playing dice with
.
,
two youn g ladies who se manners were unres erved an d ,
compl exion high .
N ou b l i ez p o int la J ea n n et on i
’
Ger a rd wa s hurt .
said h e colouring u p
, .
Wh at of her ? said D enys gaily rattl ing the dice , .
Sh e said Le p eu qu e sont les femm es

, .
’
Oh did s h e ? And what s a y you to that m es d e

, ,
~
m oi s el l es ?
We say that none ru n wom en down b ut su ch a s are ,
”
to o ol d or t oo i l l favoured or to o witl ess to pl eas e th em
,
-
, .
“
Witl es s quotha ? Wise m en have n ot folly enou gh
,
to pl ea s e th em n or m ad ness enou gh to des i re to pl eas e

,
”
them s aid Gerard l oftily ;
, b ut tis to my comrad e ’
I sp eak n ot to y ou you b raz en to ads that make s o fre e

, , ,
with a m a n at fi r s t si ght .
Preach away co mrade Fling a b yword o r two at , .
ou r h eads Know girl s that h e is a very S olomon for

.
, ,
b vw or d s Methinks h e wa s brou ght up by hand on em

.
” ’
.
23 4 T HE C L O ISTER AND THE HE AR TH
Th e p ardoners are my go o d friends b ut p alm ers and pil ,
grims what th ink you I gain by them ? m arry a lo ss

, , .
Minstrel s and j ongleurs draw custom and s o claim to p ay

no score except for liquor,
B y th e s ecul ar m o nks I neither .
gain nor lo s e b ut th e black and grey friars h ave m ade vow

,
of p overty b ut n ot of famine ; eat l ike wolves and give the

,
p o or ho st n ou ght b ut th eir p rayers ; and mayhap not them :

’
h ow can h e tell ? In my father s day we had th e weddings ;
but now the great gentry l et their houses and th eir pl at es ,
their mu gs and th eir sp o ons t o any honest coupl e that , .
want to wed and th ith er th e Very m echanics g o with th eir

'
b rides and bridal train They com e not to u s : indeed we .
co ul d n ot fi n d seats and vessel s for su ch a crowd as eat an d

dri n k and dance th e week ou t at th e hom eliest wedding '
now In my father s day th e gr eat gentry sold wi ne by

.
’
the b arrel onl y ; b ut n ow t h ey have l eave to cry i t an d sell

'
,
it b y t h e g a I Op i n i n the very market pl ace How can w e

’
-
, .
Vi e with them ? They grow i t W e b u y it of the g rower

’
.
‘
.
Th e coroner s qu ests we have stil l and th es e woul d b r ing ,
go o dly p r ofi t b ut the m eat i s aye gone ere th e m outh s b e

,
full .
You shoul d m ak e b etter provi sion su ggeste d h i s ,
b e a rer .
Th e law will not l et u s We a r e forb idden to g o into .
the m ark et for th e fi r s t hour S o when we arrive t h e .

, ,
b urgh ers have b ou ght all b ut the refus e B esides th e law .

,
forb ids u s to b uy more than three b ushel s of m e al at a tim e :

y et mark et day comes but once a w ee k A s for th e butch ers .
,
”
th ey will not kill for u s unl ess we b rib e them .
Courage ! said Gerar d kindly th e sho e p inch es ,

”
every trader som ewhere .
A y : b ut not a s it p inch es u s Our sho e is tro de all .
’ ’
0 on e sid e as well as p inches u s l a m e A savo ir if we p ay .

,
not th e merchants we b uy m eal m eat ; and win e of th ey , ,

.
c a n cast u s into prison and k eep u s there till we p ay or die
B ut we cannot cast into prison tho se who buy th os e very

.
Vi ctu al s of u s A traveller s horse we may k eep for his

.
’
deb t ; b ut where in Heaven s nam e ? In ou r own stabl e ,

’
eating h i s h ead off at ou r co st Nay we m ay keep th e .

,
traveller hims elf ; b ut where ? In gaol ? Nay in ou r own ‘
go o d hous e and there mu st we lo dge and feed him g ratis

, .
And s o fl in g go o d silver after b ad ? Merci ; no : l et him g o

wi th a wanion Our honestest cu stomers are th e thieves
.
.
Would to Heaven there were m ore of them They lo ok n ot .
to o clo s e into the shap e of the can ak in nor into th e ho st s .
,
’
r eckoning : with th em and with th eir purses t i s lightly ’
com e and lightly g o Al so th ey sp end freely not kno win g

, .
,
bu t each carou se may b e th eir l ast But th e t b i ef takers .

-
,
in stead of p r ofi t i n g by this fair exampl e are for ever ,
robb ing th e p o or ho st Wh en nobl e or ho nest travel lers .
desce nd at our do or com e th e Provo st s men p retending t o

,
’
susp ect them and demanding to search them an d their

,
pap ers To save which o f fence th e ho st must bleed wi n e

.
an d meat Then com e th e excise to examine a l l your

.
weights and m easures Yo u mu st s t 0 p their m outh s with

.
m eat and wine Town excise . Royal excise P arliam ent . .
excise A swarm of them and al l with a wolf in th eir stom

.
,
a ch s and a sp onge in th e i r gullets Monks friars p il grims .

, , ,
p al mers soldiers excisem en provo st marshal s and m en

, , ,
-
,
’
and m ere b a d debtors how can The White Hart b utt ,
a gainst all these ? Cuttin g no thro ats in s elf —defence as do

your Swans and Ro ses and B o ar s Heads an d Red ’
’
Lions an d E a gles your Mo ons Stars an d Mo ors
,
’
,
’
,
’
how can The White Hart giv e a p int of wine f or a p int ?

An d everything ri sen s o W h y lad not a p oun d of bread .
, ,
I sell but co st m e thre e go o d C opp er deniers twelve to th e ,
s ou ; and each p int of wine ; b ou ght by th e tun co sts m e ,
four d eniers ; ev er y s a ck of charcoal two sou s an d go ne in ,
a day . A p a i r of p artridge s fi ve sou s What think you of .
that ? He a rd o n e ever th e l i k e ? fi v e sou s f or two littl e

b easts all b on e an d feath er ? A p a ir of p igeons thirty ,
deniers Tis r u i n a t i on l 1 1
.
’
For w e m ay not raise ou r
p r i c en with the mark et Oh no I tell th ee th e sho e is tro.de ,
on e side a s well a s p inche s th e water into our eyn

’
al l 0 .
We may charge nou ght for mu stard p epp er salt or fi r e , , ,
wo o d . Think you we get th em for nou ght ? Candl e it i s

a s ou the p ound S al t fi ve sou s th e sto ne p epp er four
.
,
s ou s th e p ound mu st ar d twenty d eniers th e p int ;

, and raw
meat d wi n dl et h it o n the spit with no co st to m e but lo s s
,
of wei ght ? Why wh at think you I p ay my co ok ? But

,
yo u shall n ever guess A HUND RED S O U S A YE AR AS .
I AM A L IV IN G S INNER
'
And my waiter thirty sou s b esides his p erquisite s , .
H e is a hantl e richer than I a m And then to b e insulte d

'
as we l l a s p illaged Last Sunday I went to church

. It i s .
a place I troubl e not often D idn t th e curé l ash th e hotel .

’
k eep ers ? I grant you h e hit all th e trades excep t th e on e ,
that is a byw ord for lo o seness and pride an d sloth to wit , , , ,
the clergy But min d you h e s t r i p ei t th e other lay estates

.
, ,
’
with a feath er but u s hotel k eep ers with a n eat s p izzl e :
’
-
,
go dless for this go dles s for that an d mo st go dl es s of al l for

, ,
op ening our do ors durin g mass

‘
W h y th e law forces u s .
,
to op en a t a l l hours to travell ers from anoth er t own stopp ing , ,
h al ting o r p assing : tho s e h e th e words

,
They can fi n e u s .
b efore th e b a i liff if we refus e th em m as s or no m ass ; and ,
s a y a to wnsman shoul d creep in with th e tru e travell ers ,

are w e to bl am e ? They al l vow th ey are tire d wayfarers ;
and can I ken every face in a great town lik e this ? S o i f
we resp ect th e law ou r p o or soul s ar e to s u fi er and if we ,
resp ect it not ou r p o or 1 ank p urses must bl eed at two

,
”
holes fi n e and lo ss of cu stom
,
.
A man S p eaking of h imself i n gener al is a b ab bl i n g ,

”
b ro ok ; of his wron gs a shining river , .
La b i t ur et l a b et ur i n o
m ne v o ub
l ili s aevu m .
So lu ckily f or my rea ders ; thou gh no t for al l con cern ed ,
this inj ure d orator w a s arr ested in mid car eer Another .
man burst in up on his wron gs with al l th e advanta ge of a

recent w rong ; a w ron g red ho t It was D enys cursing and .
swearin g and cryin g that h e was robb ed .
“
D id tho s e hu ssies p ass this way ? who are th ey ?
'
wh ere do th ey h id e ? They have ta en my p urse and ’
fi f t e en gol d en p ie ces : rais e th e hu e an d cry ! ah ! trait

r es s es ! Vip ers ! Thes e inns are all gu et ap ens -
.
”
There n ow cried th e lan dl ord to Gerard
, .
Gerar d implored him to b e c al m and s a y h ow it had ,
b efal len .
First on e w ent out on som e pretence : then after a

w hil e th e other went to fetch h er b ack and n either return ,
in g I clapp e d han d to p urs e and found it empty : th e u n

,
gr ateful creatures I was l ettin g th em win it in a gallop :

,
b ut lo ad ed dice were n ot quick enough ; they mu st cl aw

it all i n a lump .
Gerard was for goin g at o nce to th e al derman an d settin g

the offi c er s to fi n d them .
N ot I said D enys
, I hate th e law No : a s it
. .
cam e s o l et it g o .
Gerard w oul d not g ive it up s o .
A t a hint from t h e l a n dl or d h e forced D enys al on g with

him to th e p rovo st marshal Th at dignitary sho ok his
-
.
head .
‘
N e h ave n o clue to o cca sional thieves that work ,
honestly at th eir n eedl es till som e gull comes and temp ts ,
th em with an easy b o oty and then they pluck h i m , .
Com e away cried D enys furiou sly

, I k new what .
u se a b ourgeois woul d b e to m e at a p in ch : an d he m arched

0 11 in a rage .
Th ey are cl ear of the town er e this said Gerard , .
Sp eak n o m ore on t if you prize my fr iendship ’

I .
have fi ve p ieces w ith th e b ail i f f an d ten I l eft with Marion , ,
luckily ; or these traitresses had feath ered their nest with

my last plume Wh at do st gap e f or s o? Nay I do ill
.
,
to vent m y c holer on thee : I ll tell the e a l l A r t wiser

’
.
t han I W h at said st thou at th e d oor ? No m a t t er Well ,

.
.
”
then I did o f1 er marriage to th a t M anon
, .
23 8 THE C L O I STER AND THE HEA R TH
fem m es Al s o do b ut s ee how the greyb ear d s of our own
.
’
day sp eak of th em b e i g no longer b l inded by desire : thi s

al derman to wit n ,
.
,
Oh novice of novices crie d D enys not to have s een , ,
why that ol d 1 0 0 1 rai l s 5 0 on th e p o or thi ngs ! One day '
ou t of the mil lio ns of wom en h e blacken s on e di d p r ei er ,

'
som e othe r man to h i m : fo r which solitary pie ce of b ad

’
taste a n d t en to on e twas go o d taste h e doth b esp atter
'
, ,
creation 5 fairer h alf thereby pro vi n g what ? l e peu qu e sont

’
,
”
l es homm es
I se e women have a shrewd ch am pi on in th e e sai d
.
B ut the n ext m oment in

,
G erard w ith a sm il e
, q uired .
gravely why h e had not tol d h i m all t bi s b efore ‘ ;
D enys grinned Had th e gi rl s ai d Ay why th en .

,
’ ‘
’
I ha d tol d th ee strai ght But t i s a rul e with u s sol d iers . .
n ever to publish our defeats : t i s much if after each check ’
”
we clai m n ot a Victory .
Now that is tru e s ai d Gerar d Youn g a s I a m , .

,
I h ave s een this ; th at after every great b attl e th e gener al s

on b oth sid es g o to th e n ear est church a nd sin g each a ,
T e D eum f or th e Victory ; m ethink s a T e Ma r t em or T e ,
B el l on a m or T e Mer cu r i u m M ercury b e i ng th e go d of lies

'
, , ,
”
were more fi t t i n g .
_ Pas si b ete said D eny s approvi n gly

f ‘
, Hast a go o d .
eye : canst see a steepl e by daylight S o now t el l m e h ow .
thou hast fared i n thi s town all day .
Com e s ai d Gerard tis well tho u h a st a s k ed m e

, ,
’
f or el s e I h ad n ever tol d the e H e then rel at e d in ful l .
h ow h e had b een arrested an d b y what a p rovi dential ,
circum stance h e had escap ed lo ng impri s onment or sp e edy

c on fl a gr a t i on .
His nar rative p ro du ce d an e 11 ect b e littl e exp ecte d o r

”
d esired I a m a traitor
. crie d D enys I l e f t thee i n , . .
a str a n ge pl ace to fi gh t thine ow n b a t t l es wh il e I sho ok ,

‘
the dice with tho s e j ades Now tak e thou thi s sword a n d .
”
p ass it through my b o dy forthwi th .
Wh at for in Heaven s n am e ? inqu i re d Gerar d ’

.
”
F or an exampl e ro are d D enys For a warnin g to '
, .
”
all f al s e l o ons th at p r oi es s fr iendshi p an d di s grace i t
‘
, .
Oh very well s aid Gerard Yes No t a ba d

'
, , . .
notion Wh ere wi ll you have i t ?

.
Here throu gh my h eart ; that is where o ther m en

, ,
have a he art b ut I non e or a S atanic fal s e one

Gerard rr1 a d e a mo tion to run h i m th rou gh and nun g
, , .
his arm s roun d h i s n e ck instead I know n o way to .
thy h eart b ut this thou great silly thing , .
D enys uttered an excl amati on th en b u gged h i m warml y , ,

-
and qu i te overcom e by this sudden tu rn of you t hful
,
THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
affectio n and native grace gulp ed ou t in a broken voice , ,
R a il es t on wom en— and art— like th em— with thy pretty

’
ways Th y moth er s m ilk is in the e still
. S atan would .
l ove thee or l e b on D ieu would kick him out of h ell f or

,
-
shaming i t Give m e thy hand ! Give m e thy hand !

.
May ( a trem endou s o ath ) if I l et thee ou t of my sight

till Italy .
An d s o the stanch friends were m ore than reconc i l ed

after their short ti ff .
Th e n ext day th e thi eves were tried Th e p ieces d e .
convicti on w er e redu ced in numb er to th e great chagrin ,
of th e littl e clerk by th e interm ent of th e b ones

,
But th ere .
was st i ll a pretty show A thief s hand stru ck 0 1 1 fl a gr a n t e

.
’
delicto ; a murder ed woman s hair ; the Abb ot s axe and ’ ’

,
other to ols o f crime The skulls etc were sworn to by

.
, .
,
the constable s who h ad foun d them Evidence was lax in .
that a ge an d p lace They all co nfessed b ut th e landlo rd

. .
And Manon was call ed to b rin g th e crim e hom e to him .
Her evidence was conclu sive H e m ade a va i n attempt to .
shak e h er credib ility by drawing from h er that her ow n

sweetheart had b een o ne of th e gan g and that s h e had ,
hel d her ton gu e s o long a s h e was alive Th e public pro se .

.
c u t or cam e to the aid of h i s w i t n e s s an d elicited that a ,
knife ha d b een hel d to her thro at and h er own sweetheart ,
sworn with solemn o ath s to kill her shou l d s h e b etray

th em and that this terribl e threat and not th e m ere fear
, ,
of d eath had glu ed h er lip s

, .
The oth er thieves were condemned to b e han ged and ,
the landlord to b e b roken on th e wh eel H e uttered a .
p iercing cry wh en h i s s entence was pronounced .
As for p o or M anon s h e b ecam e th e subj ect of universal

,
criticism . N or did O p inion any lo nger run dead in h er

favour ; it divided into two bro ad currents And stran ge .
to relate th e m a j ority of h er own sex to ok her p art and

, ,
th e mal es were but equ ally divided ; which hardly happ en s

once in a hundred years P erhap s som e lady w i ll explain
.
th e ph enomenon A s for m e I a m a little s h y of explain

.
,
’
ing things I don t understand It h as b ecom e s o common . .
Meantime had sh e b een a lover of notorie ty s h e woul d

, ,
h ave b een happy for th e town talked of nothin g b ut h er

,
.
The p o or girl however had but on e wish ; to escap e th e

, ,
crowd that followed her an d hid e her head som ewhere ,
where s h e coul d cry over h er p endard whom all these ,
pro ceedings brou ght vividly b ack to h er a f fectiona t e r e

m em b r a n c e B efore h e wa s hanged h e had threatened
.
her life ; but s h e was not o ne of your fastidiou s girl s ,
wh o love th eir m ale divinities any the less f or b eatin g

them ki cking th em or killing t h em b ut rath er the b ett er
, , , ,
pro vided thes e attentions are intersp erse d with o ccasion al
c aresse s ; s o it wo ul d h ave b een od d indeed h ad sh e tak en
o fi en c e at a m ere threat of that sort H e h ad n ev er thre at .
ened h er with a rival Sh e sobb e d sin gl e minde d ly

.
-
.
Meant i m e th e inn was fi l l e d with th irsters for a sight

of h er who feaste d an d drank
,
to p ass away the time till ,
s h e sho uld deign to app ear Wh en sh e h ad b een sob b in g .
som e tim e th ere was a tap at h er do or and the l andlord

, ,
entered wi th a p r 0 p os al Nay weep not go o d l ass your

.
, , ,
fortun e it is ma de an you lik e S ay the word and yo u ar e .

,
’
chamb ermaid of Th e White Hart .
Nay n ay s aid Mano n with a fresh b urst of gr ief

, ,
.
’
N ever more wil l I b e a s ervant in an inn I ll g o to my .
m other .
Th e l an dl ord co nsole d an d coax e d her : an d s h e b ecam e

c al m er b ut none th e l ess determ i ne d a gainst h i s p rop o sal
,
.
Th e landl ord l eft her But ere lo ng h e returne d and

.
m ad e h er anoth er p rop o s al Wo ul d s h e b e his wif e an d .

,
l an dl a dy of Th e White Hart ?
”
You do ill to m o ck m e s ai d s h e sorrowf ul l y , .
Nay sweethe a rt , I mo ck thee not . I a m t oo ol d .
f or sorry j e sts S ay yo u th e word an d yo u ar e my p artner

.
,
f or b etter fo r worse .
Sh e l o ok e d at him an d s a w h e wa s i n earnest : on this

,
s h e su ddenly raine d h ard to th e m emory of I e p en dard :

th e tears cam e in a torrent b ein g th e last ; and sh e gave ,
”
h er h an d to th e lan dl ord of Th e White Hart an d b rok e ,
a gol d crown with him in si gn of plighte d troth .
W e wi ll keep it dark till th e hous e i s qu iet s ai d th e ,
landl ord .
Ay said s h e ;
, b ut m eantim e prithe e give m e linen
”
to h em or work to do for the tim e hangs on m e l ik e l ead
, .
’
Her b etrothe d s eye b rightene d at this ho u sewifely
re qu est and h e brou ght h er up two do z en fl a gon s of variou s
,
siz es to clean an d p olish .
Sh e gath ered complacen cy a s s h e r efl e ct e d th at by a

strange turn of fo r tun e all this bright p ewter was to b e h ers .
Meantim e th e l andl ord went do wnstairs and fallin g in ,
w ith our friends drew them aside into th e b ar .
H e then a ddress ed D enys with considerabl e sol emnity .
We are ol d ac quaintances and you want n ot f or saga city : ,
now advis e m e in a strait My cu stom is som ewhat de .
cl i n i n g : this girl Mano n is th e t al k of th e town ; s ee h ow

l
fu l the inn is to night— She doth refus e to b e my chamb er
.
maid . I have half a min d to m arry her Wh at think you ? .
shall I s a y th e word ?
D enys in reply m erely O p ened hi s eyes wid e with am az e
m ent .
mu ch p uz zle d p upil of anti quity whisp ered
- Le p eu que , ,
so nt l es hommes ,
Th e n ext m orn i n g Gerard was eager to start but D enys ,
w a s under a v ow to s e e th e mur derers of th e golden h ai red -
gir l execute d .
Gerard resp ecte d his v ow b ut avoided his exampl e ,

.
H e went to b id th e cur e farewell instead an d sou ght ,
an d receiv ed his bl es s i n g Ab out noon th e travel l ers got .
clear of th e tow n Just outsid e th e south gate th ey p asse d

.
th e gal lows ; it h ad eight ten ants : th e skel eton of M anon s

late wep t an d no w b ei n g i a st forgotten lover and th e
, , ,
’
b o dies of tho s e who h ad s o n early tak en ou r travell ers

lives A hand was nail e d t o th e b eam
. An d hard by o n .
a hu ge wh eel Wa s cl awed th e d ea d l an dlord with every b o n e ,
i n his b o dy b roken to p ieces .
G erar d averte d h i s head an d hurried b y D enys lin .
g e r e d an d crowe d,
over h i s d ead fo es T i m es are changed . ,
my l ads since w e two sat shak ing in th e col d aw ai tin g you

,
”
s even to com e an d cut our thro ats .
Fie D enys ! D eath s qu ares a ll reckonings

,
Prith e e .
p ass on without a noth er word i f yo u priz e my resp ect a ,

”
gr o a t .
To this earn est remonstr ance D enys yiel de d H e even .
s ai d thou ghtfully You have b e en b etter b rought up than,

”
I .
Ab out thre e in th e afterno on th ey reach ed a littl e town

wi th th e p eopl e b uzzing i n knots Th e wolves starved by .
,
t h e c ol d. h ad entered and eaten two grown u p p er s on s

, ,
-
‘
o vernight i n th e m ain s t r e et z i s o som e were blamin g th e

,
eaten No n e b ut fo ol s or knaves ar e ab o ut af ter n ight

fall ; o th ers th e l aw for n ot protecting th e town and others ,
th e co rp oration for n o t enforcin g what laws there were .
”
B a h ! th i s i s nothin g to u s s ai d D enys and wa s fo r , ,
resumin g th eir m ar ch .
”
A y b ut t i s r em onstrated Gerard
,
’
, .
Wh at ar e we the p air they ate ?,
N o b ut we m ay b e th e next p air
, .
”
A y n eighb our s aid an an ci ent man tis th e town s ’ ’
, , ,
fault for not ob eying th e du cal ordin ance which b ids every ,
sh opk eep er l ight a lamp o er h i s do or at sunset and bur n ’
it ti l l sunrise
“hat
.
On this D enys ask ed him som ewh at d erisively ,

T
m ade him fancy ru sh dip s would sc a re away empty wolves ?

Wh y mutto n fat i s all th e i r j oy
,
”
.
’
Tis n ot th e fat vain m an but th e light All il l, , .
'
things hate light ; e sp eci ally wolves and t h e imp s that lurk ,
I we en und er their fur , Exampl e ; P aris city stands in .
a woo d l ik e an d th e wolve s d o howl around it all n ight :

,
THE C L O ISTE R A N D THE HEARTH 243
yet of late years wolves com e b ut littl e in th e streets For .
why in that burgh the watchm en do thunder at each do or

,
that is dark an d mak e th e weary wight rise and light

, Tis .
’
”
my s on tell s m e H e is a great voyager my so n N i ch ol a s
.
, .
In further explanation he assured them that pre viou sly

to that ordinance no city had b een wors e infested with
wolves than Paris ; a tro op h a d b ol d l y assaulte d th e town '
in 1 4 20 and in 1 4 3 8 th ey had eaten fourteen p ersons in a

,
singl e month b etween Montmartre and th e gate S t A n .
t oi n e and that not a winter month even but S eptemb er

, ,
an d as for the dead which nightly lay in th e streets slain ,
in midnight b rawls or assas sinated th e wolves had u sed

, ,
to devour them an d to gr ub up th e fresh graves in th e

,
churchyard s and tear out t h e b o dies .
Here a thou ghtful citiz en su ggested that prob ably th e

wolve s had b een b ridle d of late in Par is n ot by candl e ,
lights b ut owing to th e English havin g b een driven ou t

,
of the kingdom of France For tho s e English b e very .
wolves themselves for fi er cen es s and greediness Wh at .
marvel then that un der the i r rul e our n eighb ours of France
—
shoul d b e wolf eaten ? This lo gi c was to o Suited to th e
tim e and place not to b e received with accl a mation But .
th e old man sto o d his groun d I grant y e tho se islanders .
are wolves ; b ut two — l e gge d on es an d littl e apt to favour ,
the i r four fo oted cou sins-

On e greedy thing loveth it .
anoth er ? I trow th e sam e token and this to o ,
I have from m y b oy Nicol e Sir Wolf d are not show his

.
,
no se in L ond on city ; thou gh tis sm aller than P aris an d ’
thick wo o ds h ard by th e north wal l an d therein great store ,

”
of deer and wil d b o ars rife as fl ie s at midsummer
, .
”
S ir said G erard
, y ou seem co nversant with wil d ,
b easts prithe e advise my comrad e h ere an d m e : we would

,
not waste tim e on th e ro ad an if we may go forward to ,
th e n ext town with reasonabl e safety .
’
Youn g man I trow twere an idl e ri sk
, It lacks b ut .
an hour of du sk and you mu st p ass nigh a wo o d wh ere

,
l urk som e thou sands of these h al f starved vermin rank -

,
cowards singl e ; but in gr eat b and s b ol d a s lions Wh ere .
fore I rede you soj ourn here the night ; an d j ourn ey on

b etimes B y the dawn th e vermin will b e tire d out with
.
ro aring and ramp aging ; and m ayha p will have fi l l e d their

lank b el lies with fl esh of my go o d neighb ours here th e ,
unteachabl e fools .
Gerard hop ed n ot ; and aske d coul d h e recomm end

them to a go o d inn .
Humph ! th ere i s th e Tete d Or My grand ’

.
’
dau ghter k eep s i t She i s a m ua u r é e but n ot s o knavi sh

.
,
as most hotel —
”
keep ers and h er h ouse indi ff erent clean , .
244 T H E CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
Hey for th e T ete d Or
,
stru ck in D enys decide d
‘
.
’
,
’
,
b y his in era di cabl e foibl e .
On th e way to i t Gerar d in q u ired of his c omp anio n ,
what a mi j auré e was ?

D enys l au gh ed at his i gn orance No t know wh at a .
mij aurée is ? why all the worl d knows that It i s n eith er .
m ore nor l ess th an a mij auré e .
As th ey entere d th e T ete d Or they met a y ou n g ’
l ady richl y dress ed with a v el v et chap eron on her h ead '
which was c on fi n ed b y l aw to th e n ob ili ty Th ey u nb o n .
mete d an d l oute d l ow and s h e curtsied b ut fi x e d h er ey e , ,
on vacan cy the whil e whi ch h a d a curiou s rath er than a ,
geni al e ff ect How ever nobil ity wa s not s o u nassuming

.
,
in tho s e days a s it is now S o they were littl e surp ris ed . .
B ut the n ext m i nute supp er was s erved a n d 1 0 ! in cam e

’
this princess an d carve d the go o se .
”
Holy S t B avon cried G erard
. Twas th e l an d lady
,
.
’
a ll th e whi l e .
A youn g woman curs ed w ith ni ce whi te teeth an d lovely

,
h ands : for th es e b eauties b e i n g mis al li e d to h omely fea

tures ha d turn ed her head Sh e was a feebl e carver
‘
,
.
,
carving not for th e s ak e of oth ers b ut h ers el f t e to di spl ay , .
h er h an ds When not ca r vi ng s h e w a s eternally either

.
taki ng a p i n ou t of h er h ead or h er b o d y or el s e p utting a ,
p i n into h er h ea d o r her b o dy T o di splay her teeth sh e .

,
lau ghe d i n di fi er en t l y at gay o r grave ; an d fro m ear to ear .
An d s h e s a t at eas e with her m outh aj a r ’’

.
Now th ere i s an ani m al in cre atio n of no g reat gener al

m erit ; b ut it has th e ey e of a h awk for a fi e ct a t i on It I S .
cal l ed a b oy An d Gerard was but a b oy still in som e

.
things ; swift to se e an d to l o ath aff ectation , S o D enys sat .
’
cast n g sheep 5 eyes and Gerard daggers at on e come di an , , .
Presently in th e midst of her minau deries sh e g a x e a

, ,
lo u d shriek and b oun ded ou t of h er chai r l ik e h are from

form and ran b ackwards out of th e ro om utterin g littl e
,
s cream s an d holdi n g her far thingal e tight d own to her

,
ank l es w ith b oth h a n ds An d a s s h e scuttle d ou t of the .
do or a mous e scuttle d b ack to th e wai nscot i n a state of

e qu al a n d p erhap s m ore reason a bl e terror
, Th e g u ests .
,
who ha d risen in a n xi ety at th e princip al yell now stoo d ,
i rresolute awhil e th en s a t down l au ghin g

, Th e tender .
D enys to whom a wom an s cowardice b eing a s ex u al trait

,
’
, ,
s eem ed a l ovely an d pleasant thing said h e would g o comfo rt ,
h er an d b rin g her b ack .
N a y ! nay ! n ay ! for p ity s sak e l et her b ide cried ’
Gerar d earnestly Oh blesse d m ous e ! sure som e sai nt

.
s ent th ee t o ou r aid .
Now at his right hand s a t a sturdy mi ddl e aged b urgh er -

,
24 6 THE C L O ISTER . AND T H E HEA R TH
l east . But th e tru e cau se so o n rev eal e d itself ; the fair
hand w a s p oked right under their eyes every tim e an obj ect
wa s in di cate d ; an d Gerard eyed it lik e a b asilisk and
'
longe d f or a bunch of nettl es

“
The sun s et an d th e travel .

,
l ers few i n numb er dr ew round th e great ro ar ing fi r e an d

, , ,
o mitting to go on th e sp it were fro z en b ehind thou gh ,

"
ro aste d in fr ont 3 For if th e Germ an stoves were oppress
.
i vel y hot th e F r en ch s al l es a m an ger were b itterly cold

'
, _
,
an d a b ove all s t ormy In Germ any m en s a t b areheade d .

-
ro un d th e stove an d to ok ofi their upp er clothes b ut in

, ,
Bur g u ndy th ey k ep t o n their h ats and p ut o n their war m e st ,
furs to s i t roun d th e gr e at O p en chimney places at wh i ch

.
-
,
th e external a ir ru sh ed furiously f r om d oor a n d ill fi t t i n g

'
-
'
win dow However it se em s the i r m edi aeval b acks were

'
'
.
,
b ro ad enou gh to b e ar i t : for th ey m ade themselve s not onl y

comfo rtabl e b ut m erry a n d b roke h arml ess j ests o ver e ach ,
’
other i n turu f F or i nstance D eny s s new sho es thou gh
.
, ,
not in d i re ct co mmu ni cation had th i s day e xpl o ded with ,
twin — l ik e s y m p a t h y a n d unan i mity Where do yo u buy

'
your sho on s ol di er ? ask e d o n e

, .
D enys lo oke d askant at Gerar d ; and no t lik i ng th e th em e ,

” ’
sho ok it off I gather em off th e trees by th e ro adsi de
.
,
s ai d h e sur lily .
Th e n you gathered th es e to o rip e sai d th e h o stess ,
wh o wa s onl y a t o ol extern al l y
'
”
A y rotten rip e
, ob s erve d another i n sp ect i n g t h em
, , .
Gerar d s a i d nothin g b ut p o inte d th e circu l a r sati re by ,
p antomim e H e sl ily p ut ou t b oth hi s feet on e after

. ,
another under D en y s s eye wi th their Germ an sho es on

,
’
, ,
which a hun dred l ea gu e s of travel had pro duce d no effect .
They s eem e d h ewn ou t of a ro ck .
A t this I ll twi st th e smo oth varl et s n eck that sol d

’ ’
,
”
m e m ine shoute d D enys in hu ge wrath and c onfi r m ed th e
, , ,
threats with sin gul ar o ath s p ecul iar to th e m ed i a val mil i

tary . Th e l a n dl ady put her fi n g er s in h er ear s thereby , ,
“
exhib iti ng th e h an d in a fresh attitu de T ell m e when ‘
”
he h as don e h i s orisons someb o dy s ai d sh e m in cingly , , .
An d af ter that they fell to telling sto ries .
Gerar d wh en his turn c a m e tol d th e adventure of D enys

, ,
an d Ger ard at t h e i n n i n D omfront and s o well that th e

'
, ,
hear ers were rapt i nto sweet ob l ivi on of th e very existence

of mij aurée and hands But this mad e h er very uneasy .
,
an d s h e h ad recours e to her grand coup Th i s misdirecte d .
geni u s had for a twelvemonth practi sed yawnin g and ,
coul d d o it now at any moment s o naturally a s to set all

creation gap in g coul d all creation have seen her , B y this .
means sh e go t in al l h er charm s For fi r s t sh e s h owed h er teeth .

,
then out of go o d b re edi n g you kno w cl o sed h er mou th

, , ,
with three tap er fi n ger s S o the moment Gerard s story.
’
got to o interesting and ab s orb ing she turned to and made ,

”
yawns and cro ix sur la b ou ch e
, .
This w a s all Very fi n e : b ut Gerard was an artist and ,
artists are chill ed by gap ing au ditors H e b ore up against .
th e yawns a long time ; b ut fi n d i n g they cam e from a

b ottomles s reservoir lo st b oth heart and temp er and
, ,
“
su ddenly risin g in mid narrative said But I weary ou r , ,
ho stess and I a m tired myself : s o go o d night !

, whipp ed
a candle off th e dre sser whisp ered D enys , I cannot stand ,
”
her and marched to b ed in a mom ent
, .
The mij aurée coloure d and b it her lip s Sh e h a d not .
intended her byplay f or Gerard s eye : and s h e s a w in a ’
m om ent sh e had b een rude and silly an d publicly rebuk ed , ,

.
Sh e s a t with ch eek on fi r e and a littl e natur al water in her ,
eyes and lo oked ten tim es comelier an d m ore womanly

,
and interesting than s h e h ad done all day The desertio n .
of th e b est narrator b roke up th e party and th e unassuming ,
D enys appro ached th e m editative mij aurée an d invited ,
h er in the mo st fl a t t e r i n g terms to gamble with him Sh e .
started from her reverie lo oked him down into the earth s ,
’
centre with chilling dignity and consented f or s h e remem , ,
b ered all in a moment what a show of hands gamblin g

'
admitted .
The soldier and th e mij aurée rattl ed the dice In which .
.
S p ort s h e was s o taken up with h er hands that s h e forgot ,
to cheat and D enys won an é cu a u sol ei ] of her

,
She .
fumbl ed slowly with her purse p artly b ecau se h er s ex do ,
n ot burn to p ay deb ts of ho nour p artly to a dmire th e play ,
of her littl e knu ckl es p eep ing b etween their soft white
cu shions D enys pr op os ed a compromise
. Thre e silver .
'
f r a n k s I wi n of you fair ho stess , Give m e now three kisses of .
”
this white h and and we ll e en cry quits
,
’ ’
.
”
You are malap ert sai d th e lady with a to ss of h er
, ,
head ; b e sides th ey are s o d irty

, S ee ! th ey are like ink ! .
and to convince him s h e put them ou t to him and tu rned

th em up and down They were no dirti er than cream
.
fresh from th e cow An d s h e knew i t : s h e was eternally

.
washing and s centin g them .
D enys read the obj ection like th e ob servant warrior h e

was s eiz ed them and mumbl ed th em
,
.
Finding him s o appreciative of h er charm sh e s ai d ,
timidly ,
Will you do m e a kindness go o d sol dier ? ,
”
A thousand fair ho stess an you will
, ,
.
Nay I ask but on e,

Tis to tell t h y comrad e I was
.
’
right sorry to lo s e his m o st thrillin g story and I h op e h e will ,
t ell m e the rest to — m orrow m orning M eantime I shal l n ot .
sleep f or thinkin g on t Wil t tell him tha t — t o pleasure m e ?

’
.
T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
Ay , I l ltell th e yo u n g savage
’
Bu t he i s no t worthy .
of your co ndescension sweet ho stess H e woul d rather b e

,
.
asid e a man than a woman any day .
So wo ul d — ahem H e i s right : th e young wom en

.
of th e d a y a r e not worthy of h i m
. u n tas des m ij auré es ,
.
H e has a go o d ho nest and r i gh t c om el y face

, , Any way . ,
I woul d not gu est of mine shoul d thi n k m e unm an nerly no t ,
f or al l th e worl d W i lt keep f a ith with m e and tell

.
him ?
Ou this fair han d I swear i t ; a n d thu s I s e al th e
”
pl ed ge .
There ; n o n eed to m elt th e wax though N ow g o t o , .
b ed . And tell h i m ere y ou sl eep .
Th e p ervers e to ad ( I th ank th ee M a rion for teachin g , ,
m e th at word ) was inclined to b estow h er slight aff e ction s

up on Gerar d N ot that s h e w a s i n fl a m m ab l e : far l es s s o
.
than many that p as s ed for pr u des in th e town B ut Gerar d .
p o ssesse d a triple attra ctio n that h as ensnar ed co qu ett es

in al l ages 1 H e was very handsom e
. . 2 H e d i d not . .
a d mir e h er th e least 3 H e ha d given h er a go o d slap in

. .
the face .
D enys wok e Gerard and gave th e m essage Gerard w a s .
not enchanted D o st wak e a tired m an to tell him that ?

.
Am I to b e p estered with mij aurées b y ni ght a s well a s

”
day ?
B ut I tell the e novi ce tho u hast co nqu ere d h er :
, ,
tru st to my exp erience : h er vo ice s ank to m elo diou s wh i s

p ers ; an d th e cunning j ad e did in a m anner b rib e m e to
.
’
c a rry th ee h er chall enge to Love s lists ! for so I rea d h er ,
”
m essage .
D enys then assuming the s enior and th e m an of th e

,
world tol d Gerar d th e tim e was co m e to show h im h ow a

,
sol dier understo o d friendship an d cam arad eri e Italy was .
now out of the q u estion Fate h a d p rovided b etter ; an d

.
th e b lind j ad e Fortun e had s m il ed on m erit fo r once The .
Head of Gol d had b een a p ro sp erou s i n n woul d b e a gain ,
wi t h a m an at i ts head A go o d general laid far sighte d

.
-
pl ans ; b ut was al ways ready t o ab ando n t h em s h ou 1 d , .
som e b rill iant a dvantage o ffer an d t o reap th e f u ll harvest ,
of t h e unfores een : twas chiefly by this trait great leaders

’
defeated littl e ones ; for thes e latter coul d d o nothing n ot

cut an d drie d b eforehand .
”
S orry friendship th at would marry m e to a mij auré e
, ,
interp o sed Gerard yawnin g , .
Comrade b e reasonabl e ; tis no t the friskiest sh eep

,
’
that fal l s down th e cli ff All creatures mu st have th eir .
fl i n g so on or late ; and wh y not a wom an ?

, \Vh a t m or e
frivolou s than a kitten ? what graver than a cat ?
N ay ; b ut sh e h ath risen from her b ed : by th e sam e
tok en I a m carrying h er thi s to cl ean h er withal ; an d sh e
a mu g with b o iling water and to ok it u p st a 1 r s
fi l l ed
.
,
B ehol d ” said Gerard th e very elem ents mu st b e

, ,
warm ed to suit h er skin ; what h a d th e saints said which ,
still cho s e th e col dest p o ol ? Away ere sh e co m e down an d

’
,
”
catch u s .
Tete d or wh 1 l e
’
They p aid t h e s core an d l eft th e , ,
i t s mistress was washing h er h a n ds .
C HAPTER XXX V I I I
O U T S I D E th e town th ey foun d th e snow fresh trampl e d by

innumerabl e wolves every fo ot of th e ro ad .
’
We di d well to tak e th e ol d m an s advice D enys ,
.
A y did w e For now I think o n t I di d h ear them

. ,
.
last night a s currying under ou r window and b owl in g a n d ,
wh ining for m an s fl e sh in yon mar ket pl ace’

But n o f a t -
.
‘
b urgh er did p ity th e p o or vagab onds an d drop ou t o ,
-
window .
G er a rd sm i l ed b ut with an air of ab straction

, '
.
An d they plo dde d o n i n sil ence .
Wh at do st m editate so profoun dl y ?
Thy go o dness .
D enys was anythi ng but pl eas e d at thi s answer Am ongst .
his o dditie s yo u may have ob s erve d that h e could stand a

great deal of re al imp ertin ence ; h e wa s so go o d humoured -
.
But woul d fi r e up now and th en where not ev en t h e shad ow '
of a ground for an ger exi sted .
A civil qu estio n m erits a civil reply said h e very ,

-
Al as I m eant no o ther s aid Gerard

, , .
Then why p retend you were thinkin g of my go o d n ess

wh en you know I have no go o dnes s under my skin ?
Had another said thi s I had answered Thou liest ,
'
, .
’
But to th ee I s a y Hast no ey e f or m en s qualities but o nl y

,
’
for wom en s An d once more I do d efy thy unreason abl e

’
.
’
chol er an d s a y I was thinkin g on thy go o dness of over

,
night Woul dst have wedded m e t o th e Tet e d Or o r

.
’
,
’
”
rather to th e tete de veau dorée and left thyself solitary ,
’
.
Oh a r e y e th ere l ad ?
, said D enys recoverin g hi s, '
,
go o d humour in a mom ent Well but to sp eak so oth .

, ,
I m eant that not for go o dness ; b ut for friendship and tru e

fellowship no more , And let m e tel l you my young .
,
master my conscience it p r i ck et h m e even now f or lettin g

,
y o u turn your b ack thu s on fortune and p eaceful days A .
truer friend than I ha d ta en and som ewhat hamstrung ’
thee . Then hadst thou b e en fain to lie sm a rt i ng at th e

Tete d Or a mo nth or s o ; yon skittish lass had nursed
’
thee tenderly and al l had b een well, Bla de I ha d in hand .
’
to do t b ut rem emb ering how thou hatest p ain thou gh it
, ,
b e but a s cratch my craven h eart it fail ed m e at the p inch

, .
And D enys wore a l o ok of humbl e ap olo gy fo r his lack of

V irtuous resolution wh en th e p ath of duty lay s o clear .
Gerar d raise d h i s eyeb rows with astonishm ent at this

monstrous but thorou ghly characteristic revel ation ; h ow
ever this new and delicate p o int of friendship was n ever
,
discu ss ed ; vi z wh eth er on e ou ght in all lo ve to cut th e

.
,
tendo n Achill es of o ne s friend For an incid ent inter’

.
p o sed .
Here com eth o ne in ou r rear a riding o n his n eighb our s -

’
mul e , shouted D enys .
Ger a rd turned round And how know y e tis n ot h i s .

’ '
own , pray ?
Oh blind ! B ecau se h e rides with no discretio n
,
.
An d in truth the m an cam e g al lop ing lik e a fury But .
what astonishe d th e friends mo st was that on reaching

them th e ru stic rid er s eyes O p ened sau cer like an d h e dr ew
’
-
,
th e rein s o su ddenly and p owerfu l ly that th e mul e stu ck ,
ou t her fore legs and went slidin g b etween th e p edestrians

-
,
like a four l egged tabl e on castors

-
.
"
I trow y e are from th e Tete d Or 2 They assented ’
.
Wh ich of y e is th e younger ?
H e that was b orn th e later said D enys winking at , ,
his comp anion .
Gramercy for the n ews .
Com e divine t h en l,
’
And shall Thy b eard is rip e thy fellow s is gr een ;
.
,
”
he shall b e th e younger ; here you n gster An d h e h el d , .
him out a p ap er p ack et Ye l eft this at th e T ete d Or

.
’
,
’
and ou r mistress s ends it y e .
“
Nay go o d fellow m ethinks I l eft nou ght
, ,
.
Gerard felt his p ou ch etc ,

.
Woul d y e mak e ou r burgess a liar said th e ru stic ,
repro achfully ; and shall I have no p ourb oire ? ( stil l

”
more repro achfully ) ; and came ventre a terr e .
”
N ay thou shalt have p ourb o ire and h e gave him a
, ,
small coin .
A la b onne h eure cried th e clown and his features

, ,
b eamed wt h d i Sp r op or t i on a t e j oy Th e V irgin g o with .

25 2 TH E C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
ye; com e u p Jenny ! and b ack h e went

, stom ach to -
”
earth as his nation is pleased to call i t
,
.
Gerar d undid th e p acket ; it was ab out s i x inch es

squ a re an d inside it h e found ano ther p ac ket wh ich c on
, ,
t a i n e d a p ack et and so on A t th e fourth h e hurle d th e

, .
wh o l e thing into the snow D enys to ok it out and reb u ked .
his p etulance H e excu se d hims elf on th e groun d of hatin g

.
affectatio n .
D eny s attested The gr eat to e of the littl e d aughter

,
of Hero dias th ere was no affectatio n here b ut o nly ,

, _
woman s go o d wit ’
D oubtl es s th e wrap s co nt ai ned s om e
.
’
thing wh ich out of d elicacy or h er sex s lovely cunnin g , ,
s h e wo u l d n ot h er hind sho ul d s ee her b estow on a youn g

”
m an ; thy g a rter to wit , .
”
I we ar none .
Her ow n then ; or a l o ck of her hair Wh at i s this ? .
A p iece of raw silk fresh from th e worm Well of al l the .

,
l ove tok ens !

N ow who b ut thee ever dream ed th at s h e i s so nau ght
a s send m e love tokens ? I s a w n o harm in her— b arring
”
her hands .
S tay here is som e t hing hard lurking in this soft n est

,
-
.
Com e for t h I s a y littl e nestlin g ! S aints and p i kestaves !

, ,
l o ok at this !
It wa s a gol d ring with a great am ethyst glowin g a n d ,
sp arklin g full col oured but p ure as c ryst al

, , .
How l ovely ! said Gerard inno cently .
An d h ere is somethin g writ ; read it thou ! I rea d

not s o glib as some wh en I know not th e matter b efore ,
’
h an d f
’
Gerard to ok th e p ap er Ti s a p o sy and fairly enou gh .
,
”
writ . H e read th e lines blu shin g like a girl They were , .
very nai ve and m ay b e thu s E n gl i s h ed z

,
You t hw i t h t h e e m y h ea r t i s fl ed d e,
,
C om e b a ck t o t h e g old en B edd e
‘
W il t; n ot ? y e t t h i s t oken k e ep e
Of h i r w h od oet h t h y g oei n g w e e p e .
G y f t h e w or ld p r ove h a rs h a n d c old,
C om e b a ck t o t h e B edd e of g old
‘
.
Th e little dove purre d D enys , .
Th e g reat owl l To g o an d risk h er go o d n am e thu s “
However thank Heaven sh e h as playe d t h i s p r a n k with

’
an honest la d that will ne er exp o s e h er folly But oh the ’

.
,
p er ver s en es s l Could sh e not b estow her nau seou s nes s o n

th ee ? D enys sigh ed an d shru gged On thee that art .
as rip e for folly a s herself ?

D enys confessed that his young friend h a d harp ed h i s V ery
25 4 THE »
C L O ISTER A ND THE HEAR T H
hath littl e m er r y p l ea s an t war toward a n d a
l ever s om e "
,
B urgundia n soldier i s st ill welcom e in h i s rank s ”

.
On this Gerar d op ene d his heart D enys ere I fell .

,
in with th ee I u s e d often to halt on the r o ad unabl e to g o

, ,
farther : my p uny h eart s o pull ed m e b ack : and then after ,
a short praye r to th e s a ints for aid wo ul d I rise and dr ag ,
my mo st unwill ing b o dy o nward B ut since I j oine d co m .
p any with th ee great i s my courage , I have foun d the .
sayin g of the ancients tru e that b etter is a bright comrad e ,
on the weary ro ad than a h ors e litter ; an d d ear b rother , ,
when I do think of what we h ave done a n d s u fi er e d to gether !

S a ve d s t my life from th e b ear a nd from yet m ore savage ,
t h ieves ; an d even p o or I did mak e sh ift t o draw the e ou t

of Rhine an d som ehow lo ved thee do ubl e fro m th at ho ur
, .
How m any ties tender and st ro ng b etween 1 1 5 1 Had I my

wi ll I d n ever n ever n ever n ever p art with my D enys
,
’
, , , ,
on this side the g rave Well a day ! Go d H i s wil l b e .

-
’
d on e fi
No my will shall b e don e this tim e shouted D enys
, , .
L e b o n D ieu has b igger fi sh to fry than yo u o r me I ll ’

.
g o
'
w i t h the e to -Ro m e There is my h an d on i t . .
’
Thin k what y ou s a y ! Tis imp o ss i bl e T i s t oo s el fi sh .
’
of me .
’
I tell th ee tis settl ed N o p ower can change m e
, .
A t R emiremo nt I b orro w ten pieces of my uncl e and on

.
,
f
we g o ; tis fi x ed ; irrevo cabl e a s fate .
Th ey sho ok hands over i t Th en Gerard s aid noth ing .

-
for h i s heart was to o ful l ; b ut he ran tw ice ro un d his com

p a nio n a s h e wal ke d then danced b ackwards in front of
,
h i m and fi n al l y took his hand and s o on they went hand

, ,
in hand lik e sweethearts till a comp any of mounted sol diers , ,
ab out fi f t y in numb er ro se to sight o n th e b row of a h ill

, .
S ee the b anner of B ur g u ndy said D enys j oyfully ; I ,
shall lo ok out for a comrade among th es e .
How gorgeous i s th e standard i n th e s u n said G erard ;

.
an d ho w b rave are th e leaders -with velvet an d feathers ,
and steel b reastplate s l i ke glassy mirrors !

When they cam e near eno u gh to distin g uish f aces D enys ,
W h y tis the B astard of Bur

'
’
utt ered an exclamatio n : ,
gun dy as I live, Nay then ; there is fi gh t i n g a f o ot S ince

.
,
-
he i s out ; a gallant l eader Gerar d rates his life no h igher , ,

’
than a p rivate soldier s and a s oldier s no hi gher than a ,
’
’
tomtit ss ; and that is the captain for m e .
And s ee D enys th e v ery mul es with th eir gre at b rass

, ,
frontl ets and trappings seem p rou d to carry them ; no

wo nder m en itch to b e sol diers ; and in th e midst of this
inno cent a dm i ratio n the tro op cam e up with them .
Hal t ! cried a stentorian vo ice Th e tro op halted . .

TH E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 25 5
The B astard of Burgundy b ent his b row glo omily on D enys :

How now arb al estrier how com es it thy face is turne d
, ,
southward when every go o d hand and heart is hurrying

,
northward ?
D enys replied resp ectfu l ly that h e was goin g on leave ,
after som e years of service to se e his kindred at R emiremont , .
Go o d But this is not the tim e for t ; the duchy is

.
’
disturb ed H o! b ring that dead soldi er s mul e to th e ’

.
fro nt ; and thou mount her and forward with u s to

”
Flanders .
S o pleas e your highness s ai d D enys fi r m l y that , ,
may not b e My hom e is clo se a t hand

. I have not seen .
it these three years ; an d ab o ve all I h ave this p o or youth ,
in charge whom I may not cannot leave till I see him

, , ,
shipp ed for Rom e .
D o st b andy word s with m e ? said th e chief with ,
am azem ent turning fast to wrath

, Art weary o thy .
’
life ? L et go th e youth s hand and into th e sa d dl e withou t ’
more idle words .
D enys made no reply ; b ut h e h eld Gerard s h and th e ’
tighter and lo oke d d efi a n c e

, .
A t this th e Bastard ro ared Jarnac dismount s i x of , ,
thy archers and sh o ot m e this white livered cur dea d where

,
-
he stands— f or an example .
The young Count de Jarnac second in comm and gave , ,
th e order an d th e m en dismounted to execu te i t

,
.
”
Strip him naked said th e B astard in the col d ton e, ,
o f m il itary bu siness and put hi s arms an d accoutrem ents

,
’
o n the sp are mule W e ll mayb e fi n d som e clown worthier
. ,
”
to wear them .
D eny s groaned al ou d A m I to b e sham ed a s well a s ,
slain ?
Oh nay ! nay l nay ! cried Gerard awaking fro m th e
, ,
s tup or into which this thunderb olt of tyr anny had thrown
’
him . H e shall g o with you on the i nstant I d liever .
p art with him for ever than s e e a hair of his dear head
harmed . Oh s i r oh my lor d give a p o or b oy but a
, , , ,
m inute to b id his only friend farewell ! h e w i ll g o wi t h you .
I swear h e shal l g o with you .
Th e stern leader no dde d a col d contemptu o u s a ssent .
Thou Jarnac stay with them an d bring him o n alive

, , ,
”
or dead Forward !
. And b e resumed his ma1 ch fol ,
lowed b y al l th e b and but th e young count and six a r chers ,
one of whom h el d th e sp are mule .
D enys an d Gerard gazed at on e another haggardly Oh .

,
what a lo ok !
And after this mute interchange of an g u ish they S p ok e ,
hurriedly f or th e mom ents were flying b y

,
.
Thou go est to Holland : thou knowest where sh e b ides .
T ell h er all Sh e wil l b e kind to the e for my s a ke

.
.
Oh sorry tal e that I sh all carry her ! For Go d s s ak e

’
, ,
”
O a m m ad
’ ’
g o b ack to th e Tete d r I . .
Hush ! L et m e think : have I nou ght to s a y to th ee ,
D enys ? my h ead ! my hea d !

Ah ! I have i t Mak e for th e Rhi ne Gerard ! S tras. ,
b ourg T is but a step

.
’
An d down th e current to Ro tter .
’
dam Margaret is th ere : I go thith er
.
I ll tell h er tho u .
”
art coming We sh a ll all b e to geth er
. .
My lads haste y e or y e will get u s into troub le said

, , ,
th e cou nt fi r m l y b ut not h ar shl y now ,

.
Oh s i r on e m om ent ! on e little m oment !

, ,
p anted
Gerar d .
Curs ed b e th e l an d I w a s b orn i n ! cu rsed b e th e ra ce

of man ! an d h e th at m ade th em what th ey are ! scr eam e d
D enys .
“
H ush D enys hu sh ! blasphem e not !
,
0 11,
G o d for ,
gi ve him h e wots not what h e says

,
B e p atient D enys .
, ,
b e p atient : thou gh we m eet no mo re o n earth l et u s m eet ,
in a b etter world where no blasphem er m ay enter , To .
my heart lo st frien d ; for what are words now ?

,
H e h el d
ou t his ar ms and th ey lo ok e d o ne another in a clo se
,
emb ra ce Th ey kissed on e anoth er a gai n and a gain S p eech

.
,
less and th e tears rained down th eir ch eek s

,
An d th e Count .
J arnac lo ok ed o n amaz ed b ut th e rou gher sol diers to wh om , ,
comrad e was a s acre d nam e l o oke d o n with som e p ity in ,
their h ard faces Then at a sign al from J arnac with kin d

.
,
force and words of ru de co nsolatio n they al mo st l i fte d ,
D enys o n to th e mul e ; an d puttin g him i n the mid d l e of

them spurred af ter the i r l eader
,
And Gerard ran wil dly .
afte r ( for th e lane turn ed ) to see th e very l ast of him ; and ,
th e last glimp se h e cau ght D enys w a s ro cking t o and fro ,
on his mul e a n d tear in g his hair out

, But at thi s sight .
so methin g ro s e in Gerar d s thro at s o high s o high he coul d ’
, ,
run no more n or b reath e b ut gasp ed an d l ean ed a gainst , ,
th e snow clad hedg e s eiz ing i t and choking p iteou sly

-
, , .
Th e thorns ran into his hand .
Af ter a b itter stru ggl e h e go t his b reath a gain ; an d no w

b egan to see his own misfortune Yet n ot all at o nce to .
realize i t so sud den an d numb ing wa s the stroke

, He .
staggered on b ut scarce fe eling or carin g whith er h e wa s

,
go in g ; and every now and then h e stopp e d and his arms ,
fel l and his h ea d sank on his chest and h e sto o d motionl ess , ,
th en h e s a id to h i mself Can this thing b e ? This must ,
T i s scarce fi v e minutes since we were s o

’
b e a dream .
hap py w a lking hand ed fari n g to R om e to geth er and we

, , ,
25 8 TH E C L O ISTER AND T H E H E AR T H ‘
m ore ado nor p ut u s to th e p ain of slitting thy thro at and

,
taking it al l th e s am e .
This knave is right s ai d Gerar d cal ml y alou d b ut , ,
to h i mself I ou ght not to fling away my life ; Margaret

.
woul d b e s o sorry Tak e then the p o or m an s purs e to t h e .

’
.
rich man s p ou ch ; and with it this ; tell him I pray t h e

’
Holy Trinity each coin in it m ay b urn his hand and freez e

~
,
h i s h eart and blast h i s soul for eve n

, B egon e and l eave :
m e to my s or r ow l H e flung th em the purse

’
They ro d e away mutterin g ; for h i s words prick e d th em

a little ; a very littl e : an d h e staggere d on p ennil ess now ,
as well as frien dl es s till h e c am e to th e e dge of a wo o d ,

.
Then thou gh his heart coul d har dl y fe el this second blow

, ,
his j ud gm ent d i d ; an d h e b egan to a s k h i m s el f what was

‘
the u s e goin g furth er ? H e s a t do wn on th e har d ro ad ,
and ran his nail s into h i s hair an d tried to think for th e ,
b est ; a task al l th e m ore d i ffi cu l t that a strange drowsiness

was ste al ing over him Rom e h e coul d never reach without .
mo ney D enys had said

.
‘
G o to S trasb ourg and down , ,
th e Rhin e hom e H e woul d o b ey D enys But how get

. .
to Strasb ourg without m on ey ?

Then sudde nl y s eem ed to rin g in h i s ear s
Gy i t h e w orld prov e h a r s h and col d
Com e ba ck t o t h e B ed d e of g old .
A nd ii her s ervant ; I who a m

- I do .
I m u s t go '
as
I a m a we a ry a —we a ry
’
Margaret s . I will sl eep and -
, .
'
dr eam a l l is a s it was Ah m e how happy were we an hour .

,
a gon e w e littl e kn ew h ow happ y Th ere is a hous e : the

'
, .
o wn er well to do Wh at if I tol d him my wron g and

- -
.
"
prayed his aid to retrieve my purs e and so to Rhin e ? PO O1 ! ,
i s h e n ot a m an lik e th e rest ? H e woul d scorn m e and

,
trampl e m e lower D enys c u r s e d t h e race of men That . .
wil l I n ever ; b ut oh I gin t o l oa t h e a n d d r ea d th em ’ '
,
. .
.
Nay h er e wil l I li e till sunset : t h en d a rkling creep into

,
r
’
this rich man s b arn and tak e by steal th a d rau ght o f milk ,
or a handf ul 0 grain to keep b o dy and soul t o g et h en

’
Go d , ,
who hath s een th e rich rob m e will p eradventure fo r give ,

.
’
me . They s a y t i s i ll sle ep in g on th e snow D eath steal s .
on su ch sl eep ers with mu f fl ed fe et an d ho ney b reath But

’
what can I ? I am a weary a weary Sh a l l thi s b e th e wo o d

'
- -
, .
where lie th e wolves yon ol d man sp ok e of ? I must e e n ’
t r U s t them : th ey are n ot m en ; and I a m s o a weary -

.
H e crawl ed to th e ro adside an d stretch ed out his limb s ,
on the snow with a d eep sigh , .
Ah te a r not thine hair

, so l teareth my h eart to s ee
TH E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 25 9
M ar— garet Never see m e more Po or Mar—

. .
ga
.
An d the t oo tend er heart was still .
And th e co n stant lover and fri end of antiqu e mould , ,
lay silent o n the snow ; in p eril from th e weathe r in p er i l ,
from wil d b ea st s in p eril from hunger friendl es s and p enni

, ,
less in a strange land and not half way to Rome

, , .
CHAPTER XXX IX
RUDE . t r a vel
is enticing to u s English And s o are its .
records ; even thou gh th e adventurer b e no p ilgrim of l ove .
And antique friendship has at l east th e interest of a fo ss i l .
Still as the tru e centre of this story is in Holl and it i s i n l l

, ,
'
time to return thither and to tho se o rdinary p ers onage s ,
and incidents whereof life h a s b een mainly comp o sed in all

ages .
Jorian Ketel came to P eter s hous e to claim Margaret s ’ ’
promise ; b ut M argaret was ill in b ed and Peter on hearing , ,
his e rrand a fi r on t ed him and warne d him o ff the premises

, ,
and one or two that sto o d by were for du cking him ; fo r

b oth father and dau ghter were favourites and th e whol e
’
, .
story wa s in every mouth and S even b er g en s in that state ,
of hot u ndiscriminating irritation which accomp anie s

,
p opular symp athy .
S o Jorian Ketel went off in d u d geon and rep ente d him ,
of his go o d deed This so rt of p enitence i s not rare and

.
,
has th e merit of b eing sincere D i er i ch Brower who w a s .

,
”
d iscovered at Th e Three Kings ‘ f
making a Chatterb ox ,
drunk in order to worm ou t of him th e wh ereab outs of

Martin W i t t en h a a g en was actually tak en an d fl u n g into
,
a h orse p ond and threatene d with worse u sage sh oul d h e

-
, ,
ever show his face in the burgh a gain ; and fi n a l l y municipal ,
j ealou sy b eing rou sed the burgomaster of S evenb ergen sent

,
a formal missive to th e burgomaster of T er g ou remindin g ,
him h e had o verstepp ed th e l aw and requesting him to ,
apply to th e authoritie s of S evenb ergen on a n y future

o ccasio n wh en he mi ght h ave a complaint real or imaginary , ,
against any of its townsfolk .
The wily Gh y s b r e ch t suppressin g his ra ge at this r e ,
monstrance sent b ack a civil messa ge t o s a y that th e p erso n

,
h e had followed to S evenb ergen wa s a T er g ov a n on e ,
Gerard and that h e had stolen th e town reco rd s : that

,
-
Gerar d h aving escap ed into foreign p arts and prob ably taken ,
the documents W ith him th e whol e matter w a s at an en d ,

.
260 THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
Thu s h e m ade a Virtu e of n ecessity But i n reality h i s
’
calmnes s w a s b ut a ve i l : b a f fle d at S evenb ergen h e turne d ,
his v iews els ewhere ; h e s et his emissaries t o l earn fro m th e

'
fam ily at T er gou whither Gerard had fl e d an d

.
to h i s ,
i n fi n i t e surprise th ey di d not know This add ed to his .
uneasiness It m ade him fear Ger a rd wa s o nly lurking in

.
th e n eighb ourho o d : h e woul d mak e a certain discovery ,
and woul d com e b ack and tak e a terr i bl e revenge From .
this tim e D i er i ch and others that were ab out him noticed

a ch ange for th e wors e in Gh y s b r ech t V an S w i et en He .
b ecame a mo o dy irritabl e man ,

A dread lay o n him His '
. .
eyes ca st furtive glances l i k e on e wh o exp ects a blow an d , ,
knows not fro m wh at qu a rter it i s to come M a king others .
wretch ed had not m ade him happy I t s el d om do es .

r .
Th e littl e family at T er g ou ; which b ut : for his Violent ,
interference might in tim e h ave cem ented its di fference

,
-
without b anishing s p em gr e gi s to a d i s t a n t land wore st il l ~

,
th e same outward features b ut within was no l onger th e ,
s impl e happy family this tal e op ened with Littl e K ate .
knew th e share Co rnelis and S y b r a n d t had in b anishin g

Gerar d and thou gh for fear of making more mischief still
, , ,
s h e n ever tol d her m o th er yet th ere were tim es sh e shu d,
d ered at th e b are sight of them an d blushe d at their hyp o ,
critical re grets Cath erine with a wom an s Vigil ance

.
,
’
noticed this and with a woman s sub tl ety sai d nothin g

,
’
b ut quietly p o nd ere d i t and went o n watching for m ore , .
Th e black sh eep them selves in th eir e f forts to p artak e in ,
th e general glo om and so rrow su ccee de d s o far a s to imp o se ,
up o n their fath er and Gil es : but th e demur e sa t isfa ctio n

that lay at their b ottom coul d not e scap e these feminine
eyes
Tha t n ot i n g a l l s e em d n ou g h t t o n ot e ” ’
, , .
T hu s mistrust an d su sp icion s a t at th e tabl e p o or ,

’
s ub stitutes for Gerard s intelligent face that had brightene d ,
th e whol e circl e unob served till it w a s gone

, A s for th e .
ol d ho sier his pride had b ee n wounded by hi s s on s d i s

,
’
o b edience and s o h e b ore s t ifll y u p an d did h i s b est never

, ,
’
to m ention Gerard s nam e ; b ut un dern eath his Sp artan
clo ak N ature might b e seen tu gging at his h eart stri n gs
,
-
.
On e a nxiety h e n ever a ff ected to conceal If I but k new .
wh ere th e b oy is an d that his life and h ealth are in n o

,
dan ger sm all would b e my care would h e s a y ; and then

, , .
a d eep sigh woul d follow I cannot help thinking that if .
G erard had op ene d th e do or j u st then and walk ed i n t h er e , ,
woul d have b e en many tear s and embraces for him and .

,
few repro ach es or no ne ,
O n e thing to ok th e ol d couple qu ite b y surp rise— p ub

.
26 2 TH E C L O IS T E R AN D ‘
TH E .
H E AR TH
z
mal a dy left h er at last but in t h a t t er r i b l e s t a t e of b o dily ? ,

z
weak nes s in which the p atient feel s l i fe a b ur den .
Th en it is that love and friendship by the b edside are mortal

'
an gel s with comf ort i n th eir vo i ce an d h eal ing in the i r p alms ,

.
But th is p o or gi rl ha d to co me b ack to l i f e a n d vi gour . .
how s h e coul d Many days . th e h eavy

hours roll e d lik e l ea den wave s over her In h er enfeeb l ed .
stat e e xi stence se em e d a burden an d life a thi n g gon e b y

’
.
,
She coul d: not try h er b e st to get w el l z i Gerard w as gon e . .

'
,
'
Sh e had not him to get well for Often s h e lay fo r h ours .
qu ite still with th e t ear s w elli ng gently ou t of h er eye s

'
. .
,
O ne day wak i n g from a rb u n ea sy slumb er s h e foun d

"
'
, ,
two wom en in her ro om £ On e w a s :a serv a nt ; th e o t her b y

'
: . .
th e deep fur o n h er c oll ar an d sle eve s was a p ers on of con

sider atio n : a n ar ro w b an d of si l very h a i r f b ei n g sp ared b y
'
her c oi fi u r e s h ow e d h er t o b e p a s t t h e age when wom en of

,
r .
sense c on c eal ed t h ei r y e ars ~ Th e l o ok s of b oth were kind

'
’
.
a n d fri en d l y Mar g a ret tried to r a is e h er s elt i n t h e b e d ; f

- h
.
but th e ol d l ady p l a ce d a hand v er y g en t l y o n h er

'
. z .
Li e still swe ethe a rt ; w e com e not h ere to put you

,
'
ab o ut b ut t o c om f or t y ou G od w i ll i h g N OW 1 ch eei u p
,
i '
‘ , . .
'
a bit and tel l u s fi r s t wh o i t hi n k you we ar e ?

, , ,
.
‘
“
N a y ; ma dam I k n ow y ou t h ou gh I n ev er s a w yo u '
’
,
: ’
,
b efore : you } are th e demo i s ell e Va n E y ck a n d t h i s i s R ei ch t

'
'
'
,
' '
H ey n es Gerard h a s oft sp ok en of y ou and of y our go od

'
. .
,
'
n es s t o him Madam h e h a s no fri en d lik e y Ou n ea r him

'
' ‘
. -
,
.
now , an d at this thou ght s h e lay b ack -a n d the tear s ,
well ed ou t of h er eyes in a mom ent

Th e go o d n ature d R eicht H ey n
.
-I es b egan to cry for '
comp an y ; b ut her m istr ess scolde d her ; Well you a r e =

,
:
a p r etty on e for a sick sai d sh e ; a nd sh e put ou t ia

'
‘
'
worl d Oi i nno c ent ar t to ch eer th e p atie n t ; an d no t witho u t

som e littl e su ccess A n o l d woman that h a s seen l i f e a n d
'
.
,
'
all its troubl es i s a s overeign bl ess i n g b y a so rro wf ul youn g

,
c
'
wo man s side ) Sh e knows what t o sa y a n d wh a t t o avoid
’
. -
,
'
Sh e knows how to soo th e h er a n d i n t er es t h er i E r e s h e .

. .
f
:
had b een th ere an hour s h e had M ar gar et S h ea d lying on ,

’ '
her s h ou l d er i n s t e a d oi -on t h e p ill ow an d Mar g a r et s s of t ’

'
eye s dwel lin g on her with gentl e gratitu de .
Ah ! thi s 1 5 h air said th e ol d lady runn in g her fi n g er s , ,
throu gh i t Com e and l ook at i t R ei ch t l 5
R eicht cam e an d han dle d i t an d p ra ise d it u n a fi e

.
c t e d ly
,
, .
Th e p o or gir l that owne d it was n ot quite ou t of th e r e ac h

of fl a t t er y : w
o in g d oubtless to not b ein g de ad ’
.
In so oth m adam I d i d u se to think i t h i d eou s ; b ut

, ,
'
h e praised i t an d ever sin ce then I h av e b een a l mos t N a i n

'
of i t saints for give m e

, You know how f ool i s h xt h os e a r e .
.
'
”
that love .
TH E C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 263
’
They are greater fo ol s that do n t said the ol d lady ,
sharply .
Margaret op ened her lovely eyes and lo oked at her f or ,
her m eanin g .
This w as only th e fi r s t of m any visits In fact ei t her .
Margaret V an Eyck or Reicht cam e nearly every day u ntil

their p atient was co nval escent and s h e improve d rap idly ,
under their hands Reicht at t ri b uted this princip ally to

.
certain nourishing dishes s h e prep ared in P eter s kitchen ’
but Margaret herself thou ght more of th e kin d words and

eyes that kep t tellin g her s h e had friends to live for .
Martin W i t t en h a a g e n wen t s t r a i gh t to Rotterdam to ,
tak e the bull by the horns Th e hull was a bip ed with a .

,
crown for horns I t was Philip th e Go o d duk e of this

.
, ,
earl o f that lord of the other Arrived at Rotterdam

, .
,
Martin found th e court wa s at G hent T o Ghent h e went .

,
and sought an audien ce b ut was pu t off and b a fi l e d by ,
l ackeys an d p ages S o h e threw himself in his soverei gn s

’
.
way out hunting an d contrary to al l court preced ents

, ,
—
comm enced th e conversation b y ro aring lu stil y for m ercy .
Why where is th e p eril man ? said th e duk e lo oking

, , ,
all round and lau ghing .
Grace for an ol d soldier hunted down by b u r gh er s l

N ow kings di ff er in character like other folk ; but there
i s on e trait they have in common ; they are mightily
inclined to b e a ff able t o m en of very l ow estate Thes e .
do not Vie with them in anythin g whatever s o j ealou sy ,
cannot creep i n ; and they amu se them by their bluntness

and novelty and refresh th e p o or things with a tou ch of
,
Nature— a rarity in courts S o Philip th e Go o d reined in .
horse an d gave Martin almo st a é -cl - t é

t a and Martin
‘
’
h si t t e ,
reminded him of a certain b a t t l efi el d where h e had receive d

an arrow intended for his soverei gn Th e duke rem em .
b ered th e incident p erfectly and wa s graciously pleased to ,
take a ch eerful view of i t H e coul d a fford to not having

.
,
b een th e on e hit Then Martin told his ma j esty of G erard s

.
’
fi r s t c apture in th e church h i s imprisonment in th e tower , ,
and the man oeuvre by which they g ot him ou t and all the ,
d etails of the hunt ; and whether h e tol d it b etter than I

have or the duke had not heard s o m any go o d sto r ies a s
,
you have certain it is that sovereign got so wrap t up in i t

, ,
that when a numb er of courtiers cam e gall op ing up and

,
interrupted Martin he swore like a co sterm onger and,

'
,
threatened only half i n j est to cut off th e next head that

, ,
should com e b e t ween him and a goo d story ; and when

Mart in had d on e h e c ried ou t
-
,
S t Luke ! what sp ort go eth on in this mine e a rldom

.
,
2 64 THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
ay ! in my own wo o ds and I s ee it not You b ase fellow s ,
.
”
have all th e luck An d h e was indignant at the p artiality
.
”
of Fortune L o yo u now ! this was a man hunt said -
. ,
”
he I n e ver h ad the luck to b e at a m an hunt -
.
”
My luck was none s o g reat replied Mar tin bluntly : ,
” ’
I was o n th e wrong side of th e do gs no ses .
”
Ah ! s o you were I forgo t that An d roy al ty was .
m ore reconcil ed t o its lot Wh at woul d you th en ? .
A free p ardon your highness for mys elf and Gerar d , ,

.
For what ?
Fo r prison —b reakin g .
T i s instinct
’
G o to ; th e b ird will fly from the c a ge . .
B esides co op a young m an up for lo ving a young woman ?

,
These b urgomasters mu st b e void of commo n se ns e What .
?
el s e
F or striking down the burgom aster .
Oh the hunted b o ar will turn to b ay

,
Ti s h i s right ; .
’
and I h ol d h i m less than m an that grudge s it him W h at .
else ?
F or kill ing of th e blo o dhounds .
’
Th e d u k e s countenance fell
’
”
’
Twas their life or m ine s aid Martin ea gerly , .
Ay l B ut I can t h ave my blo o dhounds my b eauti ful ’
blo o dhounds s a cr i fi c ed to ,
No no no ! Th ey were not your do gs

, , .
Wh o s e do gs then ? ,
The ranger s ’
.
Oh Well I a m very sorry for him b ut a s I w a s

.
, ,
'
’
saying I can t h ave my ol d soldiers s a cr i fi c e d to his blo o d
,
”
hounds Thou shal t have thy free p ardo n
. .
”
And p o or Gerard .
And p o or Gerard t oo for thy s a k e And more tell , .

,
tho u this b urgomaster h i s do ings misl ike m e : this is to

’
s et up fo r a king not a burgom aster I ll have no kings
, .
in Holl an d but on e B id h i m b e more humbl e ; or by s t

’
~
. .
Ju de I ll h an g him b efore h i s own d o or a s I hange d the

’
,
'
burgom aster of what s th e nam e s om e t own or other in ’
Flanders it was ; no twas somewhere i n Brab ant— no ,

’
:
m atter I h an ge d him I rememb er that mu ch —

— for op ,
pressi n g p o or folk .
Th e d uke then b e ckoned h i s chancellor a pursy old

'
f oll ow that ro de l i ke a s a ck and b ade him write ou t a free '
p ardon for M artin an d on e Gerard .
This p recious do cum ent was drawn up l n form an d ,
sign ed next day and Martin h astened hom e with i t

, .
Margaret had l eft her b e d som e days and was sitting ,
p al e and p ensive by th e fi r es i d e when h e b urst i h waving , ,
the p archm ent and crying A free p ardon girl for Gerard
, , , ,
266 THE C L O ISTE R AND T H E HEAR TH
Th r ou g h t h e w h i t e b r ea k er s Wr a t h I b or e
’
E xh a u s t e d M or t r a m t o t h e . s h or e
A n d w h e n h i s s id e a n a r r ow f ou n d ,
I s u ck ed t h e I n di a n s ven om d w ou n d
’ ’
.
T h e s e t h ou g ht s lik e t or r en t s r u s h ed a l on g
T o s w eep a w a y m y pu r p os e s t r on g .
Ob serve ! this assassin s hand is stayed by m e mory not ’

,
of b en efi t s received b ut b e n efi t s conferred ,
.
Now Margaret V an Eyck had b een wonderfully kind to

-
Margar et Brandt ; had b rok en throu gh h er own h ab its to g o

and see h er ; ha d nurse d her a nd s oot h e d h er an d p ett e d
'
'
, ,
her and cured her more than all th e m ed icine i n t h e w d r l d

‘
*
.
,
S o her h eart op ened to the recip ient of h er go o dne ss ; an d

sh e l ove d her now far mo re tenderly th an s h e h ad ever l ove d
Ger a rd thou gh i n t r u t h it w a s p u r el y ou t of re gard for
, ,
:
,
Gerard sh e had visite d h er in th e fi r s t instance .
Wh en therefore s h e s a w th e ro s es on Margaret s ch e ek
, ,
’
and read th e b it of p ar chm ent that ha d b rou ght them there ,
s h e gave up h er ow n views with out a murmur .
S weeth eart s ai d s h e I did desire h e sh oul d s t ay

, ,
in Italy fi ve or s i x years and com e b ack rich and ab o ve all , , ,
an artist But your h appines s is b efore a l l an d I s e e you

.
,
cannot l ive without him s o w e mu st h ave him home a s ,

”
fast as m ay b e .
Ah madam ! yo u s ee my very thou ghts

, An d the .
youn g woman hung h er head a m ome nt a nd blu sh ed But

'
how to l et him know madam ? That p a ss e s my sk ill

'
, He .
is g on e t o Ital y ; b ut what p art that I know n ot Stay ! ' '

.
h e named the citie s h e sh oul d visit Flo ren ce wa s on e an d .

,
"
R ome B ut th en
.
Fin ally b ein g a s ensibl e gi rl s h e divined th at a letter

, , ,
addressed — ”
My Gerard Italy might chance t o miscarry
, , ,
and sh e l o oke d imploringly at h er friend for c ounsel .
You are co m e to th e right pl ace and at th e r i ght ti ni e ,

.
said th e old l ady H ere w a s this Han s M e n d ing with

.
m e to day ; h e is going to Italy girl n o later than n ext

-
, ,
’
week ,to improve his h and h e says N ot b efore twas , .
’
n e eded I do as sure you

,
-
.
But how is h e to fi n d my G erard ?

Why h e k n oWs your Gerar d chil d
, They have supp e d , .
here more th an o nce an d were like h an d and glove , Now .

,
as his bu sines s is th e sam e as G erard s h e will Visit th e sam e ’
places as Gerard and s o on o r late he must fall in with him

, .
Wh erefore get you a lon g l etter written an d copy ou t this

, ,
p ardon into i t and I ll answer for the m essenger

,
’
In s i x .
months at farth est Ger a rd shall get it and when h e shall

get i t then will he kiss i t and put it in his b o som an d
, , ,
c o m e fl y in g hom e W hat ar e y ou s m ili n g a t ? An d n ow

.
‘
THE CLO I ST E R AND T H E HEARTH ’
267
what makes your cheeks so red ? And what yo u are

smothering me for I cannot think Yes ! happy days are
, .
co m i ng to my littl e p earl
Meantime Martin s a t in th e kitch en with t he bl ack j ack
.
-
, ,
b efo r e him and Reicht H ey n es S pinning b esid e him : and ,
wow ! but s h e pump ed him that night .
Thi s Hans Memling was an ol d pupil of Jan V an Eyck

and h i s sister H e was a p ainter no twith standing Margaret s
.
’
s neer , an d a go o d soul enou gh with on e fault H e loved , .
the nipp erkin canakin an d th e brown b owl more than

, ,
th ey d es erve ; This singul ar p enchant k ept him from

amassing fortu ne and was th e caus e that h e often cam e to
,
Margaret V an Eyck for a m eal and som etime s f or a gro at ,

.
B u t t h i s gave h er a claim on him an d s h e knew he woul d ,
not tri fl e with any commission s h e shoul d entrust to him .
1 T h e l etter wa s duly written and l eft with Margaret V an

E y ck ; and the following week sure enou gh Hans Meml ing , ,
returned from Fl anders Margaret V an Eyck gave him t h e

.
l etter and a p iece of gol d towards h i s travelling exp ens es

,
.
H e s e emed in a hurry to b e oil .
All th e b etter said th e ol d artist ;

, h e will b e th e
s o oner in Italy .
But as there are h ors es who b urn an d rage to start and

'
aft er th e fi r s t yard or two want th e whip so all this hurry ,

‘
co ol ed into inactio n wh en Hans got s o far a s th e p rin cipal

ho stelry of T er g ou and s a w two of hi s b oo n comp anion s
,
sitting in th e b ay window H e went in fo r a p arting gl a s s

.
with them ; b ut when h e off ere d to p ay th ey woul d n ot ,
hear of i t N o ; he was going a l on g j ourney ; th ey would

.
treat him ; everyb o dy mu st treat him th e landlord and all , .
r I t resulte d from this tre atm ent that his ton gu e go t as

lo o se a s if th e wine h a d b een oil ; and h e c on fi d e d to th e'
convivial crew that h e wa s going to show the Italians how

to p aint ; next h e sang his explo i t s in b attl e f or h e ha d
'
'
h a n d l e d a p ike ; and his amorou s successes with females ,
not present to opp o se th eir version of th e incidents In

p l en a s r i m a r a m er a l : h u c i l l u c d em
.
“
shor t ,
. u eb a t ; and
amo ng th e miscell aneou s m atters that o oz ed ou t h e must ,
bl ab that h e was entru ste d with a l etter to a townsman of

‘
thei r s on e G erard a go o d fell ow : h e add ed

, , you are all
go o d fellows : and to impress hi s eul o gy slapp e d S y b r a n d t
on th e b ack so heart i ly as to d rive th e b reath out of his
,
b ody .
S y b r a n d t got round th e tabl e to avo id thi s muscular

approval ; but listened t o yev er y word and learne d f or the '
fi r s t time that Gerard wa s gon e to Italy However to .

,
make sure h e a f f ected to d oubt i t

, .
268 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
My b rother G er a r d i s n ev er in Italy
‘
‘
”
Ye lie y e cur ro are d Hans taking instantly th e
, , ,
irascibl e turn and not b eing cl ear enou gh to se e t h at h e

,
- .
,
who now sat opp o site him was th e sam e h e had p ra is e d ,

.
.
and hit when b eside him If h e is ten tim es y ou r b r ot h er

'
,
.
,
h e is in It al y Wh at call y e this ? There read m e that

.
,
s u p er s cr i p t i on l an d he flung down a l etter o n th e t able .
S y b r a n d t to ok it u p and examined it gravely ; b ut ,
eventually laid it down with th e rem ark that h e coul d not , ,
read . However o ne of th e comp any by som e imm en se

, ,
fortuity coul d read ; and p rou d of so rare an accomplish

,
m ent to ok i t and read it out :

, , T o G erard E l i a s s oen of ,
T er gou Th es e by th e han d of th e trusty Hans Memling

.
,
with al l sp eed .
T i s excell entl y well w rit sa i d th e reader examinin g

’
, ,
every letter .
Ay l said Hans b omb astically an d sm all wonder :

‘
,
’
tis writ by a famous hand ; by Margaret sister o f Jan V an ,
Eyck . Blessed and hono ure d b e his memory ! S h e is an

ol d frie n d o f mine is Margaret V a n Eyck , .
Miscellaneou s Hans then diver ged into forty top ics

S y b r a n d t Stol e o ut o f th e comp an y an d went i n s earch ,
of Cornelis .
Th ey p ut th e ir h eads to geth er overf th e news : Italy wa s

“
an immens e distance 0 11 If the y coul d o nly ke e p him

'
'
. :
th ere ?
Ke ep him th er e? Nothin g woul d k eep him l o n g fro m
”
h i s Margaret .
m ; h
Curs e h er ! said S y b r a n d t Why didn t s h e di e .

’
wh en s h e was ab out i t ?
S h e die ? Sh e would outlive th e p est to v e x u s An d .
Cornelis wa s wro th at her s el fi s h n es s in no t dyin g to oblige , .
These two bl ack sheep kept putting their h eads to gether ,
and taintin g each oth er worse and wors e till at last their ,
corrupt h earts co nceive d a plan for k eep ing Gerard in Italy

all his life and so s ecuring his share of th eir father s s u b
,
’
stance .
B ut when th ey h ad planned it th ey were no nearer t h e

executio n : for that r efl ui r e d talent : s o ini qu ity cam e t o
a standstill But presently a s if S atan had com e b etween
.
,
th e two heads and whisp ere d into th e right ear of on e and

,
th e l eft of th e other simultaneously they b oth burst out ,
THE B UR G O MAS TER !

Th ey went to Gh y s b r e ch t V an S wi et en an d h e r eceive d ,
them at once : for the man who is und er th e torture of

susp ense catch es eagerly at knowled ge C ertainty i s often .
p a i nful b ut seldom l ik e s u s p en s e , intolerable

, , .
270 THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
’
This wo ul d b e a b itter p ill to him sai d th e ol d hyp o ,
I t will b e for his go o d l n th e end replied th e you ng ,
Wh at avail s F a min e we ddi ng Thirst ? s aid Corn el is .
An d th e grief you are prep arin g for him s o co o l ly ?

G h y s b r ec h t sp ok e s arcastic a lly b ut taste d his ow n ven geance ,
all th e tim e .
Oh a l i e I S not lik e a bl ow with a curt al axe

'
I t h a ck s
’
.
r
,
n o fl esh an d b reaks h o b o n e s
’
.
,
A curt al ax e ? s a id S y b r a n d t ; 1 1 6 ; n o r e v en l i k e a
st rok e with a cu dgel An d h e shot a s l y e h ven om e d
.
’
gl ance at th e b urgomaster s b rok en no se .
Gh y s b r ec h t s face d ark ened wi th ire wh en t h is a dder s

’ ’
tongu e j s t r u ck his wou n d But it tol d a s inten d ed : th e

.
,
ol d m an b ristl ed with h ate .
Well s aid h e t ell m e wh at to write f or y ou ; an d I

mu st w
, ,
rite i t ; b u t tak e n otic e

y ou b e ar th e blam e i f au ght ,
turns amiss N ot th e h and wh i ch wr ites b ut th e ton gu e

.
,
which dictates d oth th e d e ed , .
Th e b rothers ass ent ed warmly sn eer ing w ithin

’
Gh y s ,
.
brecht th en d r ew h i s ink ho rn towards h im and la i d th e ,
sp ecime n of Margaret V a n Eyck s writin g b efore him an d ’

,
m ade so m e in quir ies a s t o th e s i z e an d shap e of th e l etter ,
wh en an unl o oke d f or int erru ptio n o c curred ; Jorian K etel

burst h a stily int oth e ro om and l o ok e d vexe d at not fi n d i n g ,
h im alOn e .
Tho u s eest I h a ve m a t t er o n h and , go o d fello w

'
1
.
Ay ; b ut this i s grav e I bring go o d n ews ; b ut tis

’
.
not for every ear .

’
Th e b urgomaster r ose and drew Jo ri an a sid e into the ,
emb rasure of his d eep w in dow an d th en th e b rothers h eard

'
'
th em co nvers e in l ow b u t ea ge r ton es It en de d by Gh y s .
b rech t s endi ng J or l an ou t to s ad dl e his mul e H e then a d .
d i ess ed th e black sh e ep w ith a su dd en col dn s that am azed

es 1 I
I priz e th e p eace of hou seh ol ds ; b ut this 1 5 n ot a th in g

to b e don e i n a hurry : w e will s e e ab o ut i t we will s é
' ‘
e , .
But b urgom aster th e man wil l b e gon e I t will b e

,
’
t oo late
Wh ere is h e ?
A t t h e ho stelry drinking ,
Well k eep him d r i n k i n g l We will s e e we wi l l s ee

,
'
, .
’
And h e s ent th em off d i s c om fi t ed
‘
T o expl ain al l this w e mu st retro gr ad e a step This very

morni ng th en Marg ar et Brandt h ad m et J or1 an K etel near
.
, ,
her ow n do or H e p a ss ed h er with a s cowl

. This struck .
h er and s h e rem emb ered him

, .
Stay said she Yes ! it is th e go o d man wh o saved

, .
him . Oh l why have you no t b e en near m e since ? And

why have you not c om e fo r th e p archm ents ? Was it not
tru e ab ou t th e hundre d crown s ?
J orian gave a snort ; but seeing her face that lo oked ,
so candid b egan to think there might b e s om e mistake

, .
H e tol d her h e ha d come ; an d how h e had b een re ceived .
Al as ! said sh e I knew nou ght o f this I lay at , .
’ ”
D eath s do or Sh e then invite d him to foll ow h er and
.
,
to ok him into th e garden an d showe d him th e sp ot wh ere

“
th e p archments were buried Martin wa s fo r takin g .
them u p but I woul d n ot let him

, H e put them th ere ; .
an d I said non e sh ould m o ve th em b ut you wh o ha d earned ,
them so well of him and m e .
Give m e a sp ad e ! crie d Jorian ea gerly Bu t stay ! .
No ; h e is a su sp iciou s m an Yo u are sure they are there .
still ?
I will O p enly tak e the blam e if human h an d hath
”
tou ch e d them .
Th en keep them but two hours m ore I p rithe e go o d , ,

”
Margaret said Jorian and ran off to th e Sta dthou s e o f
, ,
T orgo n a j oyful man .
Th e b urgomaster j o gge d along toward s S evenb ergen ,
with Jorian striding b esid e him givin g him assurance that in ,
an hour s tim e th e mi ssin g p archm ents woul d b e in h i s h a n d

’
.
Ah master ! , said h e lucky for u s it wasn t a thief ,

’
that to ok them .
N ot a thief ? not a thief ? what c all you him t hen ? ,
Well savin g yo ur p res ence I call him a j ackd aw This

, , .
is j ack daw s work if ever th ere was ;

’
tak e th e thin g you
,
are l east in nee d oi and h ide it —that s th e j ackdaw , I ’

.
”
shoul d know a dded Jorian ora cularly , f or I wa s b rou ght ,
up alon g with a ch ou gh H e an d I were b orn the sam e year .

,
but h e cut his teeth lon g b efore m e and wow ! b ut my life ,
wa s a burden for ye ars all al on g of him If yo u had bu t a .
hol e in your ho s e no b igger than a gro at in went h is b eak ,
lik e a giml et ; and for stealin g Gerard all over Wh at h e

, , .
wanted least and any p o o r Christian in th e hou se wante d

,
'
mo st that w en t fi r s t
,
Mother was a notabl e woman s o .
,
if s h e did but l o ok round away fl ew h er thimble Father ,

.
lived by c or d wa i n i n g s o ab out sunris e J ack went dil igently ,
oil with his awl h i s wax and his twine After that mak e
, ,
.
,
your b read h ow y ou coul d ! One day I heard my m other

—
tell him to hi s face h e was enou gh to cor r upt half a d oz e n -
other children ; an d h e only co cke d his eye at her and next ,
minute away with th e nurseling s sho e off his very fo ot ’

.
Now this G erard is tarre d with the same stick The p a r ch .

m ents are n o m ore u s e to him than a thimbl e or an awl to
Jack . H e to ok em ou t of pure m isc h ief an d hid th em
’
,
”
and you woul d n ever have foun d th em but f or m e .
”
I b el i eve you are right said Gh y s b r ech t and I h ave , ,
”
vexe d myself mo re than n ee d .
W hen th ey cam e to P eter s gate h e felt unea sy ’

.
I wish it h ad b e en anywh ere b ut h ere .
Jorian reassure d h im .
The girl is h on est an d friendly said h e Sh e ha d , .
’
nothing to d o with taking them I ll b e swo rn ; an d h e l e d ,
h i m into the garden There m aster if a face i s to b e

.
, ,
b el i eved h ere th ey lie ; and s ee th e m ould i s l o o s e

, , .
H e ran for a sp ad e which w a s stu ck up in th e ground at

some distance an d so o n went to work an d unco vere d a
,
p archm ent Gh y s b r ech t saw i t an d thr u st him a side an d '
.
,
went down on hi s knees an d tore it ou t of the hol e Hi s .
hands trembl ed an d his face sho ne H e threw out p ar ch .
ment after p archment an d Jorian du sted them and cleane d ,
them and shook them Now wh en Gh y s b r e ch t had th rown

.
,
ou t a great m any his face b e gan to dark en an d l en gth en, ,
an d when h e cam e to th e last h e put h i s h ands to his ,
templ es and seeme d to b e all amaz ed .
Wh at mystery lies h ere ? h e gasp e d Are fi en d s .
”
m o ckin g m e ? D ig deep er ! Th ere m u s t b e another .
Jorian drove th e sp ade in an d threw ou t qu a ntitie s of

hard moul d In vain . And even whi l e he du g h i s master s
.
,
’
m oo d had changed .
Treason ! treach ery ! h e cried You knew of this . .
Kn ew what master in Heaven s nam e ? , ,

’
Ca i t i fi you” k new there was another on e wo rth al l

, _
thes e twi ce told .
’
T i s fal se crie d Jorian m ade su sp iciou s by the oth er s
, ,
’
’
susp icion . Tis a trick to rob m e of my hun d re d crowns .
”
Oh ! I know you b urgom aster An d J or i a n wa s ready
, .
°
to whimp er .
A m el low voice fell o n them b oth l ik e oil up o n the waves .

.
N 0 go o d m an it is not f a l se nor yet i s it quite tru e

, , ,
th ere w a s another p archment .
Th ere there th ere ! Wh ere is i t ?

, ,
”
But continue d Margaret calmly
, it was no t a to wn ,
record ( s o you have gain ed your hu ndred crown s go o d man ) : ,
it was but a private dee d b etween the burgom aster here

and my grandfather Fl or
Hu sh hush ! ,
—i s B ran dt .
Where is i t girl ? that is all we want to kno w

, .
Have p atience and I shall tell y ou Gerard read th e

, .
titl e of i t and he said This is a s much yours a s the b urgo

, ,
27 4 TH E
'
CL O I STER AND THE HEART H

sho ok his fi st at th e sol dier an d tried to threaten h i m ; but ,
coul d not sp e a k for th e rage an d mort i fi catio n th at choked

him : then h e gave a sort of screech an d co il e d him se lf up ,
i n eye and fo rm lik e a rattlesnak e ab out to strik e ; and spat

furiou sly up o n M a rtin s doubl et ” ’
.
Th e thick skinned soldier treated this ebu llitio n wi th

-
"
.
’
genuin e contempt Here s a venomou s ol d to ad ! H e
knows a kick from this f oo t woul d s end h imto hi s l ast h om e
.
and h e wants m e to cheat th e g al l oWs ; But I have sl ain .
to o m any m en in fair fi gh t to lift limb a gainst anythin g

'
les s than a m an ; and this I count no man W ha t is i t i n .

.
,
”
Heaven 5 nam e ? an ol d go at skin b ag f u ll 0 rotte n b one s
’
~
’
.
My mul e ! my mul e ! screa me d Gh y s b r ech t .
J or1 an help ed the ol d man up trembling in every j o int .
O nce in th e saddl e he seem ed to gather in a mom ent ,
unn atur al vigour ; and th e fi g ur e that went flyin g t o T er g ou

was truly weird l i k e an d terribl e : s o ol d and wiz en ed th e
face ; s o whit e and reveren d th e streamin g h air ; s o b al eful
th e eye ; s o fi er c e th e fury Which sh o ok th e b ent fram e
that went spurr ing lik e m ad ; whil e t h e qu averin g vo ice
yell ed I ll mak e their h earts ache
’
I ll m a ke their he arts ’
‘
.
,
I l l m a k e th eir hearts
'
ache I ll mak e the i r he arts ach e

’ ’
'
°
. .
ache A.l l of them Al l l — al l l — a ll l .
Th e bl ack sh e ep s at discon solate ami d st th e co nvivial

crew and eye d Hans Memling s wallet
, For mo re ease h e ’
.
had t a k en it off and fl u n g it o n th e tabl e , How rea dil y .
they coul d h ave slipp e d out th at l etter and put i n anoth er .
For the fi r s t time i n their live s they were sorry they had '
n ot learned to wr ite lik e their b r oth er , .
And now H an s b egan to tal k of goin g an d th e br oth ers ,
a gree d in a whi sp er to ab an do n th eir proj ect for the time .
They had scarcely resolved this when D i er i ch Brower sto o d

’
su dde nl y in th e do orway and gave th em a wink , .
Th ey went out to him Co m e to th e b urgomas ter with .
a ll S p eed said h e , .
Th ey foun d Gh y s b r e ch t se ate d at a tabl e 1p al e and

'
a gitated B efo re h i m l ay Margaret V an Eyck s hand writ

.
’
i ng , I have wr itten what y ou desir ed said h e Now , .
for th e sup erscriptio n Wh at were the word s ? d i d y e s ee ? .
We cannot 1 e a d s a i d Cornelis
°
, .
Then i s all this l ab our l o st cried Gh y s b r e ch t angrily , .
D ol t s l
N ay b ut said S y b r a n d t I heard th e w ord s read ; an d
, , ,
"
I have not lo st them Th ey were To Gerard E l i a s s oen these .

,
‘
,
.
by th e hand of th e tru sty Hans Memlin g with all sp eed

N ow how was th e l etter fol ded ? h owb i g
, .
’
Tis well .
,
was i t ?
'
275
L onger than that on e and not s o l ong as this

'
, .
’
Tis well Wh ere is h e ? .
”
A t th e ho stelry .
Come then take you this gro at and treat him

, , T h en , .
ask to se e the l etter and put this in place of i t , Com e to .
m e with th e other l etter .
The brothers assente d to ok the l etter an d went t o th e , ,
hostelry .
'
They had not b een gone a rn i n u t e wh en D i er i c h Brower

’
i ssu ed from th e Stadthouse and fol l owed th em H e h ad , .
h i s orders no t to let th em ou t of his sight till the tru e l etter

was in his master 5 h ands H e watched outsid e th e h o stelry
’
. .
H e had not lon g to wait They came ou t almo st i m

'
m ediately with downcast lo oks D i er i ch ma d e up to them

‘
, . .
T oo l ate ! they crie d ; to o lat e! H e is gone .
Gone ? How long ?

S carce fi ve minutes Curse d chance l .
You m ust g o b ack t oth e bu r go master at on ce ,
D i er i ch Brower .
T o wh at end ? ' '
N o ma tter ; c om e i and h e hurrie d them to th e

S tadth ou se :
Gh y s b r e ch t V an S wi et en Wa s n ot th e m an to accept a
d efeat . Well said h e on h earing th e ill news
, supp o s e , ,
h e is go ne Is h e mounted ?
.
NO .
Then what hinders y ou to com e up with him ?

But wh at avail s co i ning u p : wi t h him ! There are no
h o stelries on th e ro a d h e i s gon e .
Fo ols ! said Gh y s b r ech t i s th ere no way of empty ,
ing a man s p o ck ets b ut liquor and slei ght of hand ?

’
A meaning lo ok th at p assed b etween G h y s b r e ch t an d

,
D i er i ch aided t h e b rothers comprehe nsion

,
Th ey cha nged ’
.
colour and lo st all zeal for th e b u siness

,
.
’
No ! no ! we don t hate our b r other We wo n t get .
’
ourselves han g ed to spite him said S y b r a n d t ; that ,

’
woul d b e a fo ol s trick .
Hanged ! cried Gh y s b r e ch t A m I no t the burgo .
’
master ? How can y e b e hanged ? I s ee how tis : y e fear to
tackl e on e man b eing two : h earts of hare that y e are ! Oh !
’
, ,
’
why cannot I b e young again ? I ( 1 d o it singl e handed .
The ol d man now threw oil all disguise and showe d ,
t hem his h eart was in this deed H e then flattered and .
b esou ght and j e ered th em

,
b ut h e found no
elo quence coul d move t h em to an action however dis ,
honourable which was attended with d an ger A t last he

,
.
op ened a drawer and sh owe d t h em a p il e of silver coins

,
.
Change b ut tho se l et t ers f or me h e said and each , ,

27 6 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEA R TH .
of yo u shal l thrust on e hand into this drawer an d take away ,
a s m any of them a s y ou can h ol d .
Th e e f fect w a s m agical T h e ir eye s gl ittere d with d e s i re

. .
Th eir whol e b o di e s s e em ed to swell an d r i se into mal e ,
energy .
Swear i t then said S y b r a n d t

, , .
I swear i t .
N o ; on th e c r u c ifi x .
Gh y s b r ech t swore up o n th e c ru ci fi x .
Th e n ext minute th e b ro th ers were on th e ro a d ,
pursuit o f H ans M emlin g Th ey cam e in sight of him ab o u t

.
two l ea gue s fro m T er gou b ut thou gh th ey kn ew h e h a d n o ,
weap o n b ut his s t a fi they were to o p rudent to fve n t u r e o n

,
him in d aylight ; s o th ey fell b a ck .
B ut b ein g n ow thre e l ea gu e s an d more from th e to wn

—
and on a gra ssy ro ad s u n down m oo n not yet p h o n est u — ,
Hans su dd enly f ou n d h i m s el f attack e d b efore an d b ehin d

'
a t once by m en wi t h uplifted k n ives ; who cried in lou d

'
thou gh somewhat shaky vo ices Stan d an d deliver ! ,
Th e attack was s o su dden an d s o well planne d that , ,
Han s was dismaye d Sl ay m e not , go o d fellows

. he , ,
”
crie d ; I a m b ut a p o o r m an and y e Sh al l h ave m y a l l , , , .
”
S o b e it then Live ! b ut emp ty thy w al le t
. . :
Th ere i s n ou ght in my wa llet go o d fri end b ut on e , ,
l et t er fi
’
That w e shall s ee said S y b r a n d t wh o wa s th e on e

, ,
.
in front Well it i s a l etter

.
, .
Tak e it not from m e I p ray you T”i s worth nou ght

, .
’
,
and th e go o d d am e woul d fret that writ i t .
Th ere said S y b r a n d t
, tak e b a ck thy letter ; a n d ,
now empty thy p ou ch Com e ! tarry n ot ! .
But by this tim e Hans h ad recovered h i s confusio n ;

an d fro m a certain flutter in S y b r a n d t an d h ard b reath i n g ,
of Co rnelis aide d by an indes cr i b abl e co nsciou sness fel t

, ,
sur e th e p air h e ha d to deal with were n o h ero es He .
pretende d to fumbl e for his m o n ey : then su ddenly thru st .
his staff fi er c el y into S y b r a n d t s face an d drove him sta gger ’
ing and l ent Cornelis a b ack hand ed sla s h on th e ear that

,
sent him twirlin g l ik e a w eatherco ck in March ; then

whirl ed hi s we ap on over his hea d and d anced ab out th e
ro ad lik e a fi gu r e on sprin gs shoutin g Co me on y e thi evin g , ,
l oon s i Com e ou l
It wa s a plain invitatio n ; yet they misund ersto o d it s o
u tt erly as to tak e t o th e i r he els with Hans after them h e , ,
sh outin g Sto p thieves ! and they howlin g with fear and

p a i n a s th ey ran .
27 8 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
D enys s a w b ut coul d not sm i l e Th e inn remind e d him .
to o mu ch of Gerard .
Ere th e night clo sed the wind change d Sh e lo ok e d .
into th e ro om and b ecko ne d h im with h er fi n g er H e ro s e .
sul k ily an d his gu ard s with him

, .
N ay I woul d s p eak a word to the e in p rivate

,
.
Sh e d r ew him to a corner of th e ro om ; a n d t h er e ask e d

him un der h er b reath woul d h e do her a k i ndn es s .
H e an swere d ou t lou d N o h e wo u l d n ot ; h e w a s
n o t in th e vei n to do kindnesses to m a n o r wo m an
, ,
If h e .
did a kindnes s it sho ul d b e t o a do g ! a n d n ot th at if h e

coul d h elp i t .
Alas go o d archer I did y o u on e efts o ons yo u an d yo ur

'
, , ,
”
p retty comra de s a i d Mano n humbly , g
You di d dam e yo u did ; w el l th en f o

, , r h i s sake ,
“hat is t to d o ?
’
Thou knowest m y st ory I h ad b e en u nfortu nate . .
Now I a m worship ful B ut a w om an did ca st him in my

.
’
te eth this d ay An d s o twi ll b e ever wh il e h e h an gs th ere
. .
’
I woul d have hi m ta eu d own ; we l l a day ! “
With a ll m y h eart .
An d non e d are I a sk b ut t h ee W i1 t d o t ? .
’
’
N o t I even were I no t a p riso n er
On this stern refusal th e ten d er M a no n s i ghed and
.
,
cl asp ed h er p alm s to geth er d esp on d ently D enys t ol d h er .
s h e n eed not fret Th ere were s ol di ers of a l ower s tamp

.
who wo ul d no t mak e two b ites of such a ch erry “ It was ,
a m ere m atter of m o n ey ; if sh e co ul d fi n d two angels h e ,
woul d fi n d two s ol diers t o d o th e dirty w ork of Th e

”
White Hart .
This was no t very p al atabl e Ho wever r efl ec t i n g th at .

,
sol diers were b ir d s of p assage d r ink i ng h ere to n ight ,

-
,
kno cke d on th e he ad there to m or r ow 1 s h e said softly ,

.
,
S end them ou t to m e B u t p rith ee tell th e m th at tis

’
.
,
for on e that is m y friend ; l et th em no t t h i n k g t i s j or m e ; '

’
I shoul d s ink into t h e arth ; t im es a r en ch ange d f

’
J
’
D enys foun d w a rrio rs glad t o wi n an an gel ap iece s o

easily . H e s ent th em ou t and instantly dismi ssin g th e ,
subj ect with contemp t s at b ro o d ing o n his lo st frien d, .
Mano n and th e w a rrio rs so o n cam e to a gen er al u n d er

stan ding But what were they to do with the b o dy when
tak en d own ? Sh e murmure d
.
Th e r iver is ni gh the — the ,

— 1 a ce ”
p .
Fling h im i h eh ? ,
N ay nay ; h e not s o cruel ! Coul d y e not p ut him

,
—
gently i h with som ewhat weighty ?
-
Sh e mu st have b een thinking on th e subj ect i n d etail ;

for s h e was no t on e to wh om id ea s cam e qu i c kly !
All was sp eed ily agreed excep t t h e t im e o f p aym ent, .
Th e m ail —clad itch ed for i t and so ught it in advance , .
Mano n demurred to th at .
What did s h e do ub t their wo rd ? then l et h er com e

,
alon g with -them or watch them at a distance

, .
Me ? said Manon with horror I woul d liever .
”
di e than see it done .
Which yet y ou woul d have don e .
A y f or sore is my n eed
, Tim es are chan ged . .
She had already forgotten h er precep t to D en y s .
A n h our l ater the disagreeabl e relic of caterp il l ar exist

ence ceased to canker th e worshipful matro n s public life ’
and th e grim eyes of the p ast to cast mal ignant glances

down into a white hind s clover fi el d ’
.
Tot al Sh e m ad e th e landlord an avera ge wife and a

.
,
prim e hou se do g and o utlived everyb o dy

-
, .
H er tro op s wh en th ey returne d from exe cutin g wi t h

,
medi aeval nai vet e th e p recept Off w i th e aul d love

’
, ,
received a sho ck Th ey found th e m arket pl ace bla ck

" .
-
with group s ; it had b ee n emp ty an hour ago Con science .
sm ote th em This cam e of meddlin g With the de ad

. How .
ever th e h older of th e two en coura ged by th e d arkn ess

, , ,
stol e forward al one and sl ily mingled with a gr oup : h e

,
so on returned to his comp anio n saying in a tone of rep ro ach , ,
n ot strictly rea son a bl e ,
Ye b orn fo ol it is only a m iracle

, .
CHAPTER XL I I
L E T T ER S of fi r e on th e church wall ha d j u st inquir ed with ,
an app earance of genuin e curio sity why there was n o mas s ,
f or th e duk e in this tim e of troubl e Th e su p ernatu ral .
exp o stulation had b een s een by m any an d had grad u ally ,
faded leavin g th e sp ectators glued th ere g aping

,
Th e .
u p sho t w as that th e corp oration not cho o sin g to b e b ehind

, ,
th e an gelic p owers in loyalty to a temp oral sovereign ,
inve sted freely in masses B y this an ol d friend of ours

.
,
th e curé p r ofi t ed in hard cash ; f or which h e ha d a very

,
pretty t a ste But for this I woul d not of cours e h ave d e

.
t a i n ed you over s o trite an o ccurrence as a m iracl e .
D enys b egge d for h i s arms Why disgrace him as .
well as b reak his h eart ?

Then s w ea r on the cro s s of thy sword not to leav e
28 0 TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
th e B astard s service until th e se d itio n sh a l l b e p ut down
’
.
H e yielde d t o n ecessity and d elivered thre e voll eys of o ath s

,
and recovere d his arm s an d lib erty .
Th e tro op s h alted at T h e Thre e Fish an d M ario n at ,
I m ou t of luck ; who woul d h ave

’
si ght of him cr ied out , ,
thou ght to se e you again ? Th en s eeing h e w a s s a d an d ,
rather hurt than amu s ed a t this blunt j est s h e asked him ,
what wa s amis s ? H e tol d h er Sh e to ok a b right view of .
th e e as e Gerard w a s t oo handsom e an d well b eh aved to

.
-
co m e to h arm The wom en t oo woul d al ways b e on hi s

.
side . M oreover it wa s cl ear that thin gs mu st either g o

,
well or ill with him In th e fo rm er case h e woul d strik e

.
in with s om e go o d comp any going to Rom e ; i n th e l atter -
h e woul d return hom e p erhap s b e there b efore his friend ;

,
for y ou h ave a t r ifl e of fi gh t i n g t o do in Fland ers b y al l

a ccounts Sh e then brou ght him h i s gol d p ieces and
.
,
steadil y refus ed to a ccep t on e th ou gh h e urge d her a gain ,
and again D eny s w a s som ewh at co nvince d by h er argu

.
ment b ecau s e s h e concurred with h i s own wi shes an d wa s

, ,
al so ch e ere d a littl e by fi n d i n g her s o hon est It m ad e him .
think a littl e b etter of th at worl d in which h i s p o or littl e

frien d wa s walkin g al one .
Fo ot sol d iers in sm all b o dies d own to two s an d thre e s

were al r eady on th e ro ad m akin g l azily t oward s Fl anders , ,
m any of th em p ennil ess b ut p asse d fro m town to town

_
,
by th e b ail i ffs with o rders fo r fo o d and l o d gin gs on th e

,
i nnk eep ers .
Anthony of Burgu n dy overto ok numb ers of these an d ,
gath ered them under his standar d s o that he entered ,
Fland ers at th e h ead of s i x hundre d m en Ou cro ss in g th e .
fro ntier h e was m et by his b roth er B al dwy n with m en , ,
arms an d p rovisions ; h e organiz e d his whol e fo rce an d

,
m arch e d o n in b attl e array throu gh s ever al to wn s not only ,
with out i mp ediment b u t with great a cclamations, This .
loy al ty cal l e d fort h comm ent s n o t alto gether graciou s .
”
This reb ellio n of ours i s a b ite growled a soldier ,
call ed S imon who had el ecte d hims elf D en y s s comrade

,
’
.
D eny s said n othin g b ut ma de a l ittl e vow to S t Mars

, .
to sh oo t this Antho ny of Bur g u ndy d ea d shoul d th e r e ,
b ell ion that h ad co st him Gerard prove no r eb ellion

, , .
That aftern o on th ey cam e in sight of a stron gly f or t ifi e d

town ; an d a whisp er went throu gh th e littl e army that
this w a s a disaff ected place .
But when th ey cam e in sight th e great gat e s t o o d op en ,

.
and th e towers that fl a n k ed it on each sid e were m anne d

with a singl e sentinel apiece S o th e advancing force som e .
what b rok e their array and m arche d carel es sly .
When th ey were within a furlo ng the drawbrid ge acro s s ,

th e workm en s heads at every b e sie g e d wh o showed h i s
’
no se an d at every l oop hol e arrow -slit or o th er ap erture

,
-
, , ,
whi ch commande d th e p a rticular S p ot th e carp enters hap

p ene d to b e up o n C overe d by t h eir co n dens e d fi r e; th es e
.
so on raise d a high p al isad e b etween th em an d th e ordin ary

mis sil es from t h e p ierced m as o nry .
But th e b esie ged exp ecte d this an d ran out at ni ght ,
their b o a rds or wo o den p enthou ses on th e to p of th e cur

t ains Th e curtains were b u ilt with squar e hol es near th e
.
1 0 p to r ece ive th e b eam s th at supp orted thes e stru ctures ,
th e tru e defen ce of m edi aev a l fort s from w hich th e b esiege d ,
d elivered their missil es with far m ore freedo m an d variety

of ran ge th an th ey coul d sho o t t hrou gh th e ob li qu e but .
immovab le lo ophol es oi the cur tain o r ev en t h r ou gh th e -
slop in g cr en el et s of t h e high er tow ers On this the b e siegers . :
b rou ght U p m ango nel s and s et th em h urlin g hu ge stones ,
at thes e wo o dwork s and b attering th em to p ie ce s Con .
temp oraneou sly th ey b u ilt a trian gul ar w ood en t ow er a s

'
"
hi gh as th e curtain an d kep t it re ady for u s e a n d j u st ou t
, ,
of sh ot .
This was a terribl e sight to th e b esiege d Th ese wo o den .
towers had tak en m any a town T h e y b eg a n to m i ne u nder

-
.
ne ath th at part of the m o at th e tower sto o d fro wnin g at

and m ade o th er p rep a ratio ns to give it a Warm re c eption;
Th e b esie gers al so mi ned b ut at anoth er p art th eir obj ect ,
.
,
b eing to get u nder th e squ are b ar b i can and t h r ow i t d ewn

'
All th i s time D enys w a s b eh i n d h i s m antelet w ith anoth er

'
'
a rb al estrier protecting the workmen and m aking som e

'
excell ent shots Th e s e ended b y earnin g him the e stee m

.
of an unseen arch er Wh o every now an d th en s e nt a winged ,

' '
compliment qu iverin g into hi s m antelet O n e c am e and .
s t ruck with i n an inch of th e n arrow slit throu g h Which .
D enys wa s s quintin g a t th e mome nt :

. P este ; cried h e '
,
you sho ot well my friend Com e fort h and re ceiv e my

, .
c on gr a t u l at i t ms ! Shall m erit s u ch a s th in e hide i t s head ?

'
Comr a de it i s on e of tho se curs ed Engli shmen with his half

, ,
I ll not die t i ll I v e ha d a sh ot a t Lo nd on w al l
’
ell s h af t
’ '
o
. .
Ou th e side of th e b esieged wa s a fi gu r e th at so on
attracte d gr eat notice by promenadin g under fi r e It was a .
t all knight clad in c om p l et e b r a s s a n d c arr yin g a light b ut

, ,
pro di giou sly l ong l ance with which h e d i rected t h e m ov ei

'
’
,
And wh en any disaster b efel l t h é

'
ments of th e b esiege d '

.
b esiegers this tall k night and his long l an c e were p retty

,
sure to b e co ncern e d in i t .
1i lm My youn g rea ders wil l s a y

.
Why di d no t D enys sho ot ,
D enys did sho ot him : every day of his lif e; oth er

a r b a l es t r i ers sho t him ; arch ers sho t him Eve r yb od y .
'
THE " C L O ISTE R AN D
-
'
.
‘
TH E HEARTH 28 3
shot him H e Wa S t h e r e to b e shot a pp arently

~
B u t the
'
. .
.
,
.
ab om ination Wa s h e did no t mind b ein g shot Nay worse , .

, ,
h e g ot a t last s o d em ora l i z e d a s not to seem to know wh en

‘ ‘
.
h e w a s sho t
"
H e walked his batt l e m en t s under fi r e a s
.
.
som e stou t skipp er p aces his deck in a sui t of Fl us h in g

'
ca l mly ob l i vi ou s of th e April drop s th at fall on his wo o l len

’
armour A t u1 a s t th e b esiegers got spit eful an d woul d not

. : =
,
waste a ny m ore go o d steel on h i m ; but curse d him and

‘
hi s imp erviou s co at of m ail ’

.
‘
'
H e to ok t h ese miss ile s l i k e t h e res t

'
‘
.
G u n p ow d er i h a s sp oiled war ; '
W a r wa s always '
d et r i
m en t a l t o th e s ol i d i n t er es t s mf Im a n k i n d x But in ol d time s
’
l
i t w as g ood for some t hin g : it p a i n t e d z w el l , s an g divinel y ,

1 '
f u r ni sh e d g l l i a d s ; But invisibl e b u tch er y , u nde r a p all e t

'
smoke a furlon g thick , who is any the b etter f o r that ?

Poe t i w i t h his not e b o ok m a y rep eat , Su ave etiam h elli
.
-
ee r t a m i n a magna tueri ; but th e sentiment i s holl ow an d

s a Vou r s of cu cko o You can t t u er i anythin g b ut a horri d ’
’
“
r ow Suave etia m i n gen t em caliginem ’
H e didn t say
.
,
”
tu eri p er camp o s i n s t r u c t a m .
Th ey managed b etter in th e Mid dl e A ge s .
This sie ge wa s a small a ffair ; but such a s it was a , ,
wri t er or minstrel coul d see i t and turn an hon est p e nny ,
b y sin gin g i t ; s o far t hen the s p or t wa s r ea so nabl e an d '
serve d an end .
‘
It wa s a b right day clear b ut n ot quite fro sty Th e , , .
e f for t s of th e b esiegin g force were co ncentrated a gainst a

sp ace of ab out two hundre d an d fi f t y yard s containin g ,
two curtains and t w o t ower s on e of which wa s the s quare ,
b arbican th e other h ad a p o inted ro of th a t was b uilt to

,
overlap restin g on a stone m a ch i c ol a d e an d by t h is mean s

, ,
a row of dangerou s cr en el et s b etween th e ro o f an d th e

m a sonry grinne d down at th e nearer a ssailants and lo ok ed ,
n ot very u n like th e grinders of a m o dern frigate with each
p o r t : n ea r l
y clo sed Th e curtains were overlapp ed with .
'
p enthou ses somewhat shattered by the man gonel s t r é bu ,
ch ets and oth er slingin g engines of t h e b esiegers Oh t h e

‘
.
,
b e sie gers ed ge of th e m o at w a s what seeme d at fi r s t si ght

’
a gi ganti c a r s en al 1 on ger than it wa s b ro ad p eopled b V

'
, ,
human ants and full of bu sy ho nest industry and dis , , ,
pl aying all th e variou s m ech anical science of the age in

full op eration Here the l eve r at work th ere th e winch
.
,
and pull ey he re t h e b a l a n c e there th e cap stan Every

'
- ' .
, ,
where hea p s of stone s an d piles of f a s ci n e s m a n t e1 e t s ,

.
'
,
'
and rows of fi r e b arrels " Mantel ets rolling ; th e hammer -

.
tap p ing a l l d a y h orse s and cart s i h en d l e s s succession

-
,
ratt ling up with materials Only ; on l ooking clo ser into .

284 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH -
the hive of indu stry y ou might ob serv e th at arr ow s wer e

,
co nstantly flyin g to and fro that th e cranes did no t tenderly ,
d ep o sit th eir m asse s of stone b ut flun g th em with an i n ,
diff erence to p r e p er t y t h ou gh on s ci en t i fi c prin cipl es an d

' '
, ,
that amon g th e tub s full of arr ows an d th e t ar b arr el s and ,

-
-
th e b eams the fagots an d oth er utensil s h ere a n d t h er e

’
'
, , ,
a workm an or a s ol dier lay fl atter than i s u su al in limite d

nap s and som ething more or l ess feathered stu ck in th e m
, ,
an d blo o d and o th er e ssential s o o z ed out .
A t th e e d ge of th e mo at opp o site th e wo o den tower

, ,
a stron g p enthou se which th ey c al le d , a cat mi ght b e ,
s een stealin g toward s th e cu r t ain a n d gra dual ly fi l l i n g u p ,
t h e m o at wi t h f a s c i n e s an d r u b b i sh
’
w h i eh th e w orkm e n ,
' '
flu n g out at i t s mo uth “ It was a dvanc ed by two sets of

.
.
rop e s p a s s i n g r ou n d p ull eys a n d each Work ed b y a wind

'
las s at som e distance from th e cat Th e k n i gh t b u r n t th e

‘
fi r s t cat b y nin gin g blazin g tar b arrel s o n i t S o th e b esiegers -

.
m ade th e ro of of this on e ve r y steep an d covere d it with ,
raw hides an d the tar b arrel s coul d n ot harm i t

,
-
Then th e . .
kni ght made si gns with h i s sp ear an d a lit tl e tréb u ch et ,
b ehind th e wall s b egan dropp ing ston es j u st cl ear of th e

wall into th e m e at a nd at la st the y go t th e ran ge an d a
,
‘
sto ne went cl ean th r ou gh t h e ro of of the cat an d m a de an ,
u gly h ol e .
Bal dwy n of Burgun dy s a w thi s an d l o sin g h i s temp er , ,
ordered th e great catapult that was b atterin g th e wo o d

work of th e curtain opp o site it = to b e tu rn ed and l evell e d
sl antwise at this i n vu l n er a b l e knight
.
D enys and h i s w .
Englishman went t o dinner Thes e tw o worthies b ein g . .
etern al ly on th e watch for o ne anoth er ha d m ade a s o rt

of d i stant acquaintance and converse d b y signs esp ecially
, ,
on a topic that i n p eace or war m aintains th e sam e i m

.
p ortance S ometimes D enys woul d p ut a p i ec e o f b re ad

‘
on th e t 0 p oi h i s mantel et ; and then th e archer woul d han g

-
som ething of th e kind out b y a strin g ; o r the order of

invitation woul d b e reversed Anyway th ey always .
,
m ana ge d to dine to gether .
And n ow th e en gineers pro ceeded to th e unu su al step

of slingin g fi f t y -p ou n d stones at an indivi du al .
This catapult wa s a s cienti fi c simple an d b e autiful , ,
en gin e and very ef fective in vertical fi r e at t h e sho rt ran ge s

,
of the p erio d .
Im agine a fi r tre e cut down and s et to turn round a ,
horizontal axis on lofty uprights but no t in eq ui lib rio ; ,

—
three fourth s of th e tre e b ein g ou the h ither side
‘
A t the .
.
shorter an d thicker end of the tree was fastene d a w e i gh t

of half a ton This bu t t end j ust b efore t h e d i s ch a r g e
. . .
__
p ointed towards th e enemy B y m eans of a p owerful winch .

28 6 THE C L O IST ER AND T H E H E AR T H
’
Th e arch er showe d himself a m om en t to enj oy h i s skill ' ‘
It was th e En glishman D enys a l r ea d y p r ep a r e d sh o t

.
, ,
h i s b olt and th e murderou s arc h er sta ggere d away w o un d ed

, , .
B ut p o or S i m on never m ove d Hi s wars were over . .
I a m u nl ucky i n my comra des said D enys ; ,
Th e n ext m orn in g an unw el co m e sight greete d th e . .
b esie ged Th e ca t was co vered with m attress es and raw

.
hides an d fast fi ll i n g up th e m o at
,
The k night ston e d i t
.
.
,
b ut in vain ; fl u n g :burnin g tar b ar r el s on i t bu t in vai n

‘ '
-
.
,
Then with his own h an d s h e l et do wn b y a rop e a b a g of

b ur nin g sulphur an d p itch an d s t 1 1 nk r t h em ou t
'
-
But ,
. r
_
.
B al d wyn z a r med li k e a lob ster ran a n d b ou n di n g o n t h e

'
'
,
, , ,
r oof c 1 1 t th e s t rin g an d i t h e work went on s T h em t h e

'
'
, ;
. . .
knight s ent -fresh e n gin eers into th e mine an d u nd ermine d ,
th e pl ace an d u n derp inne d i t with b eams and covered th e

'
b eams thickly with greas e an d tar .
A t b r eak of day t h e mo at wa s fi l l e d an d t h e w ood en

'
- -
,
t o wer b e gan to m ove on i t s whe el s toward s a p art of th e

' '
curtain o n which two catap ul ts were already pl a ying to

breach th e h o ards an d cl ear th e way , There was so me .
thing awful an d m a gi ca l in its app ro ach with out Visibl e

agency for it wa s driven b y internal ro l lers work e d by
,
.
l evera ge O n th e t 0 p was a pl atform wh ere sto o d the fi r s t

.
,
assa ilin g p arty p rotecte d in fro nt b y th e drawbrid ge of th e

t i ll l owere d on to th e wall ; -
but b etter p rot ected b y full suits of arm ou r T h e b e siege d .

'
slun g at t h e t ow er and stru ck it often b ut in vain It wa s

'
.
, ,
wel l defende d with m attres se s an d h i d e s a n d presently '
,
'
was at t h e e d g e of th e m o at T h e k n i gh t b a de fi r e th e
'
'
mine undern eath i t f “ 1 . -

'
~ Then th e Turkish en ine nun g a sto ne of h al f a l m n d r e d

g
we i ght right amon gst th e knights an d carrie d two away ,
wi t h it off th e tower o n to t h e plain O n e lay an d writh ed

’
.
,
th e o th er neither m oved n or sp ak e .
And now th e b esie gin g catap ults flu ng blazin g tar ,
b arrels a n d fi r e d th e ho a rds on b oth s ides and th e assa il

,
'
ants ran up t h e ladders b ehind th e t ow er ua n d -lowered the

'
drawb rid ge o n to th e b attere d curtain; wh i l e t h e catap ults

in concert fl u n g tar b arrel s a nd fi r ed th e adj oinin g works
-
to dislo d ge th e d efenders The arm e d men on th e plat i .

-
form sprang o n t h e b r i d g e ; le d by Bal dwyn

'
Th e i n vu l n er .
'
able kni ght an d his m en a t a rm s met them and a fearful - -

,
'
comb at ensu ed in which m any a fi g u r e was s een t o t a l l

'
'
,
he adl on g d own off th e narrow b ridge But fresh b esiegers .
kep t swarm ing up b ehind th e tower an d th e b esie ge d w ere ,
driven off th e bridge .
A n ot h er m i n u t e an d th e town was taken ; b ut so well

'
'
had the fi r i n g of th e mine b een timed that j ust a t t h i s ,

. x
THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 287
instant the u n d er p i n n er s gave way and the tower su ddenly ,
sank away from th e walls tearing th e drawbridge clear ,
and p ouring th e soldiers off it a gainst the masonry and on ,
to the dry mo at The b esieged uttered a fi er c e shout and

.
,
in a m om ent surrounded B al dwyn and h i s fellows ; b ut

strange to s a y off ered them quarter Wh il e a p arty dis
, .
a r m e d a n d disp o sed of th es e others fi r e d the turret in fi f t y

'
places with a sort of h an d gr enades A t this work who s o .
bu sy a s the tall knight H e put th e fi r eb a g s o n his long

.
sp ear and thrust th em into th e do ome d structure late s o

,
terrible .To do this he wa s obliged to stand on a p roj ecting

b eam of th e shattere d hoard holding on by th e hand of a ,
p ikeman to steady himself This p rovoke d D enys ; h e .
ran ou t from his mantel et h Op i n g to es cap e n otice in th e,
confusion and l evellin g his cro ssb ow missed the knight

,
cl ean b ut s ent his b olt into th e b rain of th e p ikeman and

,
'
,
th e tall knight fell heavil y from the wall lance and all , .
D enys gazed wonderstru ck ; an d in that unlucky mom ent ,
sudd enly h e felt his arm h ot th en cold and there was an , ,
English arrow skewering i t .
This ep iso de was unnoticed in a mu ch greater matter .
The kni ght his arm our glitterin g in the m orning s u n fell
, ,
headlon g b ut turnin g a s h e n ea r e d t h e water stru ck it

, ,
with a slap that s ounded a mile 0 11 .
None ever thou ght to s ee him a gain But h e fell at th e .
e d ge of th e fascines on which th e turret sto o d all co oked on

on e side and his sp ear stuck into them under water an d
, ,
by a mighty effort he got to the side but coul d n ot get ou t ; ,
Anthony s ent a doz en knights with a white fla g t o take

him prisoner H e sub mit t e d like a lamb b ut s aid nothing
.
, .
H e was taken to Anth ony s tent

’
.
That worthy lau gh ed at fi r s t at th e sight of his mu ddy

arm our .But p resently frowning said I marvel sir
, , , , ,
th at s o go o d a knight as you sh oul d know his d evoir so ill

”
a s turn reb el and give u s all th is troubl e
, .
I a m nun— nun— nun— nun— nun— no kn i ght .
What then ?
”
A ho sier .
A what ? Then thy armour shall b e stripp ed off an d ,
thou shalt b e tied to a stake in front of the works and ,
riddl ed with arrows for a warning to traitors .
— — — — —
N n n n no l du da du da du da duda don t
m — — ’
do that .
Why not ?
Tuta— tuta— tuta —townsfolk will— h — h h — hang t fi
’
o t her bub a —bub a —b ub a— b ub a — b astard .
What whom ? ,
Your b ub — bub — b ub — bro ther Baldwyn .

’
Wh at have yon kn aves ta en him ?
,
Th e warlike ho sier n o dd ed .
Hang th e fo ol ! said Anthony p eevishly .
Th e warlik e ho sier watche d his ey e an d do tti n g his “

,
h elm et to ok out of th e lining an intercepte d l etter fro m

,
th e duke b iddin g th e said Anthony come to court i m

,
mediately as h e wa s to repres ent th e court of Burgundy

,
at th e court of Englan d ; was to g o over and receive th e

English king s sister and co nduct her to her b ridegro om
’
, ,
th e Earl of Ch ar ol oi s Th e missio n was one y e l y so othing .
to Anthony s p ride and a lso to his love of pl easure

’
,
F or .
E dward the Fourth hel d th e gayest an d mo st luxurious

court in Europ e Th e s l y ho sier s a w h e lo nged to b e off
.
,
and said We ll gega— gega— ge ga— gega— gi ve y e a thous

,
’
and angel s to rais e th e si ege .
And B al dwyn ?
I
’
l l gega— gega — ge ga — ge ga— an d send h im with
g o
th e m on ey .
It was now dinn er time ; and a fla g of tru ce b ein g ho isted -
on b oth sides th e sham knight an d th e tru e o n e d ned to

i
,
gether and cam e to a friendl y u nderstan di n g .
But what is your grievance my go o d friend ? ,
Tuta— tuta— tuta— tuta— to o mu ch taxes .
D enys on fi n d i n g the ar row in h i s right arm turned

, ,
his b ack which was p rotected by a long shield an d wal ked

, ,
sulk i ly into camp H e was m et b y th e Comte d e Jarnac

.
,
who had seen his b rilliant shot an d fi n d i n g him wounde d ,
into th e b argain gave h i m a handful of bro ad p ieces

, .
Hast g ot the b etter of thy grief a rb al estrier m ethinks , , .
My grief yes ; b ut n ot my love , A s s o on as ever I .
have p ut down this reb ellion I go to Holl and and there I

’
, ,
”
sh a ll m eet with him .
Thi s event w a s n ear er th an D enys tho u g ht H e wa s .
relieved from -s ervice n ext day and thou gh his woun d w a s ,
no t r i fl e s et ou t with a stout h ear t to rej o in h i s friend in

,
Holland .
2 90 T HE C L O ISTER AN D TH E HEARTH
p al e girl on crutches Margar et V an Eyck was pushin g .
b y th em with h ei ghtened colour and a scornf ul to ss i h ,
tended for th e whol e fam ily when su ddenly a l ittl e d el i cate ,
han d glided timidl y i nto hers and lo oking roun d s h e s a w ,
two dove l i k e eyes with th e water in them that sou ght

-
, ,
hers gratefully and at th e s am e tim e i mpl oringly The ol d .
lady read this wo nderfu l lo ok co mpl ex as it wa s and down , ,

’
went h er chol er Sh e st e pp e d and kissed K ate s b row
. .
” ”
I s ee said s h e
,
Mind th en I leave it to you . Re , ,
.
turne d hom e s h e sai d I h ave b een to a hou se t o day

,
- -
,
where I have s een a very common thing and a very n u »
comm on thing ; I h ave s een a stupid ob stinate wo man , ,
—
and I h a y e s ee n an angel in th e fl esh w ith a i a e e i f I h a d , _
it h ere I d tak e down my b rush es o nce more and try an d

’
p aint i t .
L ittl e K ate did not b elie th e goo d O p i n i o n s o hastil y

form ed of h er Sh e waite d a b etter opp ortunity and tol d
.
,
h er moth er wh at s h e h ad l earned fro m R ei ch t H ey n e s ,
that Margaret h ad sh ed her very blo o d f or Ger ar d in th e

wo o d .
S ee m oth er h ow sh e loves him

, , .
W h o would no t love him ?

Oh mother think of i t i Po or thing
, , .
A y wench , Sh e h a s her own t r ou b l e no doubt a s

.
, ,
’
well a s we ours I can t ab id e t h e s i gh t of bl o o d l et alone
.
,
my own .
’
This was a p o int gaine d ; b ut wh en K ate tried to foll ow

it up s h e wa s stopp e d s h ort
Ab out a m onth after this a sol dier of th e Da l g et t y trib e
.
returning 1 1 0 m service in Burg un dy b i ou gh t a l etter o n e ,
evenin g to th e h os i er s h ou s e H e w a s away on b u sin e ss ; ’

.
-
b ut th e rest of th e family s a t at supp er Th e soldier laid .
th e l etter o n th e tab l e b y Catherine an d refu sin g all gu er ,
do n f or b ringi n g i t went off to S evenb ergen , .
Th e l etter wa s u nfol de d and spread ou t ; and curiou s ly

enou gh thou gh not on e of th em coul d rea d they c ou1 d al l
, ,
~
’
tel l it wa s Gerard s han dwr itin g .
And your fath er mu st b e away crie d Cath erin e , .
A r e y e n ot ash am e d of yourselves ? not on e t h a t can ‘
rea d your b rother 5 l etter ’

.
B ut althou gh th e word swere to them what hier o glyphics

are to u s th ere wa s s om ethin g l n th e l etter they could read
, .
Th ere i s an art can S p eak wi thout words ; unfettered by

’
th e p enm an s limits it can steal throu gh the eye i nto th e ,
h eart and brai n al ik e of th e learne d an d u n le arned ; and

,
it can cro s s a fronti er o r a s ea yet lo s e noth i ng It is at , .

~
the m ercy of no tr a n s lator ; f or it w rit es a n u n iversal

langu age .
THE C LO ISTER AND THE HEARTH 29 1
When therefore they saw this

, ,
which G erard ha d drawn with his p encil b etwe en th e two

short p arag r aphs of which his letter con s i sted t hey read
, ,
i t a n d it went strai ght to the i r hearts

,: .
Gerard wa s b iddin g th em farewell .
As th ey gaze d o n that simpl e sketch in every turn and ,
line of which th ey reco gnize d his manner G erard s eemed ,
present an d b iddin g them farewell

, .
The women wep t over it till th ey coul d s ee it no longer .
Gile s said Po or Gerard ! in a l ower vo ice than seem ed

,
to b elon g to h i m .
Even Cornelis and S y b r a n d t felt a m omentary remorse ,
and s a t silent and glo omy .
Bu t h ow to get th e word s read to them Th ey were .
loth to show th eir ignorance and their emotio n to a

stranger .
Th e D am e V an Eyck said Kate timidly

'
, .
A n d s o I will Kate Sh e has a go o d heart Sh e , . .
loves Gerard t oo Sh e w ill b e glad to hear of him

, . I .
was short with her wh en sh e cam e h ere ; b ut I will mak e

my submission and then s h e w i ll tell m e what my p o or
,
”
child say s to m e .
She wa s so on at Margar et V an Eyck s hou se R eicht ’

.
t o ok h er into a ro om and sai d B id e a minute ; sh e is a t , ,

”
her orisons .
There was a youn g woman in the ro om sea t e d p ensively

b y t h e stove ; b ut she ro se and courteou sl y m ade way f or
th e visitor .
Thank y ou youn g lady ; th e winter nights are cold

,
,
,
and your stove is a treat Catherine th en wh i l e warming .

,
her hands in sp ecte d her companion furtively from head to

,
fo ot inclusive
,
The young p erson wore an ordinary
.
wimpl e bu t her gown wa s trimme d with fur which w a s

, , ,
in tho se days almo s t a sign of sup erior rank or w ea l t h

,
.
But what mo st stru ck Cath erine was t h e candour and

mo desty of th e face She felt sure of symp athy from s o
.
go o d a countenanc e and b e gan to go s sip , .
Now what think you brings m e here yo un g lady ?

, ,
It is a l etter ! a l etter from my p o or b oy that i s far away

in som e sava ge p art or o ther An d I tak e sham e to s a y .
that none of u s can read i t I wo nder wh ether yo u can .
read ?
Yes .
Can y e now ? It is mu ch to your credit my d ear

, ,
.
I d are s a y s h e wo n t b e l ong : b ut eve r y minute is an hour

’
”
to a p o or l on gin g m other .
I will read it to you .
Bl ess y ou my dear ; bl ess you !

,
In her unfei gne d eagern es s s h e neve r notic ed t h e s u p

press ed ea gerness with which th e hand w a s sl owly p ut out
to tak e th e l etter She did no t s e e t h e tremor with which
'
th e fi n g er s clo se d on i t .
C om e , t h rea d it to m e prith ee I a m wearyin g for

‘
~
en , , .
Th e fiword s are To my h on oured p arents

r st ,
‘
.
and h e always did h onour u s p o or so ul , .
“ Ay l
Go d and th e saints h ave yo u in H i s h oly ke ep in g ,
and bl ess you b y night and by d ay Your on e harsh deed .
i s forgotten ; your years of l ove rememb ere d .
C ath erine l aid h er hand on h er b o som and s ank b ack ,
in her ch air with on e lo ng s ob .
Th en com es this madam It doth sp eak for its elf

, .
a l on g farewel l .
’
A y g o on ; bl ess you gi rl ; you give m e sorry c om fo rt

, , .
’
Still tis comfort .
T o my b rothers Cornelis an d S y b r a n d t — B e content ;

you w ill s ee m e n o m ore !
Wh at do es th at m ean ? Ah !
To my sister K ate Littl e an gel of my father s .
’
”
hou se . B e kin d to h er Ah l ,
Th at i s M a r g a r et Brandt my dear— h i S s w eet h e a r t

s
'
,
'
p o o r soul I v e not b een kind to her my dear

.
’
Forgive , .
m e Gerard !
— f or p o or Gerard s sak e : since gri ef to her i s d eath ’
—
to m e Ah ! And Nature resentin g the p o or girl s ’
stru ggl e for unnatural comp osure su ddenly gave way and , ,
s h e sank from her cha i r and lay insens i ble wi th the letter ,
in her hand and her head on Catherine s kne es

,
’
.
2 94 THE C LO ISTER AND THE ! H EARTH
‘
creep ing b ack to her face an d lip s Catherine drew Margare t ,
V an Eyck aside .
I s s h e stayin g with you if y ou pl ease ? ,

”
No m adam ,
.
I wo u l dn t let h er go b ack to S e ’
venb ergen to night ,
then .
That 1 5 as s h e p l eases Sh e s ti ll refu ses t o b i d e t l 1 e . .
nl gh t .
b ut you ar e ol der than s h e i s ; you can mak e h er

Ay , ‘
.
T h e re sh e i s b egin ni ng to notice ”
Cath erin e th en p u t h er mo u t h t o M a rgaret V a n Eyck s

.
,
’
ea r f or h alf a m om en t ; i t d i d no t se em time enou gh to

.
(
,
whisp er a word f a r l ess a sentence But o n s ome k t opi c s

, ‘
fem al es can fl a s h com mu ni cati o n t o fem al e l ike li gh tnin g .

,
or thou ht it se l f
. ‘ I .
g
T h e ol d lad y st art ed a n d w hi sp ered b a
.
ck ,
I t s fal se ! it is a eal u m n y l it is m ons t rou s ! Lo ok at

’
her face It is blasph emy to accu s e su ch a face

. .
Tut ! tut i tut ! s aid th e o ther ! you might b

a s well
s a y t h is is n o t my hand I o u ght to know ; a n d I tell y e .
’
it i s s o .
’
Then mu ch to Margaret V an E y ck s ysu r p r i s e s h e went
, ,
up to th e girl and t akin g h er r oun d the 1 1 eek k issed h er

, _ , ,
warmly I suff ered fo r Gerard an d y ou she d your blo o d

for h i m I d o hear : his own words sho wm e that I h a Ve b een
.
,
to blame the V ery words yo u have rea d to m e

, A y Gerard .
, ,
my chil d I have hel d alo of f rom her ; b ut I ll m ak e i t up

,
’
.
to h er o nce I b egi n; You are my d au ghter from this h o ur .
An other warm emb race se al ed this hasty comp act a n d ,
the woman of impulse wa s gone .

‘
Marg aret lay b ack in h er chair and a fe ebl e s m i l e st ol e ,
over her face Gerard s moth er ha d kissed ; h er and cal le d

.
’
her dau ghter ; b ut the next m oment s h e s a w her ol d frien d

lo ok i n g at her with a vexe d air .
I wo nder you l et th at woma n kiss you .
His m other ! murmur ed Margaret h al f rep roa chfully~ ,
Mother or n o mothe r yo u woul d no t let ; her t ouch

, ,
y o u i f y ou knew what s h e whi spere d in my ear ab out y ou .
Ab out m e ? s aid M argaret faintly .
A y ab out y o u ,whom s h e never s a w till t o ni ght , .
Th e ol d l ady wa s pro ceeding wi th som e h esitati on a n d ,
choic e of lan g ua ge to m ak e Margaret share h er indigna ,
tion wh en an unlo oked fo r i n t erruption clo s ed her lip s

, ‘ .
Th e youn g w oman sli d from h er cha ir t o her knees a n d

.
.
, ,
b egan to p ray piteou sly to her for p ardon From th e words .
and the m anner of her p enitence a bystander woul d h a ve

gath ere d s h e had i n fl i c t e d s om e cruel wron g s om e l i n t ol er ,
abl e i ns u lt up on her Venerabl e fri end

, .
1
THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH '
2 95
CHAPTER X LV
TH E
’
littl e p arty at the ho sier s house s a t at tab l e discu ssing
the recent event when their mother returned an d castin g
, ,
a piercing glan ce all roun d the little circle laid th e l etter ,
flat on th e table Sh e rep eated every Word of it by m emory

.
,
followin g th e lines with h er fi n g er s t o ch eat h ers elf and ,

»
hearers into th e notion that s h e could rea d th e words or ,
n early Then suddenly lifting h er h ead sh e cast another

' '
.
, ,
keen lo ok o n Cornelis and S y b r a n d t : their eyes fell .
On t h i s t h e stor m that had lon g b een b rewing burst on

their heads .
Catherin e s eem ed t o swell like an angry h en r u fi l i n g

her feathers an d ou t o t h er m outh cam e a Rho n e an d S aone
,
of wisdom and twaddle of great an d m ean invective such , ,
a s no mal e that ever wa s b orn could utter in on e current ;

and not many women .
Th e following is a fair thou gh a small sampl e of her

'
words : only they were uttered all in on e b r e a t h z o
I h ave l on g had my doubts that you bl ew th e flam e

b etwixt Gerard and your fath er and s et that ol d ro gu e , ,
G h y s b r ech t ; oh An d now h er e a r e G erard s own written

.
,
’
words to prove i t You have driven your ow n fl esh and

.
blo o d into a far land and robb ed the m other that b ore you
,
of h er darling th e p ride of h er eye th e j oy of her heart

‘
, , .
But you are all of a p iece from end to end Wh en you were .
all b oys to gether my others were a c om r t ; but you wer e

,
a curse: mischievou s an d s l y ; an d to ok a wom an half a

d a y to keep your cl oth es whol e : for why ? work wears
cloth b u t play cuts i t
,
With th e b eard com es p ru dence ;
.
b ut none came to you : still th e last to g o t o b ed an d th e ,
l ast to leave i t ; and why ? b ecaus e h on es t y g oes to b ed

'
early and industry rises b etimes ; where there are two lie
,
’
a b eds in a h ou se there are a p air of n e er do weels
-
O ften - -
'
I ve s a t and looked at your ways and wondered where y e

’
,
came from : y e don t take after your father an d y e are no

’
,
more like m e than a wasp is to an ant ; sure y e were chan ge d

in th e cradle or t h e cu cko o dropp ed y e on my fl oor : for y e
,
have not our hands n or ou r h eart s : of all my bl oo d no ne

, ,
but you ever j eered them that Go d a ffl i ct e d ; but often

"
when my b ack was turned I Ve heard you m o ck at Giles ’
b ecause he is n ot s o b ig as som e ; and at my lily K ate '
b eé a u s e s h e is not s o stron g as a Flanders m are After that .
rob a church an y ou will ! for y ou can b e n o wors e i n His f
ey es that made b oth K ate and Gi les and in mine that ,

suff ered for them p o or darlings as I did for you you p a ltry , , , ,
unfe eling treasonabl e curs ! No I will n ot hush my

, , ,
dau ghter th ey have fi ll e d th e cup to o full

,
It tak es a d e al .
to turn a mother s hear t a gainst t h e sons s h e ha s nurse d ’
upo n her knees ; a n d m any is the t i m e I have winke d and

'
wouldn t s e e to o mu ch and b itten my ton gu e l est their

’
, ,
father shoul d know th em a s I do ; h e woul d have p ut them

to th e do or that m o m ent But now th ey have fi l l e d th e .
cup to o fu ll And where go t y e a l l th is money ? For this

.
last m onth you have b een roll ing in i t You n ever wrou ght .
for i t . I wish I m ay n ever hear from other m ouths h ow

y e got i t It is s i nce
. that night yo u W ere out s o late and -
,
y ou r h ead cam e b ack s o swell ed C or nelis Sloth and gree d , .
are ill mated my masters

-
L overs of m on ey must sweat
, .
or ste a l Well if y ou robb ed any p o or soul of i t it wa s

.
, ,
som e woman I ll g o b ail ; for a man wo ul d drive yo u with

,
’
his nak ed hand No m atter it i s go o d for on e thin g

. It ,
.
has shown m e how you will guid e our gear if ever it com es
to b e yourn I have watche d you my l ads this wh i l e
.
, , .
You h ave sp ent a gro at to day b etwe en y ou An d I sp en d -

.
s carce a gro at a week and k eep you al l go o d a n d b ad , No ! , .
give up waitin g fo r th e sho es that will m ayb e walk b ehind

your c offi n for this shop an d this h ou se shal l n ever b e yo urn .
Gerard is our h e i r ; p o or Gerard who m you have b anish ed ,
and done your b est to k ill ; after that n ever call m e mother
a gain ! But you h ave mad e him tenfol d dearer to me ‘
My p o or l o st b oy ! I shal l s o on s ee him a g ai n ; shall hold

him in my arms and s et him o n my kne es , A y y ou may .
~
stare ! You are to o crafty and yet not crafty enow , .
Yo u cut th e stalk away ; but yo u left the seed— th e s ee d

that sh all out grow y ou and outlive you Margaret Brandt , .
’
is quick and it i s Gerard s an d what i s Gerard s i s m ine ;
, ,
’
and I have praye d th e saints it m ay b e a b oy ; and it will

it mu st K ate wh en I fo und it was s o my b owels y earne d
.
, ,
over her chil d unb orn a s if it had b een my own H e is ou r .
heir H e will outlive u s

. You will not for a b ad heart .
in a carca ss i s l ike the worm in th e nut s o o n b rings the ,
b o dy to dust S o Kate t a ke down Gerar d s b ib and tu cker

’
.
, ,
that a r e i n th e drawer you wot oi and on e of thes e days ,
we will carry them to S evenb ergen We will b orrow P eter .
’
B u y s k e n s cart and go co mfort Gerard s wife under her
,
’
b ur d en Sh e is his wife
. Wh o i s Gh y s b r e ch t V an S wi et en ?.
Can he com e b etween a coupl e and th e altar a n d sunder ,
tho se that Go d and th e priest m ak e on e ? She is my d a u gh

ter an d I a m as proud of h er as I a m of you Kate al mo st ;
, , ,
a nd a s f or y ou keep ou t of my way awh ile for you are lik e

, ,
”
the bl ack do g in my eyes .
Corneli s and S y b r a n d t to ok the hint and sl u nk

298 THE C LO IS TER '
AN D : THE HEARTH
and t h e l es s on n e er do ne ; w e p ut down on e fa ul t an d tak e
’
up t other and so g o -blund ering h ere and blund e r in g there

’
, , ,
”
till we blunder i nto our graves and there s an en d of u s ,
’
.
”
Mother said K ate timidly
, .
Wel l what i s a coming now ? no go o d n ews thou gh

,
-
,
by the lo ok of you Wh at o n ear th can m ak e th e p o or

.
wen ch s o s care d ?
A 1 1 avowal s h e b ath to m ake fa tered K at e faintly ,
l
.
”
Now there is a n obl e wo r d f or y e
. .
,
sai d Catherine '
,
p roudly O ur Gerard tau ght the e that I l l g o b ail

.
,
’
.
Com e then ou t with thy vowel ,

.
Well then so oth to s a y I have se en her

, ,
.
An d sp oken with her to b o ot .
And n ever tol d m e ? After this mar vels are dirt .
Moth er y ou were s o h ot a gainst her

,
I waited till I .
coul d tell you without an gering you worse .
”
Ay s aid Catherine h al f s a dl y h alf b itterly
,
lik e ,
f
, ,
a
mo ther lik e dau ghter ; cowardic e it is our b ane “ The

,
others I whiles b uff et or h ow woul d th e hou se f a re ? b ut ,
did you K ate ever have harsh word or lo ok from your

, ,
p o or m other that you ,

Nay I wi ll no t have y e cry , ,
girl ; ten to on e y e had your reaso n ; s o ris e u p b rave

’
heart and tell m e al l b etter l ate than n e er ; an d fi r s t an d

, ,
’
foremo st when ever an d how ever w on d you to S even

‘
, ,
b ergen wi your p o or crutches and I not know ?

’
,
' ’
I n ever was ther e in m y l i fe ; and mammy dear to , ,
s a y that I me er wish ed to s e e h e
’
r that I will not b ut I ne er
’
t
,
”
went nor sou ght to s e e her
sai d Catherine disputatively ;
.
There n ow , said I
n ot twas a l l u nl ik e my girl to s eek h er unb ekno w n to m e ?
’
”
Com e now for I m all ago g ,
’
.
“ ’
Th en thu s twas It cam e to my ear s no m atter .
,
’
how and prith ee go o d m other oh my kne es n e er ask m e
'
, , ,
how that G erard wa s a priso ner in th e Stadthou s e tower

, .
Ah !
B y fath er s b ehest a s tw
’ ’
as pretended .
Cath erin e uttere d a sigh that was almo st a m o an .
Blacker than I thou ght s h e muttered faintly , .
Gil es and I went out at n ight to b i d him b e of go o d

cheer And ther e at th e tower fo ot was a b rave lass quite
.
,
stra nge to m e I vow o n the sam e errand , .
L o ok ee th ere n ow K ate , .
A t fi r s t w e di d prop erly frighten on e a nother throu gh -

,
t h e place h i s b ad nam e an d ou r p o or h ead s b ein g so full

-
,
-
’
0 d i vel s an d we whitened a b it i n mo on shine
, But n ext .
You are Marg a ret "

.
’
moment qu o I , , An d you are K ate
-
.
’
,
’
h
’
quo s e Think on t l 9 '
.
THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEART H 299
’
D id on e ever ? Twas Gerard H e will h ave b een .
talking b a ck a r d s and f or r a r d s of the e to her and her to ,
thee .
In return f or this K ate b estowed on Catherin e on e of ,
the prettiest presents in nature— the comp o site kiss i e

'
'
.
,
.
,
she imprinted on her cheek a singl e kiss which said ,
1 Q uite correct
. .
2 Go od clever mother f or gu essing so right and quick

.
, ,
.
3 H ow sweet for u s twain to b e of one mind again after

.
n ever having b een otherwise .
4 Etc . .
Now then sp eak thy mind chil d Gerard is not h ere , , , .
”
Alas what a m I saying ? would to Heaven h e were
, .
“
Well th en m other s h e is com ely and wron gs her , , ,
”
p icture b ut littl e !
Eh dear ; hark to youn g folk ! I a m f or go o d acts
, ,
no t go o d lo oks L oves s h e my b oy as h e did ou ght to b e

.
S evenb ergen is f a r t h er f r om the Stadtho us e th an we '
yet s h e w a s there a fore

'
said K ate thoughtfully ;
Catherine no dded intelligence .
N ay more s h e had got him out ere I came

, , Ay .
,
d o wn from th e cap tive s tower ’

.
Catherine sho ok her head incredulousl y Th e h i gh est .
”
tower for mil es ! It i s not feasibl e .
T is so oth thou gh
’
She and an ol d man sh e b rou ght .
foun d means and wit to s end him up a rop e T here t wa s .

’
dangling fro m h i s prison an d ou r Gile s went up i t Wh en , .
fi r s t I s a w it hang I said
’
Thi s i s glam our But wh en th e , ,
-
.
f r a n k l a ss s a r m s cam e round m e an d h er b o som di d b eat

'
’
'
'
on mine and her cheeks wet then said I

,
Tis n ot gl a m Ou r : , ,
’ -
’
tis love For s h e i s n ot like me but lusty an d abl e ; and
.
’
'
, ,
d ear heart even I p o or frail er e a t u r e d o feel som etime s

, , , ,
a s I could move the worl d for them I love : I love y ou ,
mother And sh e l ove s Gerard

. .
G od bless her f or t l Go d bless her ! ’
But
But what lamb ? ,
Her love is it for very certain hon est ? , Ti s m est ‘ ’
strange ; but tha t very thin g which hath warmed your ,
heart hath somewhat coole d min e towar d s h er ; p o or soul

, .
”
She is no wife y ou know m other when all is don e , , ,
.
H u m ph l Th ey have sto o d at t h altar to gether ’

.
A y but they w en t a s th ey came maid and b achelor

,
'
,
.
Th e p arson saith he s o ? ,
’
Nay f or that I know not ,

.
Then I ll tak e no man s word but his in su ch a tangled

’ ’
3 00 T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HE AR TH
skein After som e r efl e ct i on s h e adde d
. N ath el ess art ,
right girl ; I ll to S evenb ergen al o ne

,
’
A wi fe I a m b ut no t .
a slave We are al l in th e d ark here

. And s h e hol ds the .
clu e I mu st qu estio n h er and no on e b y ; least o f all yo u

.
,
.
I ll n ot tak e my lily to a h ou se wi a sp ot no no t to a p al ace

’ ’
, ,
0
’
gol d and silver .
Th e m ore Catherine p ondered this c onversatio n th e ,
m ore s h e felt drawn tow ar d s Mar garet and m oreover s h e ,
was all ago g with curio sity a p otent p assio n with u s all , ,
and n early omnip otent with tho se who lik e Catherine do ,
n ot slak e it with readin g A t last o ne fi n e d a y after .

, ,
dinner s h e whisp ere d t o K ate

, K eep th e hous e fro m go in g ,
to p i eces an y e can ; and do nne d h er b est k i rtl e and ho o d

, ,
and h er s carl et clo cke d ho s e an d her n ew sh o es and tru dge d ,

’
b riskly off to S evenb ergen tro ublin g no m an s mul e ,
.
Wh en s h e got th ere s h e inquir e d where M argaret Bran dt

l ived Th e fi r s t p erso n s h e a ske d sho ok his hea d and sai d
.
,
”
The nam e i s stran ge to m e Sh e went a littl e farth er .
an d aske d a gi rl of ab out fi f t e en wh o w a s standin g at a

do or Father
.
said th e girl sp eaking into the hous e
, , ,
’
here is another af ter that m a gician s d au ghter The .
m an cam e out and tol d Cath erine Pet er B r a n d t s cottag e ’

’
was j ust o utsid e th e town o n th e east si de You m ay s e e .
th e chimney h en ce ; an d h e p o inted it ou t to her But .
yo u will n ot fi n d th em there noth er fath er no r dau ghter ; ,
th ey have l eft th e town this w e ek bl ess you , .
S ay no t s o go o d m an and m e w alken a l l th e way , ,

.
from T er g ou .
‘
From T er g ou ? th en you mu st h a m et th e soldi er ’
.
Wh at sol di er ? a y I did m eet a soldier , .
Well th en yon sol dier w a s h ere s eeking th at self —

, , sam e
”
M argaret .
A y and warn t a m a d with u s b e c au s e s h e wa s gone ?

’
,
put in the girl His lo n g b ear d an d her ch e ek are n o

-
.
”
stran gers I warrant , .
S ay no m ore than y e kn ow said Catherine sharply , .
You are youn g to tak e t o slander i ng your el ders Stay ! .
”
tel l m e m ore ab ou t this s oldier go o d m an , .
Nay I know no m o re than that h e cam e hither s eeking

,
Margaret Brandt an d I tol d him sh e a nd h er f a t h er h a d ,

'
m a de a m o o nlight flit on t this day s ennight and that som e ’
thou ght th e d evil had fl own away with th em b ein g ma gi ,
ci a n s
’
And .
says h e th e d evil fl y a way with thee for
, ,
thy il l news ; that was my thanks But I doub t t i s a .

’
’
lie said h e
, And yo u think s o said I
.
g o and s e e I ,
’
, .
’
’
will s aid h e and b urst ou t w i a hantl e o gibb erish : my
, ,
’ ’
’
wife thi n k s twas curs es ; an d hied him to the cottage .
Presently b ack a com es and sings t o th er tune You

’
, .
3 02 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH ’
and j ustice ( s h e k ep t a sh op ) p artly to show h er household ,
how much b etter b read s h e gave th em daily ; and return ed

to T er g ou dej ected ;
K ate met h er outside the town with b eaming eyes .
Wel l Kate lass it is a happy thing I went ; I a m

, , ,
heart brok en
-
Gerard h a s b een sore abu s e d : 5 The chil d
.
i s non e of ourn nor the m other from this hour

, .
'
Al as mo th er I fathom n ot y our m eaning

, ,
'
‘
A s k m e no m ore girl ; b ut never m en t i on h er nam e to
'
m e again That is all

Kate acquiesced with a hum bl e sigh an d th ey went
. .
hom e to gether .
T h ey found a soldier s eated tranquil ly by the i r fi r e . .
The m om ent they entered th e do or h e ro se an d saluted ,
them civil ly Th ey sto o d and lo ok ed at him ; K ate with

.
s om e l i t t l e surpris e b ut Catherin e with a great d eal and '

.
. , ,
with rising indi gnation .
’
What makes you here ? wa s Catherine s gr eeting .
”
I c am e to seek after Margaret .
Wel l we know n o s u ch p ers on

,
. .
S ay not s o dam e ; s u r e y ou know h er b y name

,
“ ‘
Margaret Bran dt .
e —
We have h ear d of her f or t h a t m atter t o ou r co st
'
Com e d am e p rithe e tell m e at l east where s h e b ides

, , .
I know not where s h e b id es and car e not “ ,

-
.
D enys felt sure this wa s a del i b era t e untru t h H e t b it .
We l l I lo ok ed t o fi n d m y s el f i n a n en em y s
'
’
h i s lip
' ' ‘
‘
.
,
country at this T er g ou b ut m ayb e i f you knew all y e would

not b e s o dour .
I do know al l repli ed C ath erin e b itterly This , .
m om I knew nou ght Th en su dde n l y settin g h er arm s .
akimb o s h e told him with a raise d vo i ce an d fl a s h i n g eyes

she wo ndered at his ch e ek sitting down by that hearth of '
all h earths in th e world .
May S atan fly away with your h e arth to t h e l a k e of '
” "
‘
fi r e and b rimston e shouted D enys wh o coul d sp eak , ,
Fl emish fl u en t l y Your own s er v a n t b a d e m e s i t there

‘
till you cam e els e I had n e er troubl ed your hearth

, My ’
.
mal ison on i t and on th e churlish ro of tre e that gr e ets an

,
uno ffending stranger this way and h e stro d e scowlin g to ,
t h e do or .
Oh ! oh ! ej aculate d Cathe rine frighten ed a n d al s o , ,

‘
a l ittl e conscience stricken ; and th e Vira go s ait su ddenly -
'
down an d b urst into tears H er dau ghter fo l lowe d suit .
qu ietly b ut without lo ss of time

, .
r
A shre w d writer now unhapp ily lost , to us} h as som e

w h ere th e foll owing dialo gu e : z s
THE CL O ISTER '
A ND THE HEARTH 3 03
S h e: I feel all a woman s weakness ’

.
”
He . Then you are invincible .
D enys by anticip ation c on fi r m e d that valuabl e state

, ,
m ent ; he stoo d at th e do or lo oking ru efully at the havo c

his thunderb olt of elo qu ence h ad m ade .
N a y wife said h e weep no t neith er for a sol d i er s ’
, , ,
hasty word I m ean not all I said

. Why your house i s .
,
”
your own and what right in it have I ? There now I ll g o
, ,
’
.
What i s to do ? said a grave m anly voice .
It wa s Eli ; h e ha d com e in from th e shop .
Here is a r u f fi a n b een a scolding of you r wom en folk -
and makin g th em cry explain ed D enys , .
’
Littl e K ate what is t ? fo r r u ffi a n s (1 0 not u s e t o call
,
”
th emselve s r u i fi a n s said Eli th e sensible , .
Ere she could explain Hol d your ton gu e girl sai d, , ,
Catherine ; Muriel b ade him sat down and I knew n ot ,
that and wyted o n him ; and he w a s goin g and leavin g

,
’
his malison on u s ro ot and b ranch I wa s n ever s o b e

, .
cursed in all my days oh l oh l oh l ,
You were b oth som ewhat to bl am e ; b oth you and

he , sai d Eli calmly ; However what th e servant says ,
the m aster shoul d still stand to We k eep not op en hou se .

,
but yet we are n ot p o or enou gh to gru d ge a seat at ou r

h earth in a col d day to a wayfarer with an h onest face ,
and a s I think a wounded man

, , S o end all malice and .
, ,
s i t y e down !
Wounded ? cried mother and dau ghter in a b reath .
Think y ou a soldier slin gs his arm f or sp ort ?

but an arrow said D enys ch eerfully , .
But an arrow ? said K ate with concentrated horror , .
Where were our eye s mo ther ? ,
Nay in go o d so oth a t rifl e

, Which however I will , .
, ,
pray m esdam es t o accept as a h excu se for my vivacity Tis ‘
.
’
thes e littl e fo olish t r i fl i n g wound s that fret a m an worthy ,
si r
. Why lo ok y e now sweeter temp er than ou r G erard
, ,
never b reathed yet wh en th e b ear did but strike a p iece

, ,
no b igger than a crown ou t of his calf h e turne d so hot and ,

’
choleric y h a d sai d he wa s no son of yours b ut got b y th e ,
go o d knight S ir John P epp er on his wife dam e Mu stard

wh o is this ? a dwarf ? your servant Master Gil es , .
”
Your se r van t soldier ro ared th e newcom er ,
'
D enys , .
started H e had not counted on exchangin g greetings

.
with a p etard .
D en y s s word s had surp rised his ho sts b ut hardly more

’
than th eir dep ortment now did him Th ey all three cam e -
.
creepin g up to where h e s a t an d lo oke d down into him ,
with t heir lip s p arted a s if he ha d b e en some stran ge phe

,
nom e n on .
3 04 T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
An d grow i n g agitatio n su cceeded to amazem ent .
Now hu sh i said Eli l et non e sp eak but I Youn g , .
m an ,
s aid he solemnl y in Go d s nam e who are you ,
’
,
that know u s th ou gh we know you n ot an d that sh ake ou r ,

— —
hearts sp eaking to u s oi th e ab sent ou r p o or reb elliou s
s on : whom Heaven forgive and bles s ?
”
What m aster sa id D enys loweri n g his voi ce
, ,hath , ,
h e n ot writ to you ? h ath h e no t tol d you of me D enys of ,
Bur gu ndy ?
H e hath writ b u t thre e l i nes an d n a m e d n ot D enys
‘
, ,
”
of Burgundy no r an y stranger ,
.
A y I mind th e lon g letter wa s to h i s sweetheart this

, ,
M a rgaret an d s h e h as d ecam p ed pla gu e tak e her and how

, , ,
”
I a m to fi n d h er Heaven kn ows .
What s h e i s not your sweetheart then ?

,
Wh o dam e a n t p l ea s e you
,
”
,
’
.
.
”
Why Mar garet Bran dt
, .
’
How can my comrad e s sweetheart b e m in e ? I know
her no t from No ah s niece ; how shoul d I ? I n ever s a w ’ ’
”
h er .
Whist with this idle ch at K ate sai d Eli i m , ,
p atiently and let th e you ng m an answer m e

, H ow cam e .
you to know Gerard ou r s on ? Prith ee now think on a ,

’
p arent s cares an d an swer m e straightforward l ik e a
, ,
”
s oldier a s tho u art .
An d sh a ll I was p aid off at Flu shin g an d starte d

.
,
f or Bur g undy Ou th e German frontier I l a y at th e sam e

.
inn with Gerard I fancied him I said B e my comrade

. .
, .
’
H e was loth at fi r s t ; consente d p res ently Many a weary .
lea gu e we tro de to gether N ever were tru er comrad es : .
never w ill b e whil e ear th sh a l l last F i rst I lef t my rout e .
a b it to b e with him : then b e h i s to b e with m e We tal ke d .
of S evenb ergen and T er g ou a thou sand tim es ; an d of al l

i n thi s hou se We had ou r trouble s on th e ro ad ; b ut
.
b attling th em to geth er m ad e them light I saved hi s lif e .
from a b ear ; h e min e in the Rhin e : for h e swim s like a du ck

and I lik e a ho d o b ri cks ; and on e another s lives at an ’ ’
i n n in Burgu ndy where w e two h el d a ro om for a go o d hour

,
a gainst s even cut throats an d crippl ed o n e and sl ew two -

,
and your son did his d evo ir lik e a man and m et th e stoute st
'
ch amp io n I ever countered an d S p itte d him lik e a su ckin g ,
pi g
. Els e I h a d not b een h ere But j ust when all wa s .
fair and I was to s ee h i m safe ab oard ship for Rom e if not

, ,
to Rom e itself met u s that s on of a , th e Lord An tho ny

of Burgundy and his m en making for Flanders then in
, , ,
insurrection tore u s by force ap art took m e where I go t

, ,
s om e b ro ad p ieces in hand an d a b road arrow in my shoul ,
der an d l eft my p o or Gerard lonesom e

, A t that s a d .
3 06 TH E GL O I STER -
AND T HE HEARTH
‘
Th en yo u will n ot b e surp ris ed when I tell y ou that after '
a whil e Giles came softly a nd curle d himself up b efore th e

fi r e and lay gaz in g at the sp e a k er with a reverence almo st
,
c a n i ne ; and that wh en th e rou gh soldier ha d unconscio usly ,
b ut thorou g h ly b etrayed h i s b etter q ual ities and ab ove al l ,
his r a re affectio n f or Ger a rd K ate thou gh timo rou s as a , ,
b ird stol e her l ittl e han d in to : the warrior s hu ge b ro w n ’

'
'
p al m wh ere it l a y a n instant lik e a tea sp o onful of cream

,
-
'
sp ilt o n a pl atter t h en n i p p e d th e b al l oi his thumb and ,

'
.
-
serve d f or a K a r d i om et er In other words Fat e i s j u st .

,
-
.
even to rival s torytel lers an d b alan ce s m atters D enys ,

. .
had to p ay a t a x to his au dience whi ch I have n ot Wh en .
ever Ger ard wa s in t oo mu ch dan ger th e fem al e faces b e ,
cam e s o w h i t e and thei r p oor li t t l e t h r oa t s gurgl ed s o he

'
‘
'
z ,
,
was ob lige d in com mo n hum anity to sp o i l his recital .
Su sp ens e i s th e soul of n ar rative and thu s deal t Rou gh a n d ,

-
T ender of B urgundy with hi s b e s t s u s p en s es Now dam e .

, ,
tak e not o n till y e h e a r th e end ; m a am sel l e l et no t your ’

’
,
.
.
cheek bl anch s o courage ! i t lo o ks u gly ; b u t you shall .
h ear how w e w on d throu gh Ha d h e miscarrie d and I . .
at h an d w oul d I b e alive ?
,
An d m eantim e K ate s l ittl e K a r d i om et er or h e art .

’
,
.
meas u rer gr a d u t e d em otion an d p inch ed b y s ca l e s u A t i t s

, ,
' ‘
b est i t was b y no m eans a hi gh pre ss u re e n gi ne B u t al l

’
-
. .
i s relative D enys so o n le arn e d the tender gamu t ; and

.
when to wat er th e s u s p e n s e f a n d extract th e thril l a s far

as p o ssibl e On o n e o ccas i o n on l y h e c an n il y i n d em n i fi e d
.
'
his narr ative for this drawb ack Falli n g p ersonally into .
t h e Rhine and si n kin g h e g ot p inch ed h e D enys t o h i s

, , , ,
“
surp ris e and sati sfactio n O b o l thou ght h e i an d on the . .
principl e of th e anatomists exp er i m en t u m in corp ore ,
kep t h im se l f a qu arter of an hour un der water ; und er pres

sure a l l th e t i m e An d even wh en G er ar d h a d got z h ol d of
.
him h e was l ot h to leave th e river s o l es s conscienti ou s

, , ,
than I w a s swam with Gerar d to the east b ank fi r s t an d

, ,
wa s ab ou t to land b ut detected the lofi i cer s and their intent ; ,
cha f fed th em a littl e sp ace treadin g water then turn ed an d , ,
swam wear ily a ll a cro ss an d at last was ob li ge d t o g et ou t ,

'
for very sh ame or els e acknowl ed ge h i m s el f a p i k e ; s o,

'
"
p ermitte d him self to land exhau sted : an d t h e p r es s u r e ,
rel a xed .
wa s el even o clo ck , an unh eard oi ho ur, b ut th ey

It
’
‘ .
- '
to ok no n ot e ot tim e this ni g h t ; and D enys h a d z s t i l l much

'
to tell them wh en the d oor -w a s op en e d q uietly , and in st ol e

’
‘ '
'
Cornelis and S y b r a n d t l ook i n g han g d og Th ey -h a d "t h i s ‘

-
.
i gl t b een dr i nki ng t h e y er y l ast d r op of th eir mys terio us

? l
'
L1 1 1 c S .
T H E CL O I S T E R A N D THE HEART H 3 07
'
'
.
Catherine fe a red her hu sb and woul d reb uk e them b efore

D enys ; but h e only lo oked sadly at them and motioned ,
them to s i t d own qu ietly .
D enys it was who s eemed discomp o sed H e knitted his .
b rows and eyed them thou ghtfully and rather glo omil y
‘
Then turned to Catherine What say y ou dam e ? th e .

,
rest t o m orrow ; for I a m s om ewhat weary and it waxes

‘
-
,
late .
So be i t sa i d Eli But when D enys ro s e to g o to h i s

, .
.
inn he was instantly stopp ed by Catherine

, And think .
y ou to lie from this hou s e ? G erard s ro om h a s b een g ot ’
ready for y ou hours a gon e ; th e sheets I ll n ot s a y mu ch ’
”
for s eeing I spun th e fl a x and wove th e web
, .
”
Th en would I lie in them blindfold was the gallant ,
reply Ah dame ou r p o or Gerard w a s the on e for fi n e

.
, ,
linen H e could hardly forgive th e honest Germans their

.
co ars e fl a x and whene e r my traitors of countrym en did ’

’
amiss a would excu s e them saying

, Well well ; b onne s , , ,
toil es sont e h Bour go gne : that m eans there b e go o d ‘

'
lenten cloths in Burgundy But inde ed h e b eat all f or .

’
byword s and
Oh Eli ! E l i l doth not ou r s on com e b ack t o u s at
,
»
each word ?
Ay Bus s m e my p oor K ate
. You and I know all , .
’
that p a sseth i n each other s hearts this night '
No ne other .
”
can but Go d
, .
CHAPTER XLV I I
D E N Y S to ok an opp ortunity next day and tol d mother

a n d dau ghter the rest excu sing hims elf c h a r a c t er i s t
, i e al l y
for n ot letting Cornelis and S y b r a n d t hear of i t It is .
not for m e to blacken them ; they come of a -go o d sto ck .
But Gerard lo oks on them a s no friends of hi s in this matter ;

and I m G erard s comrade ; and it is a rule with u s soldiers
’ ’
— ”
not to tell the enemy au ght but lies .
Catheri n e sigh ed but made no answer , .
The adventures he relate d co st them a tumult of a gita

t i on a n d grief and s ore th ey wep t at the p arting of th e
,
friends which even n ow D enys coul d not tell without

,
faltering But at last all m erged in th e j oyful hop e and

.
exp ectatio n of Gerard s sp eedy return In this D enys ’

.
c on fi d e n t i a l l y shared ; but reminded th em th at was no

reason why he should neglect his friend s wishes and last ’
words In fact should Gerard return next week and

.
, ,
no Margaret to b e found what s ort of fi gu r e should h e ,
'
cut ?
Cath erine had n ever felt s o kin dl y toward s the truant
Margaret as now ; and s h e was fully as anxious to fi n d h er ,
and b e kind to her b ef o re Gerard s return as D eny s w a s ; ’
b ut s h e co ul d n ot a gree with him t h a t a n y t h i n g was to b e

‘
gained by l eaving this n eighb ourho o d to search for her .

.
She mu st have tol d someb o dy whith er sh e was go ing .
It is not as thou gh th ey were dishone st folk flying th e

country ; th ey owe not a stiver in S evenb ergen ; and dear
h eart D enys yo u can t hunt a ll Ho l land f or h er
, ,
’
.
“
Can I not ? s aid D enys grimly That w e sh al l .
s ee
. H e adde d after som e r efl e c t i on that th ey mu st
, ,
divide their forces ; s h e stay h ere with eye s and ears wid e
O p en and h e ransack every t ow n i n Holl and for her if
,
r
,
ne ed b e B ut s h e will not b e m any lea gu e s from here

. .
They b e thre e Thre e fl y n ot s o fast nor far a s on e

.
, , .
”
That is s ense s ai d Catherine , But s h e insiste d on .
his going fi r s t to th e d em o is elle V an Eyck S he and o ur .
Mar garet were b o so m frie nds She knows wh ere th e g i rl .
is gone if s h e will b ut t ell u s

, D en y s w a s for go ing t o .
her th at i nstant s o Catherine in a turn o f th e hand m ad e

, , ,
h erself on e sh ad e neater an d to ok him with h er , .
She was receive d graciou sly b y th e ol d lady sittin g in

a r ichly furnish ed ro o m ; an d O p ene d h er bu siness The
tap estry dropp e d out of Margaret V an Eyck s hands
_ .
’
.
Gon e ? Gon e from S evenb ergen an d no t told m e ; th e

”
thankl ess girl .
This turn greatly surprise d th e visitors Wh at y ou .

,
know n ot ? when was sh e h ere last ?

Mayb e ten days a go ne I had ta en o ut my b rush es .
’
after s o m any years to p aint her p ortrait , I did no t do i t .

,
thou gh ; for reasons .
Catherine remar ke d it was a m o st stran ge thi n g s h e

shoul d g o away b ag an d b aggage lik e this without with ,
your l eave or b y you r l eave w h y or wherefore Wa s ever

, ,
~
.
au ght s o u ntoward ; j ust wh en all our hearts are warm t o

’
her ; an d h ere i s Gerard s mate com e from th e ends of th e
earth with comfort fo r her from Gerard and can t fi n d h er ,
’
and Gerard him self exp ected What to d o I k n ow n ot .

‘
But sure s h e is not p arted l i k e this with out a reason Can .
”
y e not give u s th e clu e my go o d demo is ell e ? ,
Prithe e n ow .
”
I have it not to give sai d th e el der lady rather, ,
p e evishly .
Then I can said R eicht H ey n es sh owin g h erself in

, ,
th e do orway with col our som ewhat heightened

, .
S o y ou have b een he a rk ening al l th e time eh ? ,
\Vh a t are my ears for mistress ? ,

31 0 TH E C L O ISTER A ND T H E
’
HEAR TH
great l etters an d l i t t l e b eet l es o m itting su ch small t r y
’
on ,
as saints and h ero es th eir a cts and p assions why not , ,
p resent th e s cu m n a t u r a l l y ? I tol d h er t h e grap es I

‘
s a w walking abro ad did hang i the a i r n ot stick in a wall ;

’
.
, , ,
“
and even th es e ins ects qu o I and N a ture h er slim e i n ’ ’ '
, ,
gener al p ass n ot their noxiou s li ves w edge d miserably in

'
'
,
"
m etal prison s l ik e fl i e s i n honey p ot s a n d gl u el p ot s , but -
A h l m y d ea r
'
’
do crawl or hover a t fl l a r g e infestin g air
‘
.
,
friend says s h e
,
’
I s ee now whith er you drive ; b ut this
,
ground is gol d ; wh ereo n w e m ay ~

Wh o s aid
”
s o? quoth I A l l t e a ch er s o f thi s craft
.
f
s ays s h e ; and ‘
,
m e at o n ce I trow )" Gera d hims elf !

’
( to m a ke an end 0 r ,
a nd a l l th e gang ;
’
Th at for Gerard him s elf quoth I , ,
gi e m e a b rush !
’
“
Then cho s e I ; t o sha de h er fruit an d rep ti l es a colour
‘
f al s e in N ature b ut tru e r el atively to that m o nstrou s

‘
gr oun d of glari ng gol d ; an d in fi v e minute s ou t cam e a

*
bunch of raspb erries stalk an d a ll and a m os t fl ew in your , ,

’
m outh ; l i kewis e a b u t t er fly g r u b sh e h ad s o truly p res ented

as might turn th e stoutest st omach ; My lady s h e flings
'
'
h er arms roun d my neck and s ays Oh l ,
D id sh e now ?
'
The littl e l ove ! o b serve d D enys ; su ccee di ng at l ast

in w edging in a wo r d .
Margar et V an Eyck stare d at him ; an d then smil ed

'
She went o n t o tell th em how from step to step s h e had b een

led o n to promis e to r esume th e art s h e had laid aside w ith "
a s i gh wh en h er b r ot h er s d i ed an d to p aint th e Mado nn a ,
‘
onc e m ore— with Margar et for m o del

‘
Inci d en t all y s h e .
even reveal e d how gi r l s are turn ed int o saints Thy hair .
” ” ” '
Ay
’
i s ador a b le
’
sai d I Why tis red
, qu o s h e.
.
~
, , .
,
qu oth I b ut what a r e d l h ow b rown ! how glo ssy ! m o st

‘ ’
hair is n ot worth a straw to u s p ainters ; thin eI th e artist s ’
very hu e But thy viol et eyes which smack of ea r t h b ei n g

.
‘
, ,
‘
now l anguid f or l a ck of on e Gerard now full of fi r e in hop e s ,
of th e sam e Gerard these will I lift to he a ven in fi x e d and

'
,
holy m editatio n and thy no se which doth already s om e , ,
what asp ire that way ( thou gh not s o p iousl y a s R ei ch t s )

’
’
wi ll I d eb as e a t r i fl e an d some what enfe ebl e thy chin , .
"
Enfee b le her chin ? Al a ck l what may that m ean ? -
Ye g o b eyond m e m istress , .
’
Tis a resolut e chin Not a j ot to o resolute for th i s
'
'
wick ed worl d ; but wh en y e com e to a Madonna ? N o

thank y ou fi ’
Well I n ever A resolute chin . .
”
D en y s The darlin g . .
And n ow comes th e rub Wh en you told m e she w as

—the way s h e is it av e m e a sho ck I dropp ed my bru shes
.
g , .
Was I go i ng to turn a girl that couldn t k eep her lover at ,

’
a distance into the V irgin Mary a t my time of l ife ? I love

, ,
the p o or ninny still B ut I adore ou r bl ess ed L ady S ay . .
"
y ou a p ainter must not b e p eevish in su ch matters 2
,
Well mo st p ainters are m en ; and m en are fi n e fellows

, .
They can d o au ght Their saints an d virgin s are neither .
m ore nor l e ss than their l emans savin g your p resence , .
But kno w that for this Very reason half th eir craft is lo st
on m e which fi n d b en eath their an gel s white wings th e
,
’
very trollop s I have s een fl a u n t i n g it o n th e stre ets b e ,
j ewelle d like Paynim idol s and put on lik e th e qu een s in ,
a p ack 0 cards And I a m not a fi n e fellow bu t o nly a

’
.
,
woman an d my p ainting is but on e half craft an d t oth er

, ,
’
half devotion S o n ow you may read m e Twa s fo olish ’

. .
,
”
m a yb e b ut I coul d not help i t ; yet a m I s o rry
, And th e .
ol d lady ende d desp on dently a d iscours e which s h e ha d

comm ence d in a mighty d efi a n t to ne .
”
Well you know dam e ob serve d Cathe rine
, you , , ,
mu st think it would go to the p o o r girl s heart and s h e so ’
fon d of y e ?
Margaret V an Eyck only sighed .
Th e Frisian girl after b iting her li ps imp a t iently a littl e ,
whil e turne d up on Catherin e

, Wh y dame think you .
, ,
’
twas for that alone Margaret and P eter hath l eft S even
”
b ergen ? Nay .
F or what els e then

'
.
,
What else ? Why b ecau s e Gerard s p eopl e slight her ,

’
s o c r u el Wh o would b ide amon g hard hearted folk that

.
-
h a driven her lad t Italy and n ow h e is gone relent not

’ ’
, , ,
” ’
b ut face it ou t and ne er com e anigh h er that is left ,
.
”
R eicht I was going ,
.
Oh a y going and goin g and going

, ,
Ye should h a , , .
’
said les s or els e do ne m ore But with your wor d s you did .
u plift her heart and let it down wi y our de eds

’
They h ave .
n ever b een said the p o or thing to m e with such a si g h

,
’
,
.
A y h ere is on e c a n feel for her : for I t oo a m far from my

,
friends and often when fi r s t I c a m e to H olland I did u sed

'
, , ,
to tak e a hearty cry all to myself But ten time s liever .
woul d I b e R eicht H ey n es with nou ght b ut th e leagu es

’
atween m e and all my kith than b e a s s h e is i the m ids t ,
of them that ou ght to warm to her and yet to fare a s lon e ,

”
som e as I .
Alack Reicht I did go but yestreen and had gon e

, , ,
b efore but on e pl aguy thing or t other did still come and

,
’
”
hinder m e .
Mistress did au ght hinder y e t o eat your dinner any

,
on e of thos e d ays ? I trow not And had your heart b een .
a s go o d tow a rds your own fl es h and blo o d a s twas towar ds

’
,
your fl es h er s m eat nou ght had prevail e d to keep you from
’
h er that s a t l on ely a watchi n g th e ro ad for yo u an d comfort , ,

”
wi your child s chil d a b eating neath her b o som
’ ’ ’
.
Here this ru d e youn g wom an was interrupte d b y an

incident no t uncommon in a dom estic s bright existen ce ’
.
Th e V an Eyck ha d b een nettl e d by th e attack on her b ut ,
W ith du e tact had gon e into amb u sh ; She now sp ran g out
of it . S in ce you disresp ect my guests s eek another ,
place !
With a ll my b eart i sai d R eicht stoutly .
”
Nay mistress p ut in th e go o d nature d Catherine
, ,
-
.
Tru e fo lk will still sp eak out Her ton g u e is a stin ger . .
’
Here th e water cam e into th e sp eak er s eyes by way of
c on fi r m a t i on B ut b etter sh e said it than thou ght i t
. So .
’ ’
now t wo n t rankl e in her An d p ar t with her fo r m e th at .
,
shall y e not B eshr ew th e wench s h e wots sh e i s a go o d

.
,
servant an d tak es a dvantage

, We p o o r wr etch es which .
keep hou s e mu st st i ll p ay em tax fo r v al u e I had a go o d ’

.
s ervant o nce W h en I w a s a youn g oman , Eh dear ho w ’

.
,
s h e did grin d m e down into th e dust In the end b y .

,
Heaven s m ercy s h e m arrie d th e b ak er an d I wa s my own

’
, ,
’
wom an a g a in S o s aid I n o m ore go o d s ervants shall
.
, ,
com e hither a he ctorin g 0 m e I j u st get a fo ol an d l earn

,
’
.
’
her ; an d wh en ever s h e kno weth h er ri ght h and from her

left s h e s a u c et h m e : th en ou t I bundl e h er ne ck and crop
, ,
and tak e anoth er dunce i n her place D ear h e ar t tis .

,
’
wearisom e teachin g a string of fo ol s by on es ; but there

,
I a m mis tress : here s h e forgot that sh e was defendin g

Reicht and turning rather sp iteful ly up o n h er a dde d
, , ,
”
an d yo u b e mistress h ere I trow , .
N o m ore than that sto ol ”

said th e V a n Eyck l o ftily , .
She i s neither mistres s n or servant ; b ut Gon e Sh e i s .
d is m i sse d th e hous e and there s an en d of h er What did ’
, .
,
y e n ot hear m e turn th e sau cy b a ggage oft ?

Ay a y We all hear d y e ?
, said Reicht with vast
.
,
indiff erence .
Th en he ar m e ! said D enys sol em nly .
Th ey all went round li k e thin gs o n wheel s an d fasten e d ,
t heir eyes o n h i m .
A y let u s hear what th e man says

, urged th e h o stess , .
Men are fi n e fellows with th e ir great h o ars e vo ice s , .
”
Mistres s R eicht sai d D enys with gre at di g nity and , ,
c eremony indee d s o great a s to verge on th e ab s u rd

, y ou ,
are turne d off If on a slight a cquaintance I might advise

.
,
’
I d s a y since you are a servant no more b e a mistre ss a
, , ,
”
q ue en .
Ea sier said th an d one replied Re icht bluntly , .
N o t a j ot You s ee here on e who i s a man thou gh .

,
and the fo ol al l at on e tim e H er mistress in reply r e .
m i nded h er that it was p o ss i bl e to b e ru de an d reb ellio us

t o on e 5 p o or ol d a f fectionate d esolat e mi stress with out
’
, , , ,
b ein g utterly heartles s an d sava ge ; an d a trampl er on arts .
On this Reicht stopp e d an d p outed an d l o oke d lik e a , ,
littl e b as i l isk at th e insp i re d m o del who cau sed h er wo e

H e retorte d with unshak en a d mi ration
.
Th e situ atio n was .
’
at l ast dissolve d by th e artist s wrist b ecoming cramp e d
from disus e ; this was not however unt i l s h e ha d m ad e , ,
”
a rou gh but n obl e sk etch I can work no m o re at pres ent . ,
s aid s h e s orrowfu l ly .
Then now mistress I m ay g o a nd mind my p ot ?

, , ,
A y a y g o to your p ot !
,
And get i nto i t do ; y ou will
, ,
”
fi n d your soul in i t : s o th en yo u will a ll b e to gether .
Wel l b ut R eicht ,
said Cath erin e lau ghing sh e , ,
turne d you off .
B o o b o o b o o l sai d R eicht contemptu ou sly

, ,
Wh en .
s h e wants to get ri d o f m e l et h er turn hers elf off and die ,

.
I a m sure s h e is ol d enou gh for t But tak e your tim e ’

.
,
mist r ess ; i f you are in n o hurry n o m ore a m I Wh en th at ,

.
day doth com e twil l t a k e a m an to dry my eyes ; and if

,
’
sho l d b e in th e s am e mind th en s oldier you

'
ou u ca n say
y , ,
a n d i t you are not why twi ll b e all o n e to R ei cht

- ’ '
so; , ,
”
H ey n es .
An d th e plain sp e a ker went her Wa y B ut h er words .

”
did not f a ll to th e gr ound N either of her fem a l e hearers .
coul d disgu is e from h ers elf that this blunt girl s olitary ,
h erself ha d p rob ably rea d Margaret Brandt aright an d

, ,
that s h e ha d gon e away from S evenb ergen b roken h ear ted -

.
Catherin e and D enys b ad e th e V an Eyck adieu and ‘
th at s ame afterno o n D enys s et ou t on a w il d go o s e chas e .
H i s p l a n l i k e a ll gr e a t thin gs was simpl e H e sh oul d g o

'
.
, , _
,
to a hun dred town s an d vill a ges an d as k in each after an ,
ol d physician with a fair dau ghter an d an ol d —

lon g b ow ,
sol dier . H e shoul d in qu i re of th e b urgomasters ab out all

n ew com ers and sh oul d g o to th e fountains and watch th e
-
,
women and g i rl s a s th ey cam e with th eir p itch ers for water .
An d away h e went and wa s m onth s an d m onths on th e ,
tramp and co ul d not fi n d h er

, .
Happily this chi val ro us feat of friendship wa s in s om e

,
d e gre e its own reward .
Tho s e who s i t at hom e blindfold e d b y s elf ,
think cam el or man ou t of th e d ep th s of their inner c on

s c i ou s n es s al ias their i g norance
, will tell y ou that in th e ,
interval s of war an d dan ger p eace and tran qu il life a cqu ire ,
th eir tru e Val ue and s atisfy th e h ero ic m ind

'
But tho s e .
who lo ok b efore th ey b abbl e or scribbl e will s e e and s a y

that m en who risk th eir lives hab itual ly th irst for exciting
TH E ,
CLO I S T E R AND THE HEARTH 31 5
pleasu r es b etween th e a cts of dan ger and n o t f or innocen t ,
tra n quillity . 1
To this D e nys wa s n o exceptio n His whol e military .
l i fe h a d b een h a lf Sp art a h a lf C a pua An d h e was t oo go o d

, .
a soldier and to o go o d a lib ertine to have eve r mixed either . -
hab it with the o ther But now for the fi r s t tim e he fou n d
.
himself m ixed ; at p eace an d yet o n duty ; fo r h e to ok this

latter View of hi s wil d go o se chas e luckily S o all thes e , .
—
months h e wa s a demi Sp artan ; sob er p ru dent vigilant
,
, , ,
indomi t able ; and happy thou gh constantly d isapp o inte d

, ,
as might h ave b e en exp ected H e fl i r t e d gi g a n t i c a l l y o n .
the ro ad ; but wast ed no tim e ab out it ” N or in thes e his .
wanderings did he tell a single female that marriage was

no t on e of hi s hab its etc , .
And so we leave him on th e tramp Pil grim of Friend ,

”
ship a s hi s p oo r comrad e was of Love
, .
CH APTER X LV I I I
CA T H ERI N E was in dismay when s h e r efl ect ed that Gerard .
'
mu st reach h ome in another m ont h at farthest more likely ,
in a week ; and how shoul d s h e tell him s h e had n ot e ve n

'
kept an eye up o n his b etrothed ? Then there wa s the u n '
’
certainty a s to the gi r l s f a t e ; and this uncertainty som e
‘
times to ok a sickenin g form .
Oh Kate s h e groane d
, , i t s h e should h ave gone and ,
m a d e l i er s el f away !
Mother s h e wou l d n ever b e s o wicked
, .
Ah my la s s you know no t what hasty fo ol s youn g

, ,
,
lasses b e that h ave no mothers to keep em straight

, Th ey ’
.
will flin g them selve s into th e water f or a m a n that th e n ext

ma n they mee t would h a cured em o f in a week I have ’ ’
: .
known em to j ump in like b ra ss o ne mom e nt and scream

’
fo r help in the next Coul d n t know th eir ow n m m d s y e

.
’
’
s ee ev e n a b ou t su ch a tri ne as yon And then there s .
t i me s when their b o dies ail like n o other living creatures

ever I could hear of and that strings up th ei r feelin gs s o
, ,
the p atience that b elongs to them at other times b eyond

,
all living souls b arrin g an ass seem s a l l to j ump ou t of em

’
, ,
at on e turn and into th e water they go Therefo re [ s a y

, .
,
that men are monsters .
Mother !
’
Monsters and no le s s - to go m akin g su ch heap s o
.
, ,
‘
c a nals j u st to temp t th e p o or wom en i n They kn ow we .
shall not cut ou r thro ats hati n g the sight of blo o d and ,
rating our skins a h antl e higher n or ou r live s ; and as for
han ging whil e sh e i s a fi x i n g o f th e n a il and a m akin g of
But a j ump
,
th e no o s e she has tim e t alter her m in d ’

.
into a canal is no m ore than into b ed ; a n d th e water it

~ '
d o e s al l th e l ave will y e n i ll y e Why lo ok at m e th e , , .

, ,
m oth er 0 n in e wasn t I a go g to m ak e a hole in ou r canal

’ ’ ‘
for th e n once ?
Nay m other I ll n ever b elieve it of y b u
, ,
’
.
Ye may thou gh Twa s in the fi r s t year of our k eep in g ’

.
,
‘
hou se to geth er ‘
Eli h adn t foun d ou t my we ak stitches

.
’
then n or I his ; s o w e m a de a rent p ullin g contr ar iwise ;

, ,
had a qu arrel S o th en I ran er y i n g t o tell som e gabblin g

'
.
,
t o ol lik e mys elf what I had no bu s ines s to tell ou t 0 do ors

’
excep t to th e saints an d th ere w a s on e of our p reciou s ,

'
canal s in th e way ; d o th ey tak e u s for teal ? Oh h ow ,
temptin g it did l o ok ! S ays I to myse l f S ith h e has l et ,
m e go out of hi s do o r qu arrell ed h e shal l s e e m e dro wn e d ,
next an d th en h e will chan ge his key

,
H e will blub b er .
a go o d one an d I s hall lo o k d own fro m heaven ( I forgot

,
’
I shoul d b e in t other p art ) an d se e him tak e ou an d oh , , ,
but that wi ll b e swe et ! and I was a l l a tipto e and goin g i n

'
I had got a n ew gown

’
o nly j u st then I thou ght I woul dn t .
.
a m a k in g f or on e thing an d hard u p on fi n i s h e d i S oI I
'
, ,
went hom e in stead an d what was Eli s fi r s t word Let ’ ‘
, ,
'
y o n fl ea stick i th e wall my lass says h e ’

N o t a w or d , ,
’
.
’ ”
of al l I s a i d t an ger the e wa s so oth but this I l ove thee , ,
.
Thes e were his very words ; I min d e d em b e i n g th e fi r s t ’

,
qu a rrel S o I fl u n g my ar m s ab out h i s ne ck an d s ob b e d a
.
b it a n d thou ght 0 th e canal ; an d h e was no cold er t o m e

,
’
than I to h i m b ein g a man and a youn g one ; an d s o th en

,
that w as b etter than lyin g in th e water ; an d sp o iling my

wed din g kirtl e a n d my fi n e new sho on ol d John Bu sh ma de ,
’
em th at was uncl e to him keep s th e shop now
, An d .
wh at was my grief to hers ?

Littl e K ate hop e d that M ar garet lo ve d h er father t oo
mu c h to think of l eavin g h i m s o at h i s age H e i s fath er .
an d m other an d al l to her y ou know , .
Nay Kate th ey do forget all thes e thin gs i n a m om ent

, ,
’
0 d esp air when th e very s k y se em s black ab ove them I .
place m ore faith in him that i s unb orn than on him that i s ,
rip e for th e g rave to keep her ou t o mischief F or certes

,
’
.
it do g o s ore against u s to die wh en th ere s a littl e inno cent ’
a pullin g at ou r h earts to l et u n live and feedin g at ou r ’
very ve i ns .
W ell th en keep up a go o d h ear t m other

, , Sh e , .
a dded that ve ry likely all th es e fears were exaggerated

, .
Sh e ended b y solemnly entreatin g her m other at all events

no t to p ersist in nam in g t h e sex of Margaret s infa n t It ’
.
C L O ISTER
K
31 8 ,
T HE AND T H E H E A R T H .
'
it alto g eth er Sh e gau ge d th e understandin g of th e worl d

.
to a T Her m arria ge lines b ei ng out of : sight and in It al y ;

. ,
would n ever prevail t o b alance her v i s i b l e p r e gn a n cy an d '
th e sight of her chil d wh en b orn Wh at sort of a tal e wa s .
I h a ve g ot m y m arriage
'
?
t h i s t o st e p s l a n d er o s t o gu es -
'
u n z
li nes b ut I c a n n ot s h ow t h em y ou Wh a t w om a n w ou l d
‘ ’ ‘
'
' '
.
,
b el ieve h er ? or even p rete n d to b elieve her ? An d as sh e

'
°
was i n re a l ity o n e of th e mo st m od es t gir l s i n Ho l l and it '
was women s go o d O p inio n sh e wa n t e d ¢ n ot men s

’
,
’
.
Even b a reface d slander a t t a ck s h er s ex at a gre at a d

v a ntage ; b ut h ere w as sl an der with a fac e of truth Th e .
stron g m in de d wom an
-
h ad n ot yet b e en invente d ; and
Marg a ret thou gh b y n ature an d b y havin g b een e a rly
,
m ade mistres s of a fa i l y s h e wa s resolute in som e resp e cts

w a s weak as water i n others an d weak e st o f al l in this
m ,
,
,
Lik e all th e élite of her s ex s h e wa s a p o or littl e leaf t r em b , ,
l in g at each gu st of th e worl d s O p inion tru e or fal s e Mu ch ’
, .
m i sery may b e co ntaine d in few word s I doub t if p age s .
of descriptio n f r om any m a n f s p en co ul d m ak e any hum an

'
creature excep t -Virtu ou s wom en ( an d th e s e ne ed no such

,
aid ) real iz e th e an gu ish of a virtu ou s wom an fores eei n g

‘
‘
~
,
h erself p arad ed as a frail on e Ha d sh e b e en t rail at h e art .

,
sh e might have b raz e n e d it out B ut s h e h ad not that ;

'
S h e wa s real ly pure a s snow and s a w th e p itch

'
advanta ge .
,,
comin g ne arer he r and n e a r er Th e p oor girl s at listl es s .

- '
h ours at a tim e an d m o aned with inne r a n gu ish , A nd .
often wh en her fath er w a s ta l king to her an d s h e givi n g

, ,
me ch anical replies s u d d enl y h er ch eek woul d b urn lik e

‘ '
fi r e an d th e ol d m an W oul d won der wh at h e h a d s aid to

‘
discomp o se h er Nothin g His word s w er e l es s than a i r

. .
‘
to h er —
It was th e ever pres ent dread s ent the colour of
'
sham e into her burnin g ch eek no m att er what sh e se em ed ,
to b e tal kin g and th inkin g ab out But b oth sham e a nd .
fear ro s e to a cl i max when sh e cam e b ack th at night f ro m

'
’
Margaret V an Eyck s Her co nditio n wa s discovere d an d .
,
by p e r s ons o f h er own s ex Th e ol d art ist seclu de d l ik e .

,
herself might not b etray h er ; b ut Cath e rin e a go ssip in

, ,
th e centre of a fam i ly and a thick neigh b ourho o d ? O ne ,
sp ark o f h 0 p e remained Catherine h a d sp ok en kindly .

,
even l ovin gly Th e situ ation admitt ed n o h al f co urse

.
Gerard s mother thu s rou s ed mu st eith er b e her b est frien d

’
or worst enemy Sh e waite d then in ra ckin g anxiety to

.
hear m ore No word came . Sh e gave up hop e Catherin e . .
was no t go in g to b e h er friend Then s h e woul d expos e .
her s i nce s h e h ad no stron g a nd kindly feelin g to b al an ce

,
th e natur al l ove of b ab bl in g .
Then it wa s th e wish to fl y fro m this neighb ourho o d

b egan to grow and gn aw up o n her till it b e cam e a wil d a n d ,
passionate desire B ut h ow p ersuade h er fath er to this ?

.
Ol d p eople cling t o p l a c es H e was very ol d and i n fi r m'
to change his ab o de There was no course b ut to make .
him h er c on fi d a n t ; b etter s o than to run away from him ;

and s h e felt that would b e th e alternative An d now b e .
tween her uncontrollabl e d esire to fl y and hide and h er ,
invincibl e aversio n t o sp eak ou t to a m an even to her fath er , ,
s h e vibrated in a su sp ens e full o f lively to rture An d .
presently b etwixt th ese two cam e in on e d ay th e fatal

”
thought end all !
, Things fo olishly wo rded are n o t
always fo olish ; on e of p o or Cath erine s b ugb ears thes e ’
num erou s canal s did sorely temp t this p o or fl u ct u a t i n g

,
girl. Sh e sto o d on th e b ank on e afterno on a nd eye d the ,
calm d eep water It seem ed an image of rep o se and s h e

.
,
was s o harassed N o m ore troubl e N o more fear of shame

. . .
I i Gerard had not l oved h er I doub t s h e had ende d th ere ,

.
As it w a s s h e kneel ed by th e water side and prayed

, ,
fervently to Go d t o keep su ch wicked thoughts from her .

.
”
0 1 1 ! s el fi s h wretch said s h e to l eave thy father , , .
Oh wicked wretch to kill thy child an d mak e thy p o or

, , ,
G erard l o s e all his p ain and p eril undertaken for thy sight .
”
I will tell fath er all a y ere th is s u n shall s et And s h e
, , .
went home with eager haste lest her go o d resolution sh ould ,
o o ze ou t ere s h e got there .
N ow in matters dom estic the l earned P eter was simpl e

,
as a child and Margaret from the a ge of sixteen had

, , ,
governed th e house gently but ab solutely It was there .
fore a strange thin g i n this hou s e the falterin g irresolute

'
, ,
way in which its young but d esp otic mi stress addressed

that p erson who in a d ome stic s ense was less imp ortant
,
than Martin W i t t e n h a a g e n or even t h a n th e l ittl e girl ,

"
who cam e in th e m orning an d for a p ittance washe d the

vessels etc a ri d went h om e at night
, .
, .
Fath er I woul d sp eak t o thee , .
Sp eak ou girl , .
—
W il t listen to m e ? And and not— and try to
—
'
excuse my faults ?
We have all ou r faults Margaret thou no m ore than , ,
-
”
th e rest of u s ; but fewer unl ess p arental feeling blinds m e ,
.
Al as no father : I a m a p o or fo olish girl that woul d

, , ,
fain do well but have don e ill m o st ill m o st unwisely ; and

, , ,
n ow m u s t b ear the sham e

~
B u t f a t h er I l ove you w ith .
,
,
, ,
all m y f a u l t s and will n ot y ou forgive my folly an d still

i
,
'
'
love your motherl ess girl ?

Th a t y e may count on said Peter cheerfully
'
.
,
Oh well smile not

, F or th en how can I sp eak a n d
,
.
make y ou s a d ?
'
Why what i s the m a tter ?

,
Father di s gra ce i s co mi n g o n thi s hous e : it i s at the
,
do or And I th e culprit
. Oh father turn yo u r he ad away .
, ,
.
I — I — fath er I h ave let Gerard tak e away my mar riage

,
lines .
Is that a l l ? Tw as an o versight ’
.
Twas th e dee d of a m a d woman

’
B ut wo e is m e 1 that .
”
is not the worst .
P eter interrupted h er Th e youth i s honest and loves .

,
yo u dear Yo u are young. What i s a year or two t o yo u ? .
”
G erard will assuredl y come b ack and keep tro th .
And m eantim e know you wh at i s comin g ?

Not I excep t that I shall b e gon e fi r s t for one
,
.
Wo r s e th a n that There i s wors e p a i n than d ea th . .
”
Nay for p ity s s a ke turn away your h ead father
,
’
, .
Fooli sh wench ! muttered P eter b ut turn e d h i s head , .
Sh e trembl ed violently a n d with her ch eeks on fi r e ,
b ega n to falter ou t I did l o ok on Gerard as my husb and,

—
w e b eing b etrothe d an d h e was in s o s ore danger an d I ,
th ou ght I had k ill e d h im and I — oh i t you were b ut my , ,
m oth er I might fi n d co urage : you woul d qu estion m e .
”
But y ou s a y n ot a word .
W h y Mar garet what i s all th is c o il ab ou t ? an d why

'
, ,
ar e thy cheeks crim son sp eaking to no stran ger b ut to thy , ,
ol d father ?
Why are my ch eek s on fi r e ? B ecause —b ecau se
father kill m e ; s en d m e to heaven ! b id M a rtin sho ot m e
,
with his arrow ! And then the go ssip s wi ll com e an d tell

you why I blu sh s o this day An d then when I a m d ead .
, ,
”
I hop e you will lo ve your girl a gain for her m other s sake ’
.
”
Give m e thy h and mi stress s aid P eter a littl e , , ,
s ternly .
Sh e p ut it out to him trembling H e to ok it gently and .
b egan with som e anxiety in his face to feel h er pul s e .
”
Al as nay said s h e
, Ti s my so ul that b urn s no t
, .
’
my b o dy with fever , I ca nnot wi ll not b i d e i n S even .

, , ,
b ergen An d s h e wrun g h er hands imp ati ently

. .
”
B e cal m now s ai d th e ol d m an so othin gly ,n or ,
torment thys elf fo r nou ght Not h id e in S evenb ergen ? .
What n eed to b ide a day a s it vex es th ee and p uts thee in , ,
a fever : f or fevered thou art deny it not , .
Wh a t l
'
crie d M argaret would y ou yiel d to g o ,

—
hence and and a s k no reason b ut my l ongin g to b e go ne ?
,
and su ddenl y throwin g herself on h er kne es b esid e him in a ,
fervour of supplica t i o n s h e clutch e d his sleeve a n d then his ,
arm a n d th en h i s shoulder wh i l e imploring him to quit

, ,
this place an d n ot a s k h er why, Al as ! what needs i t ? .
You wil l so on s ee i t An d I co u l d never s a y i t I wo ul d. .
”
liever die .
3 22 THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
had lon g m erite d a reputation in vain m ad e on e rapidly ,
b y 1 u ck
’
T h i n g s lo ok ed b right
. Th e ol d m an s pri d e wa s .
che ere d at last and his purs e b egan to fi ll ,

H e sp ent .
mu ch of his gain however in s overeign h erb s and ch o ice

, ,
dru gs and would have s o investe d them al l b ut M argaret

, ,
white mail ed a p art Th e victory cam e t oo late . Its .
happy excitem ent wa s fat al .
O ne evening in b i ddin g h er go o d night h i s voice s eem ed

, ,
rather inarticulate .
Th e n ext morn i ng he wa s foun d sp eechless and o nl y ,
j u st s en sibl e .
Mar garet who ha d b een fo r year s h er fath er s attentiv e

,
’
pup il saw at o n ce that h e had h ad a p ar al ytic stroke

, But .
not tru stin g to h ers elf s h e ran for a do ctor one of tho s e
, .
who ob stru cte d b y P eter had no t kill e d th e civic di gnitary

an d ch eerfu lly c onfi r me d her Views
, , ,
cam e ,
H e was for .
«
.
b l eeding th e p atient S he d eclined H e was al ways

. .
again st bl o o d i n g sai d s h e esp ecia l ly th e ol d

,
’’
.
P eter ,
.
.
l ived b ut was n ever th e s am e man a ga i n

, His m emo ry .
b ecam e mu ch a ffected and of co urs e he was n ot to b e ,
truste d t o p re scrib e ; an d s everal p atients ha d c om e and ,
o n e o r two that were b ent on b ein g cure d b y th e n ew

,
do ctor an d no o ther awaite d h i s co nval es cence , Mis ery .
stare d her in th e face Sh e resolv e d to g o for advice and.

_
,
comfort t o h er cou sin William J oh n s on fro m who m s h e h a d ,
hith erto kep t al o of out of p rid e and p overty Sh e fo und .
him and h i s s ervant sittin g in th e s am e ro om an d n eith er ,
of th em th e b etter for liqu or Mastering a l l signs of sur .
pris e s h e gave her g r eetings and p res ently tol d him s h e

, ,
had com e to tal k on a fam ily m atter an d with thi s glan ced ,
qu ietly at th e s ervant b y way of hint Th e woman to ok i t .

,
b ut no t as exp ecte d .
Oh yo u can sp eak b efore m e can sh e not my ol d

, , ,
man ?
A t this famil iarity Margaret turne d very red and said ,
I cry you m ercy mistress I kn e w no t my cou si n , .
had fall en into th e cu sto m of this town Well I must take .

,
a fi t t er opp ortunity ; and s h e ro s e to g oz f ’
I wot not wh at y e m ean by custom o th e t o w n said ’
th e wom an b ouncin g u p , But this I know : t i s th e p art .

’
o f a faithf ul s ervant to keep h er master from b ein g p reye d

”
on by his b eggarly kin .
Margaret retorte d : Ye are t oo m o dest mistress Ye , .
are no servant Your sp e ech b etrays you

. Ti s not till .
’
th e ap e hath m ount e d th e tre e that sh e shows her ta il s o

plain . Nay there sits the s ervant ; G o d help him ! An d
,
whil e so it is fear not tho u his kin w ill ever b e so p o or i n

,
S p i rit as com e wh ere th e l ikes of y ou can fl ou t their dol e ”

.
And castin g on e lo ok o f mute rep ro ach at h er cou sin for

b ein g s o littl e of a m an as to sit p assive and s i l ent all this
time s h e turne d and went hau ghtily ou t ; nor woul d sh e
,
she d a single tear till s h e got hom e and thou ght of i t An d .
now here were two m en to b e lo dged an d fed b y on e pregnant

girl ; and another m onth com i n g into th e world .
But this last thou g h th e mo st helpl ess of all was th eir

, ,
b est friend .
Nature was stro n g in Marg a ret B randt ; that sam e

nature which m ak es the brutes th e b ird s an d th e insects , , ,
s o cunning at providing fo o d and shelter for th eir p ro geny

yet to come .
Stimulated by nature s h e s a t an d b ro o ded an d b ro o d ed , ,
and thou ght and thou ght h ow to b e b eforehand with

, ,
destitution A y thou gh sh e h a d still fi v e gol d p iece s left

.
, ,
s h e saw starvation comin g with inevitabl e fo ot .
Her s ex wh en deviating from cu stom it think s with

, , ,
m al e intensity think s j ust as mu ch to the p urp o se a s we

,
do . Sh e ro se b ade Martin m ove P eter to a noth er ro om

, ,
m ade her ow n very neat and clean p olis h ed th e gl ass g l ob e , ,
and susp ended it from th e ceilin g duste d th e cro co dil e and ,
nail ed him to th e o utsid e wall ; an d after duly instru cting

Martin s et him to pl ay th e l oun gin g sentinel ab out t h e
,
street do or and tell th e cro co dil e —b itten that a great and

, ,
a ged and l earned a l ch y m i s t ab o de th ere wh o in his mom ents

, ,
of recreation woul d som etime s amus e hims elf by curing

mortal diseases .
Patients so on cam e an d were received by Margaret an d , ,
demanded to s ee th e l e ech That m ight n o t b e H e . .
was deep in his studie s searchin g f or th e gran d elixir and , ,
n ot princes coul d have sp ee ch of him They mu st tell h er .
th eir symp tom s and return in two hours , An d oh l mys .
t er i ou s p owers ! wh en th ey di d return th e dru g or drau ght ,
w a s always ready for th em S om etimes when it was a .

,
worshipful p atient she woul d carefully scan his face an d , ,
feeli n g b oth pul se and skin as well a s hearing his story , ,
woul d g o softly with it to Peter s ro om ; and there think ’
and ask herself how her father who s e system sh e had lon g ,
quietly ob served woul d have treate d the case , Then s h e .
would write an illegibl e scrawl with a cabalistic l etter an d ,
b ring it do wn reverently an d show it th e p atient and ,
Could h e read that ? The n it woul d b e either I am ,

” '
no reader or
, with admiration , Nay mistress nou ght , , ,
”
can I make on t ’
.
A y but I can Tis soverei gn Lo ok on thyself a s ’

. .
,
cured ! If sh e had the material s by her an d s h e wa s ,
to o go o d an economist n ot to favour somewha t tho se m edi

cine s s h e had in her ow n sto ck sh e would sometimes l et ,
3 24 THE C LO ISTER AND TH E H EARTH
the p atien t see h er comp ound i t often and anxiou sly co n ,
s u l t i n g the sa cre d p rescrip tio n lest great S cience shoul d

suffer in her han ds An d s o s h e woul d s en d them away
.
relieved of cash b ut with their p o ckets full of m edicine

, ,
’
and minds full of faith and humbu gge d to th eir h earts ,
content .Pop u l u s vu l l d ec i p i And when they were go ne .

,
s h e woul d take d own two littl e b oxes Gerard ha d m ade

her ; an d on o ne of thes e sh e ha d written To d a y and o n th e -
,
”
oth er T o m or r ow an d p ut th e smal l er co ins into T o day
-
,
-
,
”
an d th e larger into To m orro w along with su ch o f her
-
,
gol d p ieces a s ha d sur vived th e j ourney fro m S evenb ergen ,
an d the exp enses of hou sek eep in g in a stran ge place And .
s o sh e m et current exp ens es and laid b y f or th e rainy day ,
s h e s a w coming and mixed dru gs with simples and vi ce

, ,
with Virtue On this l ast s core h er co ns ci ence p ricked h er

.
s ore and after each day s co m e dy sh e knelt down an d

,
’
,
”
p raye d G o d to forgive her fo r th e sak e of h er ch il d .
Bu t 1 0 and b ehol d cure and cure was rep orte d to h er ; s o

,
then h er con s ci ence b egan to harden Martin W i t t en h a a g e n .
had o f late b e en a d ead w eight on her hands Lik e m o st .
m en wh o have endure d great hard ship s h e had s t i fi e n e d ,
rath er su dd enly But thou gh less supple h e was as stron g

.
,
as ever an d at hi s own p ace coul d have carrie d th e do ctor

,
’
h ers elf round Rotterdam city H e carri ed her s l op s i n s t ea d

. .
In this new b usiness h e sho wed th e qu alities of a sol dier

unreasonin g ob edience p unctu ality a ccuracy desp atch , , , ,
an d drunk enness .
H e fell am on g go o d fell ows ; th e bl ack guards plie d

him with S chie dam ; h e b ab bl ed h e b ra gged , .
D o ctor Margaret had risen very high in his estimatio n .
All this b randishing of a cro co dil e f or a stan dard an d s ettin g ,
a dotard in ambu sh and g etting ri d of l p s and tak ing

, ,
go o d m o ney in exchange stru ck him no t a s S cienc e b ut ,
s om e t hing far sup erior Strat e gy An d h e b o aste d in his

, .
cup s and b efore a m ixed comp any h ow m e and my Gen eral

we are a b itin g of th e b u r gh er s .
’f
When this revel atio n had h a d tim e to leaven th e city ,
h i s General D o ctor Margaret received a call from th e

, ,
co n s t able s ; th ey to ok h er tremblin g and b e ggin g s u b or d i ,
n ate machines t o fo rgive her b efore th e burgomaster ; and ,
by h i s side sto o d real physicians a terrib l e row in l on g , ,
r ob e s a n d square cap s
.
accu sin g h er of p ractising unl aw
,
fully on th e b o d ies of th e duk e s lie ges A t fi r s t sh e wa s

’
t oo frightened t o s a y a word
.
Novice like th e very nam e .

,
”
of Law p aralyzed her But b ein g qu estione d clo sely
.
,
b ut not s o harshly a s if s h e ha d b een u gly s h e t ol d th e truth ; ,
s h e had lon g b een h er fath er s pup il and had but foll ow e d

’
his system and sh e ha d cured m any ;

, an d it i s not for
3 26 T HE C L O ISTER AND THE HEART H
ar row s p o int
‘
Th e curiou s attitu d e in whi ch h e mu st
.
deliver th e shaft n ever o ccurred to him .
Idl e ch a t l idl e chat i m o ane d Margar e t with out ,

“
liftin g her b row from th e tabl e Wh en you have slain
‘ ’
a l l t h e go ssip s in this town can we e at them ? Tell m e ,

‘
how to keep yo u al l or p rith ee hol d thy p ea ce an d l et th e

‘
, ,
saints get l eave to whisp er m e Martin hel d hi s ton gu e .

,
and cast un easy glance s at hi s d efeat e d General

‘
Toward s evenin g sh e ro se and wash ed h er fac e and d id ,
u p h er h air an d do ggedly b ad e Martin tak e down th e cro co

,
d ile and p ut ou t a b ask et instead .
I can get up lin en b etter than th ey s eem to do it i n

” ”
this street s ai d s h e
,
an d you mu st c ar ry it in th e b asket
,
.
”
That will I fo r thy s ak e s ai d th e sol di er , .
Go o d M ar tin i forgive m e t h a t I s p ak e Sh r ewi sh l y to

’ '
thee .
Even whil e th ey were talki n g cam e a mal e for a dvi ce .
Margaret tol d it th e m ay or ha d interfere d and forb idden

”
h er to s ell dru gs B ut sai d s h e I will gladl y iro n
.
, ,
—
an d starch your lin en for you an d I will c om e an d fetch ,
”
i t fr o m your ho us e .
Ar e y e m a d you n g wom an ? s aid t h e m al e

, .
for a l eech an d y e p ro ffer m e a wash erwom an ;

,
w ent o ut in du d geon .
There is a stup id creature s aid M ar garet s adly , .
Presently cam e a femal e to tell t h e s y m p t om s of her ~
sick chil d Mar gar et stopp e d i t

. .
We are forb idd en b y th e b ail iff t o s ell dr u g s But I .
wil l gladly wash iron an d starch your linen fo r you— an d

, ,
”
I w ill com e an d fetch it from your h ou se .
”
Oh a y , s ai d th e fem al e
, Well I have s om e .
,
sm o ck s an d ru ffs foul Com e f or th em ; an d when y ou a r e .
th ere you can lo ok at th e b oy ;

, an d it tol d h er where i t
lived and wh en i t s hu sb and woul d b e ou t ; yet it wa s
,
rather fo nd of its hu sb an d than not .
A n intro du cti on is an i ntro du ction An d two or three .
p ati ents ou t of all tho se wh o cam e an d were d enie d m edicine

m ade D o ctor M arg a ret the i r washerwom an .
’
Now Martin you mu st help I ll n o m ore cats than
'
, , .
can sl ay m i ce .
Mistress th e stomach is not awan tin g f or t b ut t h e

,
’
headpiece wo rs e luck , .
O h ! I m ean not the starchin g an d i r on m g ; that tak e s

a wo man and a h andy -on e But the b are washin g ; a m an .
can surely contrive that Why a mul e has wit enou gh i n s .

,
’
’
head to d o t with h i s ho ofs a h y e coul d drive him into ,
’
th e tub .Com e oil doubl et a n d t r y , , .
”
I am your m an sai d the brave ol d s ol di er stripp in g , ,
T H E CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 3 27
’
f or th e unwonte d to il . I ll risk my arm in s oa p suds an ,
you will risk your gl ory .
My what ?
Your glory an d h on ou r a s a — wash erwom an .
G ramercy ! if you are m an enou gh to b ring m e hal f

washed lin en t iron I a m wo man enou gh to fling t b ack
’
,
’
’ ”
i the su ds .
And s o me b rave girl an d the b rave s ol dier work ed

W ith a w i ll and kept the wolf from th e do or
, More th ey .
coul d not do Margaret? ha d rep aire d th e

. To m orrow -
b ox an d as sh e l eane d over t h e glu e her tears mixe d with

, ,
’
i t and sh e cemented h er ex i l e d lo ver 5 b ox wi t h th em at
, ,
which a smil e is all ow able b ut an intelligent smil e tipp ed ,
with p ity pl ease and not th e empty guffaw oi th e nineteenth

, ,
century j ackass b urlesquing B ibl es an d m ak ing fun of all

-
, ,
th ings except fun But when m ende d it s t oo d u n r ep l en

.
i sh ed Th ey kep t th e we ekly rent p aid and th e p ot b oil ing

.
, ,
b ut no mo re .
An d now cam e a concaten ation R ecommende d from .
on e to anoth er Margaret washe d for th e m ayo r

, An d .
b ringing home th e cl ean linen on e day s h e heard i n th e

kitch en that h i s worsh ip 5 o nly dau gh ter was strick en with ’
.
dis eas e and not lik e to live

, P o or M argaret coul d n o t .
help cro ss questio ning an d a femal e s ervant gave h er such

-
,
of t h e sympto m s as s h e ha d ob s er ved " Bu t they were t oo

gen er al However on e go ssip woul d a d d on e fact an d
.
, ,
another an other An d Margaret p o ndere d them all

. .
A t last on e day s h e m et th e mayor hims elf H e reco g .
n i z e d her directly Why yo u are th e unlicens ed do ctor

.
, .
”
I was s aid s h e b ut n ow I m your worship s w as h er ’ ’
w oman
, ,
”
Th e di gnitary coloure d an d said that was
.
,
rath er a com e down Nay I b ear n o malice ; for your .

,
worship might have b een harder R ath er woul d I d o you .
a go o d turn S ir yo u have a sick dau ghter

. L et m e s ee
, .
”
h er '
.
Th e mayor sho ok his hea d Th at cannot b e The . .
”
law I do e n force on o thers I may no t break myself Mar .
garet op ene d h er ey es Ala ck s i r I s eek no gu erdo n .

, ,
n ow for curing folk ; why I a m a wash erwoman I trow , .
on e may heal al l the wo rld an if on e will but l et th e worl d ,
starve on e in return That is no more than j u st sai d

.
,
’
t h e mayor : h e added a n y e m ak e no tra de on t there is
’
, ,
”
no off ence Then let m e s ee her
. .
Wh at avail s i t ? Th e l e a r n e d es t le eches in Rotterdam

h ave all seen her an d b ettered h er nou ght ,
Her ill i s i n .
scrutable One skill ed wight saith spl e en ; another l iver ;

.
,
another blo o d ; another sto m a ch ; an d another th at sh e

, , ,
is p o ssessed ; and in very truth s h e se em s to hav e a dem on ; ,

3 28 THE CL O ISTE R AND THE H EARTH
all comp any ; p in eth al on e ; eateth n o mor e Vi c

'
s h u n n et h
'
t u a l s than might diet a sp arrow Sp e ak e t h s el d om n or .

,
hearkens them th at sp e ak an d wearet h thi nn er and p al er ,

” ”
an d nearer an d n ear er th e g rave w ell f a d ay Sir sai d ,
-
.
,
M argaret an i f y ou tak e your velvet d oubl et to half a

'
-
, .
d o zen of shop s in R o tterdam a n d s p eer is this fi n e or sorry

’
Velvet an d worth how m uch th e ell tho s e s i x traders will

, ,
eye i t an d feel i t and all b e in on e sto ry to a l etter

, , An d .
why ? B ecau s e th ey kn ow their tr ad e An d your le ech e s .
are al l in di fferent sto ries Why ? B ecau se th ey kn ow .
no t their trad e I have h eard my fath er say each i s e n

.
a m ou r e d of s om e on e evil
’
and s eeth it with h i s b at s eyn ,
in every p atient Had t hey staye d at h ome an d n e er

.
,
’
s een your dau ghter th ey h ad answered a ll th e s am e spl een

, , ,
bl o o d sto mach lun gs liver l unacy or a s th ey c a ll it p os

, , , , ,
s essio n L et m e s ee her
. We are of a s ex and t h at i s .
,
”
mu ch . An d wh en h e st i ll h esitated s aints of h eaven ! ,
cried s h e givin g way to the irritab ility of a b re edin g wom an

, .
,
is this h ow m en l ove their own fl e sh a nd blo o d ? Her

m other had ta en m e in h er arm s ere this an d carried me
’
,
”
to th e sick ro om An d t w o viol et eyes fl a s h e d fi r e
. .
Com e with m e s ai d th e m ayor ha stily ,

’’
.
Mistres s I have b rou ght the e a n ew do ct or

, .
Th e p erson a d d r ess ed a p al e youn g girl o f ei ghteen ,

.
gave a co ntemp tu ou s wrench of her s h ou l d er and turne d ,t
m ore decide dl y to th e fi r e s h e was si tting over .
Margaret cam e s oftly an d s a t b eside her But ti s .

’
on e that wil l not torm ent you

exclai me d th e yo un g lady with surp ris e
.
A woman ! ,
an d s om e contemp t .
Tell her your symp tom s .
Wh at for ? you will b e no w is er .
You will b e non e th e wors e .
Wel l I h ave n o stomach fo r fo o d and no h eart f or

, ,
'
”
anythin g Now cure m e an d g o
. .
“
Patience a whi l e ! Yo ur fo o d is it ta ste l es s l ik e i n ,
'
your mouth ?
Ay How kn ew you that ?
N ay I knew it not till you did tel l me
.
, I tro w yo u . ,
woul d b e b etter for a littl e g o o d comp a ny .
I trow not Wh at is th e i r s illy ch at to m e?

.
Here Margaret requ ested the f ath er to l eave th em al one

and in his ab s ence p ut s om e p ractic al qu estions Th en sh e .
r efl e ct e d .
\ Vh en
you wak e 1 the morning you fi nd you rself
qu iver a s on e may s a y ?
,
Nay A y How kn ew you that ?

. .
’
HEAR TH
.
3 30 TH E CL O ISTER A ND T H E
Nay .
W hat then ?
Love .
L ove ? stu f f imp o ssibl e ! , She is b ut a ch i l d ; sh e

n ever stir s abro ad u n g u a 1 d e d . She n ever hath fro m a
ch fld .
All th e b etter ; then w e sh al l not h av efar to l oo k for

'
I trow not I sh a l l b u t comm and her to tel l m e th e

.
caiti ff s nam e that hath b y m agic arts ensn are d h er y oung

’
,
”
aff e ctions
Oh h ow fo olish b e th e w i se ! sai d Mar gar et ;
.
,
what ,
woul d y e g o a n d p u t her On h er gu ard ? Nay l et u s wor k

'
,
by art fi r s t ; an d if that fa i l s th en twill still b e tim e f or ,

’
Viol en ce an d fo l ly .
Margaret then with som e d i ffi cu l t y p revail e d on th e ’
m ayor t o tak e a dvanta ge of its b ein g S aturday an d p ay all , ‘
his p eopl e the ir sal aries in his dau ghter 5 p res ence a ri d h ers ’
.
It was done : s om e fi f t e e n p eopl e en t e r ed th e ro om an d ,
receive d t h eir p ay with a kind word from their empl o yer .
Then M a rgaret wh o h ad s a t cl o s e to th e p atient a l l th e

,
tim e ro s e an d went ou t
, Th e m ayor foll owe d her . .
S ir how call y ou yon black ha i re d lad ?

,
Th at i s Ul rich my clerk , .
’
Well t h en tis h e
'
, .
N ow Heaven forb i d ! a l a d I to o k ou t of th e stre ets .
Well b ut your w orship i s an unders t an din g ma n

, .
You to ok him not up without s om e m erit of h i s ?

M erit ? n o t a j ot I lik ed th e l o oks of t h e brat that .
,
”
was all .
Was that n o m erit ? He pl ease d th e f a the r s eye '

’
.
An d n ow h e h ath pl ease d th e d au ghter s That h as of t ’

.
” '
b een seen since Adam .
How kn ow y e ti s h e ? ’
I h el d her hand an d wi th m y fi n ger d i d h gh t l y to uch

,
her w rist ; and when th e oth e 1 s cam e and w e nt twas a s if ,

’
d o gs an d cats ha d fared in and ou t B ut at this Ulr i ch s ’

’
coming h ei p ul s e did l eap an d h er e y es s hi ne a nd wh en h e ,
went s h e did sink b a ck an d sigh ; a n d t was to be se en t h e ’ ‘ ’
Na y b u r go ma st er
,
s u n had gon e ou t of th e ro om f or her

'
.
,
l o ok n ot on m e s o scared : n o witch or m a g i c i an I b ut a
o
p o or girl that h ath b een do cile an d s o b ettere d h ers el f b y ,

’
a gr eat n eglecte d l eech s art an d le arnin g I tell y e all . .
this hath b een done b efore thou sands o f y ears ere We were ,
b orn .Now b id e thou th ere till I com e to t hee a nd pri thee , ,
p rithee sp o il not go o d work w i m e ddlin g Sh e then

’
, .
went b ack an d ask ed h er p atient f or a lo ck of h er h air

l
Tak e i t sai d s h e more listl essly than ever
, ,
’
.
THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 331
’
Why tis a lass of marbl e, How lo ng do you count to .
b e like that mistress ? ,
Till I a m in my grave swe et Pe ggy , .
W h o knows ? m ayb e in ten minutes yo u w il l b e alto

gether as hot .
Sh e ran into th e shop but S p eedily return ed t o th e ,
mayor and said Go o d n ews ! H e fancies her and more

,
than a little Now h ow is t to b e ? Will you marry yo ur

.
’
child or b ury h er f or there is no third way for sham e and

, , ,
love th ey do rend h e1 Virgin heart to death .
Th e dign i tary decided for the more che erful rite b ut ,
not with out a stru ggle ; an d with its marks on his fac e
h e accomp anied Margaret t o his dau gh ter But a s m en .
are s eldom in a hurry to drink th eir wormwo o d h e sto o d ,
silent .S o D o cto r Margaret said che erfully

.
Mistress , ,
your lo ck i s gon e ; I have sol d i t .
And who was s o mad as to b uy su ch a thing ? ih

quired th e young lady s cornfully .
Oh a black haired laddie wi white teeth

,
-
They call ’
.
him Ulrich .
Th e p ale face reddene d directly— b row an d all .
’
S ays h e Oh sweet mistre ss give it m e , I had tol d
, ,
.
’
them all who se twas Nay sai d I sellin g is my liveli .
,
’
,
’
ho o d not giving
, S o h e o f fere d m e this he o f fered m e
.
,
’
that b ut nou ght less w oul d I tak e than his next quarter s
,
”
wage s .
Cru el m u rmured th e girl scarce au dibly

, , .
Why y ou a r e in on e tal e with your fath er

,
S ays he to .
m e wh en I tol d him Oh an h e loves her hair s o well , , ,

’ ’
’
tis od d b ut h e loves th e res t of h er Well quoth h e tis .
, ,
an honest lad and a shall have her gien s h e will b ut leave

, ,
her sulk s and co ns ent S o wh at s a y y e mistress wil l y ou

’
'
.
, , ,
b e marrie d to Ulri ch or buried i th e kirkyard ? ,

’
Father ! father !
Tis s o girl sp eak thy mind
’
, , .
I — — — —
w ll ob ey m y father i n all things
i stammere d ,
the p o or girl trying hard to maintain the a dvantageous

,
p o sition in which Margaret h a d placed her But nature .

,
and th e j oy and surprise were t oo strong even for a Virgin s ,

’
b a shful cunning She cast an elo qu ent lo ok on them.
b oth and s ank at h er fath er s knees and b egged his p ardo n

,
’
, ,
with many sob s for havin g doubted his tenderness

’
H e raised her in h i s arms and to ok her radiant throu gh , ,
her tears with j oy and returning life an d fi l i a l l ove to his , , ,
b reast ; and th e p air p asse d a truly sacre d m oment and

’
,
t h e d i g n i t a r y was as happy as h e t hou ght t o b e miserable ;

'
so hard i s it f or mortals to foresee And th ey lo ok ed round .
for M argaret b u t s h e h ad s t olen away s ot t l y

,
.
Th e youn g girl s earch ed th e h ou se for h er .
Wh ere is s h e hi d ? \Vh er e on e arth is s h e ?

Wh ere was s h e ? why in her own hou se dressing m eat , ,
‘
fo r h er two ol d ch i l dren an d crying b itterly th e whil e at ,
the livin g p icture of happ iness s h e h ad j ust created .
W ell a day th e o dds b etween h er lot and min e ; w ell

- -
,
a day l
-
N ext tim e s h e m et th e dignitary h e h em m d an d hawed ’

,
and remarke d what a p ity i t was th e law forb a d e him to

p ay h er who had cure d his dau ght er How ever when .
,
” ’ ’
all i s do ne twas no t art twas b ut wom a n s wit
,
’
, .
Nou ght b ut th at b urgomaster said Margaret b itterly

”
, ,
.
Pay th e m en of art for not curi ng h er : al l th e gu erdo n I

s eek that cured h er is t h is : g o not and give your foul lin en
, ,
”
away from m e b y way of thanks .
W h y shoul d I ? inquired h e .
Marry b ecau s e th ere b e fo ol s ab out y e will tell y e

,
s h e that hath wit to cure dark di seases cannot have wit to ,

’
tak e dirt ou t o rags ; s o pl edge m e your faith .
Th e dignitary promis ed p omp ously , an d felt a ll th e

p atro n .
S om ething mu st b e d on e to fi l l To —m o rrow s b ox) ’
Sh e h aw ke d her initial l etters an d h er illu minated Vellum s

all ab out th e town Pri n ting ha d b y thi s tim e d e al t cali
.
graphy in black an d white a terrib l e blow in Hollan d an d

G ermany But som e cop ies of the p rinted b o oks w ere
.
usual ly ill uminate d an d lettere d Th e p rinters o tt ere d .
Margaret p rice s for work in th es e two kin ds

’
’
I ll t h ink on t
’
sai d s h e ,
.
Sh e to ok d own h er di urnal b o ok an d c al culate d that ,

’
th e p rice of an h our s work o n tho s e arts woul d b e ab o ut
on e fi f t h what sh e go t for an hour at th e tub an d m angl e
-
.
”
I ll starve fi r s t
’
sai d sh e ; what p ay a craft an d a mys
, ,
t er y fi v e times l ess than a handicraft !

Martin carr ying th e dry clothe s b ask et got treated
, , ,
and drunk This t im e he b ab bl ed h er wh ol e sto r y

. Th e .
girls got h ol d of it and g ib ed her at th e fountain .
All she ha d gon e throu gh was light to her comp ared ,

-
with th e p ins and b o dkins her own s ex drove into her

h eart when ever s h e cam e n ear th e m erry crew with h er
,
p itch er an d that wa s every day

, E ach s ex has i t s form .
of cru elty ; m an s is more b rut al an d terribl e ; b ut sh al lo w

’
women that h ave neith er read n or su f fered h ave an u n

, ,
mu s cul ar b arb arity of their own ( wh ere n o feeling of s ex

step s in t o overp ower i t ) This defect intell ectual p erhap s .
,
rather than mor al h a s b e en miti gated in ou r day by b o oks

, ,
3 34 T HE C L O ISTE R AND T H E H EARTH
.
He wo ul d distra ct th eir attention and b esides th ey woul d , ,
keep their fo ul to n g ue s quiet i t o nly to b lin d th e m a l e to

the i r real ch aracter This co nj ecture t h ou gh shrewd wa s
.
, ,
erro neou s Th ey coul d no t all flirt w ith th at one m an ; s o

.
th e o uts iders i n d em ni fi e d thems elves b y tal king at h er th e

very m om ent she cam e u p .
Any news fro m forei gn p ar ts Jacqu eline ? ,
Non e for m e M artha My lad go es no far the r fro m

,
.
”
m e than th e to wn wall .
I ca n t say as mu ch ’
says a thir d ,
.
But if h e go es t Ital y I have go t anoth er ready to ’
’
tak e th e t o ol s pla ce .
H e ll not g o thi th er las s

’
Th ey g o no t s o f ar till th ey
, .
”
are sick Oi u s that b id e i n Ho l lan d .
S urpris e an d indi gnatio n an d th e p resence of a man , ,

’
gave Mar garet a m om ent s fi gh t i n g courage .
Oh flout m e not and show your i ll nature b efore the

, ,
very sol d ier I n Heaven s nam e wh at i ll di d I ever to y e ?

’
.
,
what har sh word cast b ack for al l you h a V e flun g o n m e , ,
a de solate stran ger in your cru el to wn th at y e fl ou t m e for ,
m e b ereavem ent an d my p o or la d s m o st unwil l i n g b anish ’
'
m ent ? Hear ts of fl e s h wo ul d surely p i t y u s b oth for that ,
y e cast in my teeth thes e m a ny days y e b rows of b ras s y e , ,

”
b o som s of sto ne .
Th ey st a re d at thi s novelty resistance ; an d ere th ey ,
coul d recover a n d mak e m in cem eat of her s h e put h er ,
p itch er qui etly d own an d threw h er co ar s e ap ro n o ver ,
h er hea d an d sto o d there gri evin g h er short lived sp irit

, ,
-
o ozin g fast Hall o ! . crie d th e soldier why what i s , ,
your i ll ? S he m a de no reply But a littl e girl who ha d .

,
lon g sec retly hate d the b i g o nes s qu eake d o ut They di d , ,
flout her they are a ye flo ut i ng her ; sh e may n ot com e ni gh

,
”
’
th e founta in for fear 0 th em an d tis a b lack sham e ,
’
.
W h o sp oke to her ? N ot I for on e ”

.
Nor I I woul d not b em ean mys elf so far

. .
The m an lau gh ed heart i ly a t this disp lay of di gni ty .
“
Com e w i fe, sai d h e n ever lower thy fla g to such
, ,
.
light skirmish ers a s thes e Hast a ton g ue 1 thy hea d a s .

’
well a s th ey .
’
Al ack go o d sol di er I w a s n ot b red to b andy fo ul

, ,
”
term s .
\V ell b ut hast a b etter arm than th ese

, W h y not take .
e m b y two s a cro ss thy kn ee

’
an d sk elp em till they cry ,
’
M e cu l p ee ?
Nay I woul d not hurt th eir b o di es for all the i r cru el
,
”
hearts .
Th en y e mu st e en lau gh at th em wi f e Wh a t l a
’
, .
,
w oman g ro w n and not s e e why mes d a mes give tongu e ?

,
T H E H E AR T H
'
CL O ISTER AN D
'
TH E 335
You are a buxom wife ; they are a b undl e of thread pap ers -
.
You are fair and fresh ; they have all the D u tch rim un d e r '
their bright eyes th at co mes of dwellin g in eternal swamp s

, .
here lies your crime Com e gi e m e thy p itcher an d if .

, ,
ey fl ou t m e s h a l t see m e scrub em a l l w i my b eard till

'
’ ’
,
they squ eak holy m oth er Th e p i t cher wa s so on fi l l ed .

,
an d the soldier put it in Margaret s hand Sh e murmure d ’

.
,
”
Thank you kindly b rave soldier , .
H e p atted h er o n the shoulder Co m e coura ge b rave .

, ,
wife ; the divell is dead ! Sh e let the heavy p itch er fall

o n his fo ot directly H e curs ed horribly an d hop p e d in a.
,
circl e saying
, No th e Thief s alive and h as b roken my
, ,
’
”
great to e .
Th e apron cam e down and there was a l ovely fa ce all ,
flushed with emo tio n an d two b eam ing eyes in front of ,
him and two hands hel d ou t clasp ed

, .
“ ”
N ay nay said h e go o d h u m ou r ed l y
’
,
ti s nou ght , ,
-
,
mistaking .
”
D enys ?
Well ? —But— Hallo ! How know you my nam e is
D enys of Burgundy !
Why o d s b od i k i n s l I know you not an d y ou know
, ,
’
By Gerard s letter Cro s sb ow ! b eard ! han dsom e ! .
Th e divell i s de a d .
Sword of G ol i a h l this mu st b e sh e R e d h a i r v i ol et .
,
eyes lovely face B u t I t ook y e for a marrie d wife s eein g

'
,
.
,
y e
Tell m e my name said sh e quickly , .
”
Margaret Bran dt .
Ge rard ? Where i s h e ? Is h e in life ? Is h e well ?

I s h e coming ? Is h e com e ? Why is h e n ot here ? Where
h ave y e left him ? Oh tell m e ! p rith ee prith ee prithee , , ,
tell m e l p
A y a y b ut not here Oh y e are all curio sity n ow

‘
.
, , , , ,
mesdames eh ? Lass I have b een thre e m onths a fo o t

, ,
-
travellin g all Hollan d to fi n d y e an d here you are Oh , .

,
b e j oyful ! an d h e flun g his cap in th e air and s eizing b oth ,

“
h er hands kissed them ard ently Ah my pretty sh e .
,
comrade I have found th ee at last

,
-
I kn ew I sh ould . .
Sh all b e fl ou t e d no m ore I ll twist your n eck s at th e fi r s t .

’
wor d y e li t tle trollop s

,
And I h ave got fi f t een gol d an gel s .
l ef t f or thee and ou r G erard will so on b e here

,
Shalt wet .
”
thy purp le eyes no m ore .
B u t th e fair eyes were wet even n ow l o oking kindly ,
and gratefully at th e friend that had dropp e d a mon g h er

fo e s a s if from h eaven ; G erard s comrade Prith e e com e ’
.
home with m e goo d kind D enys ,

I cannot sp eak of him , .
b efore th es e They went off to gether followe d b y a
. , ,
chorus Sh e has go tten a man

.
Sh e has gotten a man .
”
at l ast Ho o l ho o l h o o l
.
Margaret quickene d h er step s ; but D enys to ok d own

h i s cro ssb ow an d p retende d to sho ot them all d ea d : t h ef
'
fl e d quadriviou s shrieking , .
C HAP TER LI
THE reader al r eady knows how mu ch th es e t wo h ad to tell

o n e anoth er It was a swe et yet b itter day for M a rgaret
. .
since it b rou ght h er a tru e fri end and il l n ews for now fi r s t ,
s h e learne d that Gerar d wa s al l al on e in that stran ge lan d .
Sh e coul d no t th ink with D enys that h e woul d com e hom e ;

in dee d h e woul d h ave arrive d b efore thi s .
D enys wa s a b al m H e call ed h er h is s h e comra de and

.
-
,
was al ways cheerin g h er up with his fo rmula an d h il arities ,
and s h e p ette d him an d m ad e mu ch of h im an d I eebly ,
h ectore d it o ver him a s well a s o ver Martin an d woul d not ,
l et him eat a sin gl e m eal ou t of h er h ous e an d forb ad e ,
him to u s e nau ghty words It sp o il s you D enys

. Go o d ,
.
la ck to hear such u gly words com e forth s o com ely a h ead :

,
forb ear or I shall b e an gry : so b e civi l

, Wh ereup on D enys .
w as up o n his go o d b ehavi our an d lu dic ro u s th e stru ggl e ,
b etwe en h is native p olitenes s an d his acqu ire d r u ffi a n i s m .
An d as it n ever rains b ut it p ours oth er p erso ns n ow ,
s olicited Margare t s friendship ’

Sh e ha d written to Margaret
.
V an Eyck a humbl e l etter tell in g h er sh e kn ew s h e w a s n o

lo n ger th e favourite s h e ha d b een an d woul d k eep h er dis ,
’
tance ; b ut coul d n ot forget h er b en efactress s p ast kin dn ess
'
.
Sh e th en tol d h er b r i efl y h ow m any ways s h e h ad b attle d

f or a livin g an d i n c onclusion b e gge d e arnestly t hat h er
,
“
residence m i gh t n ot b e b etray ed ; least of all t o his p eopl e .
I do hate them th ey dr ove him fr om m e

, An d even wh en .
h e w as go ne th eir h ea r t s t u r n e d no t to m e as th ey wo ul d
,
”
an i t th ey had rep ent ed th eir cru elty to him .
Th e V an Eyck wa s p erpl exed A t l ast sh e m ad e a co n .
fi d ante of R eicht Th e s ecret ran throu gh R eicht a s

.
,
through a cylinder t o Cath erine , .
“
A y an d is sh e turne d th at b itter a gain st u s ?
, , s ai d
that go o d woman Sh e stole our s on from u s an d n o w
.
,
s h e ha t e s u s for n ot running into h er arm s Natheles s it i s .
a blessin g sh e is alive an d no furth er a way than Rotterdam .
”The En gl ish p rincess n ow Cou nte s s Ch a r ol oi s m ad e a

, ,
statel y pro gress throu gh th e northern stat es of th e duchy ,

T HE CL O IST E R AN D
'
’
338 TH E HEARTH
'
Ah cried Margaret
,
Then swiftl y turned h er b ack .
on him and hid her face with invincibl e repu gnance Oh .

,
that man ! that man !

Nay fear m e not ,
said Gh y s b r ech t I come on a ,
friend s errand
’
I b ring y e a letter from foreign p arts
. .
”
Mo ck m e not ol d m an a n d s h e t u r n e d slowl y round
, ,
.
’’
Nay see ; an d he h eld out an eno rm ou s letter
,
.
Margaret darte d on i t and hel d it with tre mb ling h and s

'
and glistenin g eyes It was G erard s han dwriting .

’
.
Oh tha nk you s i r bless y ou for this I f or gi ve y ou all

, , , ,
’
’
’
the i ll you ever wrou ght m e
‘
And s h e pressed the l etter to her b o som With on e h an d ,
and glided swiftly from the ro om with i t .
As sh e did not com e b ac k Gh y s b r ech t went away but , ,
not without a s cowl at M a rtin Margaret was ho urs al on e

'
with h er l etter .
C HAPTER LII
W H E N s h e cam e do w n a gain sh e was a ch an ged woma n

'
‘
Her eyes were wet b ut cal m an d all h er b itterness and , ,
excitement ch arm ed away .
D enys said s h e softly, I h a y e got my orders I , .
a m to read my lover 5 l etter to his folk

’
.
Ye will n ever do that ?

A y will I .
I s ee there is somethin g in the l etter has softene d y e

”
t oward s them .
'
N o t a j ot D enys not a j ot But a n I hate d them

, , .
l ike p oison I woul d n ot disob ey my love "

D enys tis so .
,
sweet to ob ey and sweetest of all to ob ey on e wh o i s far

far away an d cannot enforce my duty b u t mu st t ru st my
, ,
, ,
love for my ob edience Ah Gerard my d arlin g at han d .

, , ,
I might have slighte d thy commands mislik ing thy folk ,
as I h ave caus e to do ; b ut now didst b id m e g o into th e ,

'
ragin g s e a an d read thy sweet letter to th e shark s there I d ,

’
go. Therefore D enys tell his m other I have g ot a l etter

, , ,
an if s h e and h ers woul d hear i t I a m th eir serva nt ; let ,

’
them s a y their hour and I ll seat them a s b es t I can and , ,
’
wel com e them as b est I m ay .
D enys went off to Catherine with this go o d news He .
foun d th e family at dinner and tol d them th er e was a lon g

’
letter from Gerar d Then l n the midst of th e Joy this ca used

.
,
h e said And her he art is soften ed ; and sh e Will r a d it to

,
you herself ; y ou are to ch o o se your own tim e ” e

r
.
“
Wh at, do es s h e think there ar e no ne ca n ead b u t
’
THE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH 339
h er ? asked C atherine L et her send th e l etter an d we .
”
will read i t .
N a y but mother obj ected little Kate ;

, , mayhap s h e ,
”
cannot b ear to p art it from her hand ; she loves him dearly .
What thinks s h e we shall steal i t ?

,
Co rnelis suggested that s h e woul d fain wedge herself

,
into the fam i ly by means of this letter .
D enys cast a lo ok of scorn on the sp eaker There .
”
sp ok e a b ad heart said h e L a c amarade hates you all , .
like p oison Oh mistak e me not dame ; I defend her not

.
, , ,
b ut s o tis ; yet mau gre her spl een at a word from Gerard
’
s h e proffers to read y ou his l etter with her own pretty
, i —
mouth an d hath a voice l k e honey sure tis a fair proff er -m
’
.
’ ”
Tis s o mine honest soldier said th e fath er of th e
, ,
family , and merits a civil reply therefore hold your whisht ,
y e that b e women and I shall answer her Tell her I his , .

,
father s etting aside al l p ast gr u dges do f or t h is g race thank

, ,
her and would sh e have double thanks l et her send my so n s

, ,
’
letter by thy faithful hand the which will I read to his ,
fl esh and blo o d and will then to her s o surely and faithfully
,
return as I a m Eli a D i er i ch a William a Luke free b urgh er of

, ,
”
T er g ou like my forb ears and like them a man of my word
, , , .
”
Ay and a man who is b etter than his word
, cried ,
C atherine ; the onl y on e I ever did foregather ”

.
Hold thy p eace wife , .
” l
Art a man of sense Eli a dirk a cho se a ch os e , , , , ,
shouted D enys The s h e comrade w i ll b e right glad to

.
-
ob ey Gerard and yet not face you all whom s h e hates a s ,
wormwo o d saving your presence , Bless y e the worl d .

,
hath changed s h e is all submis sio n to day : Ob edience i s

,
-
honey quoth she ; and in so oth tis a sweetm eat s h e canno t

,
’ ’
b ut savour eating so littl e on t for what with her fair face

,
’
, ,
and her mellow to n gue ; and what w i flying in fi t s and ’
terrifying u s that b e soldiers to death a n we thwart her ;

'
,
’
and what W 1 chidin g u s on e wh i l e and p etting u s like ,
lamb s t other she ha t h m ade two of the c r a wl i n g e s t slave s

’
ever you s a w ou t of two honest swashbu cklers I b e the .
ironing ru fh a h t other washes ,

’
.
What next ?
Wh at next ? why whenever th e brat is in the world , ,
I shall ro ck cradle and t other knave will wash tucker and ,

’
S o then I ll g o fetch the letter on th e instant Ye

’
b ib.
, , .
will let m e bide and hear it read will y e not ? ,

”
Else our hearts were bl ack as coal said Catherine , .
S o D enys went for the l etter H e came b ack crest .
fallen . Sh e will not l et it ou t of her hand neither to m e

”
1 or y ou nor any h e or s h e that lives
, .
1
A n g l i c e, a Th in g -
e m -b ob .
I knew woul d n ot s ai d Cornelis
sh e , .
W h i sh t l whisht ! sai d E l i and l et D enys tel l his ,
’ ’
Nay sai d I , b ut b e rule d b y m e Not I qu oth
, .
’
,
’
sh e. We l l b ut q uoth I , that sam e h oney Ob edience
, ,
‘
’ ’
y e sp ak e oi Yo u a r e a fo ol says s h e ;
. o b e dien ce to ,
Gerar d is sweet b ut ob e dience to any o th er b ody who ever

, ,
s aid that w a s swe et ?

A t l ast s h e s e em e d to s often a b it an d did give m e a ,
’
written p ap er f or y ou m adem ois ell e Here ti s , . .
F or m e ? said littl e K ate colourin g , .
Give that h ere ! s ai d Eli an d he s canne d th e writi n g , ,
an d said almo st in a whisp er Thes e b e wo rds from th e ,
l e tter .H e a r k en l
An d sweetheart an i t th es e lin es shoul d travel s afe
, ,
’
to the e m ak e th ou trial o f my p eopl e s heart with al
, Mayb e .
th ey ar e s om ewhat turn e d to wards m e b ei n g far away If , .
’
tis s e th ey will show it to th e e sin c e now to m e they m ay
,
-
not . R ead then this l etter ! But I do strictly fo rb i d

, ,
th e e to l et it from thy h and ; an d i f th ey st i ll hol d alo of

f r om the e why then s a y nou ght b ut l et th em think m e
, , ,
dead . Ob ey m e in this for if tho u do st disresp ect my ,
j u d g ment an d my will in this tho u l ovest m e n ot ,

’
There was a sil ence an d Gerar d s words C op ie d b y ,
Mar garet were han de d round an d in sp e cte d .
Well s aid Cather i n e th at is ano ther m atter B ut , .
”
m ethinks tis fo r h er to com e to u s n ot w e to h er , .
Al as m other ! what o dds d o es that m ak e ?

,
Mu ch said Eli
, Tell h er w e are o ver m any to .
”
com e to her an d b i d her hither th e so on er th e b etter
, , .
When D enys wa s go n e Eli o wn e d it was a b itter p ill to ,
Wh en that las s sh a l l cro s s my thresh old a l l th e m is ,
chief an d mis ery s h e hath m a d e h ere wil l s eem to c om e in

a do ors in o n e heap B ut what coul d I d o wife ? N e m u s t
.
,
‘
h ear th e n ews of Gerard I saw that in thine eyes an d felt .

,
it in my own h e ar t An d s h e is b ack e d b y ou r u n dutiful

.
b ut still b elove d son an d s o is s h e stron ger th an w e an d , ,
b rin gs ou r n o ses down to th e grindston e th e s l y cru el j a de , , .
But n ever heed We will h ear th e l etter ; an d th en l et h er

.
”
o
g “ u nbl ess ed a s s h e cam e unwelcom
,
e .
”
M ak e your m in d easy s ai d Catherin e Sh e w i ll , .
not com e at a ll An d a ton e of re gret wa s Visibl e

. .
Shortly after Ri chart who ha d b e en h ourly exp ected , ,
arrive d from Am st erdam g rave an d d i gn i fi e d in his b urgher s ’
rob e an d gold chai n r u Il and furre d cap and was re ceived

‘
, , ,
n ot wi t h a ff ection onl y b ut resp ect ; for h e had ris en a ,
s tep high er than h i s p arents and s u ch step s were m ark ed ,

3 42 T HE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
curiou sly pl aite d li n en from th e b o som of th e ki rt l e up to

th e comm encem ent of th e thro at ; it di d n ot encir cle h er
thro at b ut fram ed i t b eing square not ro und
, ,Her front , .
hair still p eep e d in t w o wave s mu ch af ter t h e f a s h i on which '
Mar y Q ueen of S cots revive d a century later ; b ut i nstead

of th e s ilver net which woul d have i l l b e com e her p res ent
,
condition the rest of her h ea d wa s covered with a very

,
smal l tight fi t t i n g h oo d of dar k blu e clo th h emm ed with

-
,
silver . Her sho es w ere re d ; b ut th e ro an p ettico at and

’
ho s e p rep ared th e sp ectator s m i nd f or the sho ck an d th ey ,
s et off the arch ed instep an d shap ely fo ot .
B eauty knew its b u sin ess th en a s n ow .
An d with al l this s h e k ept h er e nemi es waitin g thou gh ,
it was three by the dial .
A t last s h e starte d attende d b y h er h e comra de ,

An d .
wh en th ey w ere h al f way sh e stopp ed and said thou ghtfully

-
, ,
D enys !
Well s h e general ?
,
-
‘
”
I mu st g o ho m e ( p iteou sly ) .
What have y e lef t s om ewhat b eh ind ?

,
Wh at ?
My cou ra ge Oh l oh l oh l .
Nay nay b e b rave s h e general

, , I shal l b e w ith y ou ,
-
. .
A y b ut wil t k eep cl o s e to m e when I b e there ?

,
D enys p rom is ed an d s h e resum ed h er m ar ch b ut

,
. .
,
gin gerly .
Meantim e th ey were a ll ass emb led and waitin g for h er ,
with a stran ge m ixture of feel in gs .
M or t i fi c a t i on curio sity p antin g a f f ection aversio n to

, , ,
h er who cam e to gratify tho se feelin gs yet anoth er curio sity ,
to s ee what sh e was l ik e an d what there was in her to ,
b ewit ch Gerar d and m a k e s o mu ch m ischief .
A t last D enys cam e al o ne an d whisp ered The sh e ,

.
,
”
co m ra de is w ith out .
“
Fetch h er i n sai d Eli Now whisht all of y e
, .
, .
Non e sp eak to h er b ut I .
They all tu rn e d th eir eyes t oth e do or in d ea d sil ence .
A littl e mutterin g was heard outside ; D enys s rou gh ’
organ an d a woman s s oft and m ell ow vo ice ’

.
Presently that stopp ed and th en th e do or op ene d slowly

an d Margaret Brandt dressed as I have d es crib ed an d som e , ,
what p al e b ut c al m an d lovely sto o d on th e threshol d

, , ,
lo oking strai ght b efore h er .
They all ro s e b ut K ate and remained mute an d starin g , .
B e s eate d mistress said Eli gravely and motio ne d

, , ,
to a s eat that ha d b een s e t ap art f or her .
She i nclined her h ead a n d cr os s e d t h e a p a r t m en t ; and ,

'
C L O ISTER 3 4 51
°
TH E -
A ND T H E HEARTH
'
in s d d oi n g her co ndit ion was very Visibl e not o nly i h her

‘
shap e but in her lan gu or

, .
Co rn elis and S y b r a n d t hated h er fo r i t Richart thou gh t .
it sp oil ed her b eauty .
It softene d th e wom en s om ewhat .
Sh e t o ok h er l etter ou t of h er b o som an d kiss ed it as if ,
she had b een alone ; then dis po sed h erself to read i t with ,
the air of on e who kn ew s h e wa s th ere for that singl e p ur

p o se
.
But a s she b egan s h e noticed th ey had s eate d her a l l

,
by hers elf lik e a l ep er Sh e l o oked at D enys and putting

.
,
her hand down by h er s i de mad e him a swift furtive moti o n ,
t o com e b y h er
H e went with an ob e d ient start a s if s h e had crie d
Ma r ch l an d sto o d at her shoulder like a sentinel ; but
t hi s z ealous m anner of doing it reveal e d to the comp any
th at h e h ad b een ordered thi t her ; and at that sh e col oured .
An d now sh e b eg an to read her Gerard their Gerard to , ,
th eir eager ears in a m ellow b ut cl ear voice s o soft s o

, , , ,
e arn est s o thrilling her very soul seem ed to clin g ab out

, ,
each preciou s sound It wa s a voice a s of a woman s b o som

.
’
s et sp eaking by Heaven itself .
I do noth in g doubt my Margaret that long ere this , ,
shall m eet thy b eloved eyes D enys my m o st dear friend , , ,
will have sou ght thee out and tol d the e th e m anner of ou r ,
unlo oked for and mo st tearful p artin g Therefore I will .
e en b egin at that mo st dol eful day

’
Wh at b efell him after .
,
p o or faithful soul fain fain woul d I h ear b ut m ay n ot

‘
, , , .
But I pray for him day and night next after t h ee d e a r es t , .
Friend more stan ch and loving had not D avid in Jonathan ,

”
than I in him B e go od to him for p o or Gerard s sake
.
,
’
.
A t these words which cam e quite unexp ecte dl y to him

, ,
D enys leaned his head on Margaret s high chair and gro ane d ’
alou d .
9
She turned quickly as sh e sat and found h i s hand and ,
‘
pressed i t .
And so the sweetheart and the friend held han ds whil e

t h e sweetheart read .
I went forward all dizzied like on e in an ill dream ; ,
and p resently a gentleman cam e up with his servants all

‘
,
’
o n h orseback and h a d l i k e d to h ave ri d o er m e And h e ’ ‘
.
,
dr ew rein at th e b row of th e hill and sent his armed m en

'
,
'
b ack to rob m e Th ey robb ed m e civilly enou gh ; a n d t ook

’
my p u rse a n d t h e last copp er and rid gaily away I ,

.
wandered stupid on a fri end l es s p aup er ,

.
There was a general s i gl 1 f ol l ow e d by an o ath from ,
D enys .
Presently a strange dimn es s cam e o er m e ; I l ay down ’

to sl eep on th e snow Twas i l l done an d with store of .
’
,
wolves hard b y Ha d I loved thee as thou do st d e s ei ve.

,
I had shown mo re manho o d But oh sweet l ove th e .

, , ,
d r owsiness that d i d crawl 0 c r m e desola t e an d b enumb

’
m e was more th an n a t ur e A n d so I slept ; and but that . 1
Go d was b etter to u s th a n I to the e or to my s elf fro m that

,
, ,
sl eep I n e er h ad wak e d ; s o al l d o s a y
’
I h ad slept an ho ur .
or two a s I supp o se but no more when a hand di d shake

, , ,
m e ru dely I awok e to my troubles . An d there sto o d a .
’
s e r vant girl in her holiday suit Are y e m ad q uoth sh e .
,
in s eemin g chol er to sleep in snow an d under wolves , ,
no sen ? Art wear y 0 lif e a n d n ot lon g weaned ? C om e

’
, ,
n ow s ai d s h e m ore k i n dl y
,
’
get up lik e a go o d lad ;
,
so ,
I di d rise u p Ar e y e rich or are y e p o or ?

. But I stare d ,
Wh y t i s easy of reply quoth ’ ’

at her a s on e amaz ed .
,
’ ’
,
sh e . Are y e rich or are y e p oor ? Th en I gave a great

, ~
,
lou d cr y ; that s h e d i d start b ack Am I rich or a m I

‘
.
,
p o or ? Had y e aske d m e an h our agone I h ad s ai d I a m ,
rich B ut now I a m s o p o or as sure e arth b eareth on h er

.
b o som none p o orer An hour a gon e I wa s rich in a friend .

,
rich in m oney rich in hop e and sp i rits of youth ; b ut n ow

,
~
th e B astard of Burgundy h ath t a ken m y f r i en d a n d anoth er

'
gentleman my purs e ; an d I can neither g o forward to ,
Rom e nor b ack to her I left in Holl and I a m p o orest of .
A l a ck l
‘ f
th e p o or s ai d th e wench
.
’
N ath el ess an y e .
,
’
had b een rich y e might h a lai n down a gain in the snow for
an y u se I had for y e ; and then I trow y e had so on fare d
out 0 th is worl d a s b are as y e cam e i n t o t
’
But b ein g
’
‘
.
, , ,
p o or y ou are ou r m an : s o com e w i m e
,
Th en I went ,
’
.
’
-
b ecause s h e b ade m e and b ecause I reeke d n ot now whith er ,
I w ent And she to ok m e to a fi n e hou se hard b y and into

.
,
a nobl e di nin g h all hung with b l ack ; an d there was s et a

-
tabl e with m any d ish es and b ut on e pl ate a n d on e chair , .
Fal l to ! sai d s h e in a whisp er Wh at al o ne! said I

, .
,
'
.
Al one ? An d which 0 1 u s thi nk y e woul d e a t ou t of th e , ,
sa me dish wit h y e ? Are w e rob b ers o th e dead ? Th en ’
A t T er g ou said I
’
s h e sp eere d wh ere I was b orn S ays .
, .
sh e ,
And when a g entlem an di es i n that country s erve ,
th ey not th e dead man s d i nner up a s u sual till h e b e in th e ’
ground an d s et s om e p o or m an to i t ?
, I told her ; nay .
Sh e blushed for u s then Here they were b etter Chris .
tians S o I b ehoved to s i t down But small wa s my

’
. .
heart for m eat Th en this kind l a ss s a t by m e and p oure d

'
m e out wi ne ; and tastin g i t it cut m e to th e he a r t D enys ,
was not there to drink with m e H e doth s o love go o d .
wine and women goo d b ad or indiff erent

, Th e rich , ,
.
,
stro ng wine curled round my sick heart ; and that day fi r s t

I did seem to g li mp se why fo l k in trouble run to dri n k s o .
346 THE C L O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH
fem al es o n account of the co stum e which differed in some ,
'
resp ects from that of th e D utch dom estic ; th e h a i r w a s in

a ti ght linen b a g a yell ow h al f kerchief cro sse d her hea d ,
from ear to ear b ut threw ou t a rectan gular p o int that ,
des c ended to th e centre of h er forehead an d it met in two ,
m ore p o ints over her b o som She wore a red k i rtle with .
l ong sleeves ki lted very high in front and showin g a green

, ,
farthi ng al e an d a gr eat re d leather pu r s e h anging do w n over

i t ; re d sto cki ngs yello w l eath ern sh oes ah ead of h er a ge ;
, ,
for they were low quar tere d an d squ are to ed s ecur ed b y - -

,
a strap bu ck li ng over th e ins t ep which was not un co mmon , ,
an d was p erh ap s th e ru de germ of th e d i amond b uckl e to

come .
M a rgar et continu ed :
But oh ! how I misse d my D e nys at every step ! o ften
I s a t down o n the ro a d an d g ro an ed An d in the afterno on .
it chan ce d that I di d s o s et m e down where two ro ads m et ,
an d with heavy h ea d in han d and he avy he art did thi nk , , ,
of th ee my p o or s w eet h e a r t
, a n d of my lo st friend an d of ,
.
,
the littl e ho u s e at T er gou where th ey al l l ove d m e o nce ; ,

’
thou gh now it is tu rn e d to hate .
C a th er i n e Al a s ! that he will thi nk so

. .
E li . Whi sht wife , .
And I d i d sigh lou d an d often An d m e si gh in g s o , .

,
on e cam e c a rolli ng lik e a b i rd a down t

’
other ro ad Ay .
,
’
ch i rp an d ch i rp crie d I b itterly Th o u hast not lo st
, .
’
sweeth eart a n d friend thy father s h earth thy m other s
, , ,
’
smi l e an d every p enn y in the world

, And at l ast he did .
’
s o carol and carol I j ump ed up i n i r e t o get away from

, ,
-
his m o st j arrin g mi rth. But ere I fle d from i t I lo oked .

,
down th e p ath to s ee what coul d m ak e a m an s o light

hearted in this weary worl d ; an d l o ! th e s o ngster was a
humpb acked crippl e with a blo o dy b an dage o er h i s eye ,
’
,
”
and b oth le gs gone at the knee .
He l he l he l he l he l went S y b r an d t lau ghi ng and ,
cackl i ng .
Mar garet s eyes flash ed : s h e b eg an to fol d t h e l etter u p

’
.
”
N a y l a s s s a i d Eli
, h ee d h i m n ot l
, Th ou unm anner ,
l y cur ofi er t but a gain and I put th ee to th e do or

’
, .
Why what w a s th ere to gib e a t S y b r a n d t ? remon

, ,
s t r a t e d Cather i ne more mil dly Is not our Kate a ffli ct e d ? .
and i s s h e not the mo st content of u s all an d singeth lik e ,
a m erle at times b etween her p ai ns ? But I a m a s b ad a s

thou ; prithee read on lass and stop o ur gab bl e wi s ome , ,
’
what worth the hear kenin g .
’ ‘
Then said I m ay this thing b e ?
, An d I to ok ,
myself to task Gerar d s on of Eli do st thou well to

.
, ,
b emo an thy l ot thou hast youth and heal th an d here c om es

,
’
the wreck of nature o n crutches praising Go d s goo dness ,
with singing like a mavis ?

C a th er i n e There you s e e . .
E li . Whisht dam e W h i sh t l , ,
And whenever he saw m e h e left carollin g and pre ,
s en t l y hobbled up and chanted Ch a rity for love of , ,
H eaven sweet master charity with a whine as p iteou s ’

, , ,
as wind at keyhole Alack p o or soul said I charity is .

, ,
’
,
in my heart b ut not my purse ; I a m p o or as thou

, Then .
’
h e b elieved m e none and to melt m e undid his sleeve and , ,
showed a sore wound o n his arm and said h e Po or cripple , ,
though I b e I a m like to lo se this eye to b o ot lo ok else

, , .
’
I saw and groaned for him and to excu se myself let him ,
wot how I had b een robb ed of my last copp er Thereat .
he left whining all in a moment and said in a b ig manly , ,

’ ’
Voice , Then I ll e en take a rest Here youngster pull .
, ,
thou this strap : nay fear n ot ! I pulled and down cam e , ,
a stout p air of legs ou t of his b ack ; and half his hump ha d

melted away and th e wound in his eye no deep er than the
,
”
b andage .
Oh l ej aculated Margaret s h earers in a b o dy ’

.
VVh er e a t seeing m e astounded he lau ghed in my

, ,
face and told m e I was n ot worth gullin g and o ff ered m e

, ,
his protection My face was p r 0 p h et i c he said Oi

’
. .
,
‘ ’
what ? said I’
Marry said h e that its owner will
.
, ,
‘
’
starve in this thievish land Travel teaches e en the young .
’
wisdom . Tim e was I had turned and fl ed this imp o stor

a s a p estilence ; but now I listened p atiently to p ick up
crumb s of counsel And well I did : for nature and his .
adventurou s life had cramm ed th e p o or knave with shrewd

ness and knowledge of th e homelier sort a child wa s I —
b eside him Wh en h e h ad turned m e inside ou t said h e
.
, ,
D idst well to leave France and make for Germany ; but

think not of Hollan d again N ay on to Au gsb urg and .
,
Nurnb erg the Paradis e of craftsmen ; th ence to V enice

, ,
an thou wilt But thou wilt never b ide in Italy nor any
.
other land having once tasted the great G erman cities

, .
Why there is but on e honest country in Europ e and that

, ,
is Germany ; and since thou art honest and since I a m a ,
v a g a b on e Germany was made f or u s twain I b ade him ’
, .
make that goo d : how might on e country fi t tru e men and

’
knaves ! Why thou novice s aid h e
‘
b ecau se in an
, , ,
‘
honest land are fewer knaves to b ite the honest man and ,
m any honest men f or the knave to b ite I was in luck .

,
b eing honest to have fall en in with a friendly shar p

,
Be .
my p al said h e ;
,
’
I go to Nurnb erg ; we w i ll reach it wi th
fu ll p ouches I ll learn y e th e cul d e b ois a n d th e en ] de
.
’
j a t te and how to maund and chaunt and p a tter and to

, , , ,
348 THE C L O ISTER AND THE H E AR T h
raise swellin gs and p aint sores and ulcers on thy b o dy

,
’
w ould take in the divell I told him shivering I d liever .
’
, ,
die than sham e myself and my folk s o .
E li Go o d l a d l go o d l a d l
.
Wh y what sham e was i t for su ch a s I to turn b e ggar ?

,
B eg gar y was an ancient and m o st honourabl e mystery .
What di d holy m onks an d b ishop s and kings when they , , ,
woul d win Heaven s sm i l e ? why wash th e feet of b eggars ’
, ,
’
tho se favourite s of th e saints The saints were no fo ols
'
.
,
h e tol d m e Then h e did p ut out his fo ot

. Lo ok at that .
,
that was washed by th e greatest king al ive Louis of Fran ce , ,

.
th e last Holy Thursday that was And the next day .
’
,
Friday clapp ed in th e sto cks by th e warden oi a p etty

,
S o I tol d h i m my fo ot should wal k b etween su ch

’
h amlet .
h igh honour and su ch low dis gra ce on th e safe p ath of ,
honesty please Go d ,
Well th en s i nce I had not sp irit to .
,
b eg h e woul d in dul ge my p erversity

,
I should work u nder .
him h e b e the head I the fi n g er s

,
And with that h e set , .
himself up l ik e a j udge on a heap of du st by th e ro ad s side

’
, ,
and questioned m e strictly what I coul d do I b egan to .
s a y I was stron g an d willing Bah said h e s o i s an ox ’ ‘

.
.
, ,
S ay what canst do that S ir Ox cannot ?

, I coul d wri t e ;
I had wo n a priz e f or i t Canst write as fast as th e pri n t .
.
’
er s ? qu o h e j eering What else ? , I could p aint . .
’
That was b etter I was lik e to tear my hair to hear .
him s a y s o and m e going to Rome to write , I coul d twang .
the p sal tery a b it That was well Coul d I tell stories ?

. .
A y by th e score Then said h e I h i re you from this ’

, .
, ,
’
moment Wh at to do ? said I
. N ou ght cro oked S i r .
,
’
Cando ur says h e I will feed thee all the way and h n d
, .
thee work ; and tak e h alf thine e a rnin gs no more A gree d , .

’
,
’
said I and gave my hand o n i t N ow s ervant said h e

’
.
, , , ,
we will dine But y e nee d not stand b ehind my chair

.
—
for two reasons fi r s t I h a go t no ch ai r ; and next go o d ’
fe l l owship lik es m e b etter than state And ou t of his .

’
wal let h e brou ght fl esh fowl and p astry a go o d dozen of , ,

-
,
S p ices lapp ed in fl a x p ap er and wine fi t for a king N e er , . .

’
feasted I b etter than ou t of this b eggar s wall et now my ’
master Wh en we ha d wel l eaten I wa s for goin g on

. .
’
B ut said h e
,
‘
servants shoul d not drive the i r m asters
,
to o h ard esp ecial ly after feeding for then the b o dy is for

, ,
rep o s e and th e mind turns to co ntemplation ; a n d he lay

,
on his b ack gazin g calmly at the sky an d present l y wondere d ,
wh ether there were any b eggars up there I told him I .
kn ew b ut of on e call e d L az aru s Coul d h e do the en]

, .
de j atte b etter than I ? said h e and l o oke d quite j eal o us ,
lik e . I told him nay ; Lazarus was h onest thou gh a b e ggar , ,
an d fed daily of t h e crumb s f a l n from a rich m an s tab le ’ ’
,
’
I have mad e a go o d b argain said h e Art a master , .
limner b u t takest t oo mu ch time

, S o I l et him know that .
’
in m a t ters of h on est craft things coul d not b e done quick

and well Th en d o them quick quoth h e And h e told
.
,
’
.
m e my nam e was B o n B e e ; and I migh t call him Cul d e

Jatte b ecau se that was his lay at our fi r s t m eeting
,
And .
at th e next town my m aster Cul d e Jatte b ou ght m e a , ,
p s a ltery and s et himself up again by the ro ad side in state

,
l ike him that erst j ud ge d Marsyas an d Ap ollo p ipin g for ,
vain glory S o I play ed a strain . Indi f ferent well .

,
harmoniou s B on B ec said h e hau ghtily N ow tun e thy ,

’
.
p ip es S o I did sin g a sweet strain th e go o d monk s tau ght

.
’
m e ; and sin gin g it reminded p o or B o n B ee Gera r d erst , ,
of h i s yo un g days and hom e and b rou ght th e w ater to my , ,
e en . B ut lo okin g u p my m aster s Visage was a s the face ,

’
or sippin g f ou l e s t m e d i c i n e
'
of a littl e b oy whip t soundly ,

.
“
Z ound s stop th at b elly a ch e bl eth er qu oth h e th at ’ ‘
-
, , ,
will n e er w i l e a stiver ou t o p easants p u rses ; twill b ut

’ ’ ’ ’
s our th e nurs es milk and gar th e kin e j ump into river s

’
to b e out of earshot on t Wh at f al se knave did I b uy ’

.
, ,
th ee a fi n e n ew p saltery to b e minded 0 my latter en d ’
wi thal ? H ea r k en l thes e b e th e son gs that gla d th e heart ,

’
an d fi l l the minstrel s p urs e An d h e sun g s o blasphem ou s
’
a stave an d ek e so ob scene a s I drew away from h i m a

.
'
'
, ,
sp ace th at th e lightnin g mi ght n ot sp o il th e n ew p saltery .
However non e cam e b ein g winter an d then I said Master

, , , , ,
the Lord i s d eb onair Hel d I th e thunder yon rib a ldry .

,
had b een thy last thou foul m outhed wretch ,

-
.
’
"
Why B on B ec wh a t i s to do ? qu oth h e I h ave
'
, , .
made an ill b argain O h p erverse heart that turneth from

’
.
, ,
do ctrine S o I b ad e him k eep his b reat h to co ol his broth

.
,
n e er would I sh am e my fol k with singin g rib ald so ngs

’
.
Then says h e sulkily th e fi r s t fi r e we light b y th e way

,
’
side clap thou on th e mu sic b ox ! s o twill m ake our p ot

,
’
b oil f or the nonce ; b ut with your .
G ood p eopl e l et u s p ea k a n d pi n e
, ,
Cu t t r i s t fu l m u g s a n d m i a u l a n d w h i n e ,
Th or ou g h ou r n os en ch a u n t s d i v i n e
n ever n ever n ever
, Ye m ight as well g o throu g h L orrain e
, .
cryin g Mu ll ey gr u b s Mu l l ey gr u b s who 1 1 b uy my Mu l l ey l
, , ,
’
g r u b s l S o w e fared on h a d friends But I to ok a , .
thou ght and prayed h i m hum m e on e o f his n au ghty ditti es

'
,
'
a ga i n Th en he brightened and b rok e fo rth into rib al dr y

.
,
lik e a nightin gal e Finger in ears stuffed I .

i N o words ; .
n au ght but the b are m elo dy For oh Margaret note th e ’

.
, ,
s l y m al ice of the Evi l O n e ! Still t o th e scurviest matter

h e wedded the t u n a b l e s t ditties .
C a th er i n e That is tru e as Holy Writ . .
S y br a n d t How know you that , mother ?

.
C or n el i s He l he l h e l .
E li Whisht , y e unea sy wights , and l et m e hear th e

.
”
b oy . H e is wiser than y e ; wiser than his years .
’
What tomfo olery i s this , said b e ; yet h e yielded to
me , and soo n I garnered three of his melo dies ; b ut I woul d
n ot let Cul d e Jatte wot th e thing I m editated Show n ot .
fo ols nor b airns u n fi n i sh ed work , s aith th e b y w 0 1 d

’
And .
by this tim e twas night , and a littl e town at hand , wh ere we

’
went each to his inn ; for my master woul d no t yield to

put off his rags and oth er sores till mornin g ; nor I to enter
an inn with a tatterdemalion S o we were t o m eet on th e .
ro ad at p eep of day An d indeed we still lo d ged ap art .

, ,
m eeting at morn and p artin g at eve o utside each town ,
we lay a t An d waking at midnight and c o gitating go o d

.
, ,
thoughts cam e d own to m e an d su dd en my heart was e n ,
li g h tened I call ed to mind that my Margaret had with

.
’
sto o d th e taking o f th e burgomaster s purse Ti s theft .
,
’
said y ou ; disguise it how you will But I mu st b e wiser '

.
’
than my b etters ; and n ow tha t which I had a s go o d a s

stolen o thers had stol en from m e
, As it cam e so it was .
gone Then I said

. Heaven is not cru el bu t j u st ; and , ,
I vowed a vow t o rep ay our burgomaster ev ery shil ling a n ,

’
I could And I went forth in th e morning s a d b ut h op eful

.
, .
I felt lighter f or th e purs e b ein g gone My master wa s at .
th e gate b e cr u t ch e d I told h i m I d liever have seen him .

’
in another disguis e B eggars mu st not b e cho o s ers sai d .

,
’
he . However so o n h e b ad e m e untruss him f or h e felt

, ,
sa dly His hea d swam

. I told him fo rcefully to d eform .
Nature thu s could scarce b e whol esome H e answere d .
none ; b ut lo ok ed scared and han d on h ead B y and —b y , .

-
h e gave a gro an and roll ed on th e ground lik e a b all and , ,
writhed sore I wa s scared an d wist n ot wh at to do b ut

.
, ,
went t o lift him ; b ut h i s t r ou b l e ro se higher and high er

'
he gnash ed his teeth fearfully and th e fo am did fl y from ,
his lip s ; an d presently his b o dy b ended itself like a b ow

and j erk ed and b ounded m a n y t i m e s into th e air
,
I ex or .
c i s e d him ; it but m ade him worse There wa s water in .
a ditch hard b y no t very cl ear ; but t h e p o o r creature ,
stru ggling b etween life an d d eath I fi l l e d my hat withal , ,
and cam e nying to sou se him Then my l ord lau ghed in .
my face Com e B on B ee b y thy white gills I have n ot

.
, , ,
forgotten my trade I sto o d with watery hat in hand .

’
,
glarin g Could this b e feigning ?

. Wh at els e ? said h e .
Why a real fi t is th e so rri est t hing ; but a strok e with a

,
feather comp ared with m ine Art still b etters nature .

’
B ut lo ok e en now blo o d trickl eth from your no se said

.
’ ’
, ,
352 TH E CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
’
I . p rick ed my no str i l s with a straw
Ay , ay , But y e '
’
fo am e d at th e lip s Oh a littl e s o ap m akes a mickl e .
,
fo am An d h e drew ou t a m orsel lik e a b ean fro m his

.
’
m outh Th ank thy stars B o n B ec says h e fo r l ea din g

.
, ,
’
,
th ee to a worthy master E ach day his l esson T o m orrow . .

-
w e will s tu dy th e cul d e b o is an d o th er b ranch es T o day .

,
ow n m e p r i nce of d em o ni acs a nd ind eed o f al l go o d fellows

’
, .
Then b eing p u fi ed u p h e forgo t yesterday 5 g 1 ud ge and

, ,
’
disco urs ed m e freel y of b eggars ; a n d g a v e m e wh o eft ~
s oon s t hou ght a b eggar w a s a b eggar a nd th ere an e n d

th e n a mes an d qu al ities of full thirty sorts of masterful and
, ,
crafty m endicants in Fran ce an d G ermany and England ;

hi s three p rovinces ; for s o th e p oor p rou d knave V clep t ,
tho s e kingdom s three ; wh erein h i s thro ne it was th e sto ck s

I we en And outsid e th e n ext Villa ge on e had gon e to
.
’
di nner an d l eft his wh eelb arrow
, S o says h e, I ll ti e .
myself in a knot , an d shalt wheel m e throu gh ; and What ‘
wi th my crippledom an d thy p iety a wheelin g of thy p o or

'
-
, ,
’
ol d dad we l l bleed th e b umpkins o f a d acha saltee I did
’
-
.
, '
refus e I woul d work for him ; b ut no h and would have

.
”
in b egging An d wh eelin g an . ask er in a b a rrow i s ,
then flin g y on mu ckl e s t on e in

"
not that work ? s a id h e ;

’
to b o o t : stay I ll s oil it a b it and swear i t i s a chip of th e
'
, ,
h oly s ep ulchre ; an d y ou wheel e d u s b ot h jf r om Jeru sal em .

’
’
S aid I Whe eling a p air 0 lies on e stony on e fl es h y may
, , , ,
b e work and hard work b ut honest wo rk tis not

, Ti s ’ ’
master
.
,
fumb l ing with his ta il y ou wo t oi

'
And s a id I .
,
’
, ,
n ext tim e y ou g o to temp t m e to kn avery sp e a k not to m e

of m
,
’
y p o o r ol d dad S aid I You have mind ed m e of my .

,
re al father s face th e tru est m an in H oll an d

’
H e an d I
, .
are ill friend s n ow wo rs e lu ck But thou gh I off en d him , .
’
sham e him I n ever will D ear Margaret with thi s kn ave .
,
s ayin g your p o or ol d dad it h ad gon e to my h ear t like

, ,
’
’ ’
a kn i fe Ti s well said my m aster glo omily ;
. I have ,
’
m ade a b ad b argain Presently h e halts an d eyes a tre e .
,
b y th e wayside G o S p ell m e what i s writ On yon tree

’
‘
-
. .
S o I w e n t a n d there was nou ght but a l on g square drawn

, _
in outline I told him s o . S o mu ch for thy m onkish ,

.
'
lore qu o th h e A littl e farth er an d h e sent m e to rea d

,
’
.
,
a w al l There was nou ght bu t a circl e scratch ed 0 1 1 th e

.
stone with a p oint of n ail or knife and in th e circl e two ,
d ots I said s o Then s aid h e B on B ee that square wa s

. .
, ,
a warning S ome go o d Truand l eft i t that cam e t hrou gh

.
,
this Village faring west ; tha t m eans dan gerou s Th e .
circl e with th e two dots w a s writ b y anoth er of ou r b roth er

h o o d ; and it s i g n i fi es a s h ow th e writer soit Rollin Trapu , ,
so it Trib oulet s o it Catin Cul d e B ois or what not was

, , ,
b eck ed for a s k i ng here and lay two m onths in S t a r a b i n

’
, .
354 THE CL O I S T E R fl A N D T H E HEARTH
far in g R h i n ew ar d I with th e two arts I had l east p riz e d
.
or counte d on for b read wa s welcom e everywhere ; t oo p o or

now to fear robb ers yet abl e to k e ep b oth m aster an d man ,
on th e ro a d F or at night I oft en m ad e a p ortraiture of

.
the innke ep er or h i s dame a n d s o w ent rich er fro m an inn ; ,
th e whi ch it i s the l o t of few B ut my m aster d esp is ed thi s .

.
even way of life I l ove up s and downs said h e

. An d ,
’
.
cert e s h e lack ed them not O n e d ay h e woul d gather m ore .
than I in three ; anoth er to h ear hi s tal e it had rain ed ,

.
,
"
kicks all d ay in lieu of s a l t e es a n d that is Y et ,
.
even th en at h eart h e desp is ed m e for a p oor m echa ni cal s oul ,
and scorne d my arts extollin g hi s own t h e art of feigning , ,

'
.
N athel ess at od d tim es was h e ill at h i s e a s e

, Going .
throu gh th e town of A ix we cam e up on a b eggar w alking , ,
fast b y o n e h an d to a cart— ta i l a nd th e han gman a l ashin g ,
hi s b are bl oo dy b a ck H e s t ou t f k n a v e s o whipt di d no t
.
, , ,
a j ot rel ent ; b ut I di d win ce at every strok e ; an d my

m aster hun g his h ead .
’ ’
S oo n or late B on B e c qu oth h e S o o n or late
, , . .
I s eein g his haggar d face knew what h e m eaned An d at , .
’
a town who s e n am e hath slipp ed m e b ut twas o n a fair ,
river a s w e cam e to th e fo o t of th e b rid ge , h e hal ted an d

, ,
shu ddered Why what i s t h e c oil ? sai d I Oh b l in d

’
.
, . .
, ,
’
s aid h e th ey ar e j ustifyin g th er e
, S o n o ught woul d s erve .
h im b ut tak e a b o at a n d cro s s th e riv er b y water But

‘
, .
’
twa s ou t of th e t ryin g p an a s th e word For th e -
,
b o atm en h ad scar ce tol d u s th e m atter and that it wa s a ,
m an an d a woman for ste al ing glaz e d wi ndows ou t ? of

hou sen an d that the m an was hanged at d ayb reak and th e
, ,
'
qu ean to b e dro w n ed wh en l o l th ey di d fl i ng her off th e ,

~
'
b rid ge a n d fell in th e water n o t f ar fro m u s “ An d oh !

;
Margar et the deadly spl ash ! It r i n get h i n min e ear s even

,
now . B ut wors e wa s coming ; for thou gh ti ed s h e cam e , ,
u p a n d crie d
, Hel p ! h elp ! and I ff or g et t i n g all an d he ar , ,
;
i n g a w om a n s vo ice cry Help 1 wa s i or leap ing in t o save h e r ;

’ ‘ '
an d h a d su r ely don e i t b ut th e b o atm en and Cul d e Jatte

' '
“
clun g roun d m e an d in a m oment th e ,

'
that waite d i n a b o at cam e an d entangl ed h i s h ook e d p ol e

c
in her lon g ha ir and s o thru st h er d own an d ende d h e r

, .
Oh ! i t th e saints answered s o ou r crie s for h elp ! I A n d p o o r -
Cul d e J a t t e gro aned ; and I s a t sob bing and b eat my

'
, .
b reast and cried Oi wh at h ath Go d m ad e m en s heart s ?

, ,
’
The re ader stopp e d and th e tears trickl ed down h er , .
che eks G erard crying in Lorraine made her cry at Rotter

.
,
d am The l ea g ues were no more to her he a rt than th e

.
b rea dth of a ro om .
E l i so ftened b y m any tou che s in th e l etter a n d b y -t h e

, ,
‘
’
r eader s wom anly
graces s ai d kindly enou gh Tak e t h y , ,
tim e lass
, And m ethink s som e of y e might fi n d her a
.
creep ie to res t her fo ot and sh e s o near her own trouble , .
”
I d do more for h er than th at an I durst sai d Ca t he
’
,
”
rine. Here Cornelis and s h e held out her littl e wo o den
, ,
sto ol and that worthy who hated Margaret wors e than ever
, , ,
had t o take th e creep i e and p ut it carefully und er her fo ot .
”
Yo u are very kind dam e
'
s h e faltered I will , , .
’
rea d on ; tis all I can do for you in turn .
Thu s s eein g my m aster ashy an d sore shaken I d eem e d ,
thi s horribl e tragic act came timeou sly to warn him , s o I

strove sore to turn him from his ill ways dis coursin g of ,
sinners an d thei r lethal end T oo l ate ! said h e to o .

,
late ! an d gnashed his teeth Then I t ol d him t oo late .
was the d i vel l s favourite whisp er in rep entant ears S aid I

’
.
Th e Lor d i s d eb on a i r ,
Le t s i n n er s n ou g h t d e s pa i r .
’
T oo late ! said h e an d gnashed his tee t h an d wr ith ed, ,
h i s face , a s thou gh Vip ers were b iting his inward p arts .
But dear h eart his was a mind like running water

, , Ere .
we cleared the town h e was carollin g an d outsid e th e gate ,
hun g th e other culprit from the b ou gh of a little tree and , ,
scarce a yard ab ove th e ground An d that stayed my .
v a ga b on e s mu sic But ere we had gon e anoth er furlon g

’
.
,
he feign ed to have dropp ed hi s ro sary and ran b ack with , ,
no go o d intent as you shall hear I strolled on Very

, .
slowly an d often haltin g and presently h e cam e stump ing

, .
up on on e leg and that b andaged I ask ed him h ow h e

, .
coul d con t rive that for twas masterly done Oh th at

,
’
.
,
was his mystery Woul d I know that I mu st j oin th e

.
,
brotherho o d An d presently we did pa ss a narrow lane

.
’
,
’
a n d at th e mouth on t e spied a written sto ne tellin g b eggars ,
by a word lik e a wee p itchfork to g o that way Tis yon .

’
farmhou se said h e : b ide thou at hand

,
’
And h e went .
’
t o th e house and came b ack with m oney fo o d and wine

, , , .
’
This la d did the b u siness said h e slapp in g his one le g , ,
proudly Th en h e undi d th e b anda ge and with p rideful

.
,
face showed m e a hol e in his calf you coul d have put your
n ee t i n Had I b een stran ge to hi s t rick s h ere was a leg
.
,
had drawn my last p enny Presently another farmho u se .
by the ro ad H e mad e f or i t I sto o d and a sked myself

. .
, ,
should I run away and leave him not to b e sham ed in my ,
own d espite by him ? But whil e I doubted there was a ,
great noise and my m aster well cu d gelled by the farmer

,
and his men cam e toward s m e hobbling and holloaing for

, ,
the p easants had laid on heartily But more troubl e wa s .
at his heels S om e mischi evou s wight lo o sed a d o g a s bi g

.
as a j ackass colt and cam e roarin g after him and down e d

, ,
356 TH E C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
’
him m om ently I d eeming the p o or ro gu e s death cert ai n
.
, ,
and him l east fi t to die drew my sword and ran shouting , .
But ere I coul d com e near th e mu ckl e do g had torn away ,
his b ad le g and ran growlin g to his l ai r with i t ; and Cul

,
d e Jatte slipp e d hi s knot an d cam e runnin g like a lapwin g , ,
with hi s hair on end an d s o str i kin g with b o th crutches ,
b efore an d b ehin d at unre al do gs a s twas lik e a windmill ’
crazed H e fl ed ado wn th e ro ad
. I followed leisurely an d .
,
found him at dinn er Curs e th e q u i en s said h e And .

,
’
.
n ot a word al l dinn er tim e b ut Curse th e qu i en s l

'
I said I mu st know who th ey were b efore I woul d

, ,
curse them .
Q u i en s ? why that w a s do gs An d I knew not even

, .
‘
th at mu ch ? H e had m ad e a b ad b ar gain Well we l l .
, ,
said h e to morrow we shal l b e in Germany

,
-
There the .
folks are mu sic b itten and the y mol est not b eggars unl es s , ,
th ey t ake to b o ot and then th ey drown u s out of hand,
th at m om ent curs e em l , We cam e to Strasb o urg ’

An d .
I l o ok e d d own Rhine with l on gin g heart Th e stream how .
swift ! It seem ed running to clip S evenb ergen to i t s soft

b o som With b ut a pi ece of timb er and an oar I might
.
dr ift at my ease to thee sl e eping y et glidin g still Twas , .

’
a sore temptation But the fear of an ill wel com e from my

.
’
folk an d of th e neighb ours sn eers and th e hop e of comin g
, ,
b ack to the e Victoriou s n ot a s now I mu st defeated and , , ,
sham ed and th ee with m e it did withhol d m e ; an d s o

, , ,
with m any sighs an d often tu rnin g of the head to lo ok on

,
b eloved Rhine I turne d sorro wful face and h eavy heart

,
”
towar ds Au gsburg .
Alas dam e a l a s l Go o d master Eli forgive m e ! But

, , ,
I ne er can win o ver this p art al l at on e time

’
It tak eth .
my b reath away Well a day i W h y did h e no t listen

.
- -
to his heart ? Had h e n ot gon e throu g h p eril enow sorrow ,
enow ? Well a day ! well a — -

day l
- -
Th e l etter dropp ed from her hand and sh e dro op ed lik e ,
a woun de d lily .
Then there was a cl atter o n the fl o or and it wa s littl e ,
Kate goin g on h er crutch es with flushe d face an d eye s , ,

”
full of p ity to co nsol e her
, Water m other s h e crie d .
, ,
I a m afeard sh e shall swo on .
”
Nay nay fear m e not said Margaret fe ebly
, , I will ,
no t b e s o troubl esom e Thy go o d will it m aketh m e stouter .

-
h earted sweet mistres s K ate

, F or if thou carest h ow I .
,
”
fare sure Heaven is n ot a gainst m e
, .
C a th er i n e D ye h ear that my man ? ’ ‘

.
,
E li . A y wife I h ear ; and mark to b o ot

, , .
L ittle Kate went b ack to her place and Margaret read ,

’
decent ; twill h elp m e forget what thou art
’
An d h e did .
'
an d w e sat down to our n on em et e P resentl y came

‘
so ; .
b y a reverend p almer with h a t stu ck round with co ckl e sh ells

from Holy Land an d great ro sary of b ea ds lik e e ggs of teal
, ,
an d sandal s fo r sho es An d h e l eane d aweary on his lon g .
staff an d o f fered u s a sh ell ap iece

,
My m a s t er woul d non e . .
B ut I to s et him a b etter example ; to ok on e , an d f or it

,
gave th e p o or pil grim two b atz en and h ad h i s bl essi ng ,

.
An d h e wa s scarce gone wh en we h eard sava ge cr i es an d , ,
cam e a sorry sight on e l ea di n g a wil d wom an i n a ch ain, ,
all rags an d h owlin g lik e a wolf An d when they cam e nigh .
'
u s s h e fell to t earin g her rags to threa ds

,
The m an sou ght .
T w a s hi s wife
’
an alm s of u s and tol d u s his hard case , .
o
stark ravin g ma d ; an d h e coul d no t wo rk in the fi el ds

an d l e a ve h er in his h ou s e to fi r e i t nor cure h er coul d h e ,
with out the S a i n t y s h elp an d h a d vowed s i x p ou n ds of ’

,
w ax to S t Anth ony to he al her an d so w a s fain b e g of

.
,
ch aritable fol k for th e m on ey An d now s h e esp ied u s .

,
and fl ew at m e with h er l on g na ils and I was cold with ,
fear s o d ev i lish showe d h er face an d rollin g eyes an d

,
na i l s lik e b i r d y s tal ons B ut he with th e chain checke d her .
sudd en an d with his whip did cru e lly l ash h er f or i t tha t

, ,
I cried F or b ea r l f or b ea r l
,
S he knoweth not what sh e -
d oth ; an d gave him a b atz An d b ein g gone sai d I .

, ,
‘
Master of tho s e twain I know no t which is th e m ore
p itiable An d h e lau gh ed in my fac e B ehol d thy j u stice
. .
,
B on B e c said h e ,Thou r a i l e s t o n thy p o or g oo d w i t h i n i

’
.
, ,
”
a n ace oi hone st m aster and b es t ow e s t al ms on a
- - -
V 0 p p er, .
I what i s a V 0 p p er ? , Why a trull that ,
fei gn s m a dness That wa s on e of u s th at sham m aniac

.
, ,
an d wow b ut s h e did it clum sily I blush ed for her an d .
the e Al so gavest two b atz en for a she l l from H ol y La nd

.
. ,
t h at cam e n o farther than N orm an dy I have cull ed them .
myself o n that co ast by sco res an d sol d them to p il grim s

'
t”ru e and p i lgrim s fals e t o g ul l fl at s like the e w i t h a l

’
a
,
, .
‘
Wh at ! said I ; that reveren d m an ? ‘
On e oi us !
cried Cul de Jatte ; on e of u s ! In France we call the m ‘
.
Co qu i llarts ; b ut h ere Ca l m i er er s R a il es t on m e f or .
sellin g a fal se relic no w an d then an d wa s t est thy e arnin gs ,
on su ch a s sell nou ght el se I tell th ee B on B e c s a i d h e . .

, ,
’
'
,
there i s no t one tru e relic o n ear th s face : Th e S aint s ’
di ed a thou sa nd year s a gon e and th e i r b o ne s mixe d wi t h ,
th e du st ; b u t th e trad e in relics it is of y esterday ; and ,
th ere are fo rt y thou s an d tramp s in Europ e live b y i t :

.
.
s ellin g relies of forty o r fi f t y b o dies ; oh threa db ar e lie !

.
,
And of the tru e Cro ss e now to buil d Col o gn e Minster W h y .

,
th en m ay no t p o o r Cul d e Jatte turn his p enny with the

,
cro wd ? Art b ut a scurvy tyrannical servant to let thy

THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH - -
359
p o or master from h i s share of the swag with your whoreson

p il grims p almers and friars bl ack grey and crutched ;
, , , ,
for all thes e are of our brotherho od and of ou r a r t o nly , ,
masters they an d we b ut p o or a pp r entices in guil d, F or , .

’
h i s tongu e was an ell and a half .
’
A truce to thy irreverend sophistries said I an d ,
say what comp any is this a comin g B ohemians cried .

’
he . Ay ay this shall b e th e rest of the b and

, _ , With .
’
that came alon g s o motley a crew a s n ever yo ur eye s b e

held dear Margaret
,
March e d at th eir h ead on e with a .
b anner on a steel p o inte d l ance and girde d with a gr eat -

,
long swor d and in velvet doubl et and leathern j erkin the

'
, ,
which stull s ne er s a w I wed de d afore on m ortal fl esh a n d

’
,
a gay feath er in h i s lordly cap an d a coupl e of dead fowl s ,
at his b ack th e which an the sp ark had com e by ho nestly

, , ,
I a m mu ch misto ok
,
Him followed wives an d b ab e s on .
two lean horses who s e fl ank s still rattl ed lik e p archmen t ,
drum b eing b eaten by k ettles and caldron s

,
N ext an .
a r m e d m a n a ridin g of a hors e which drew a cart full of

-
,
females and children ; and in i t sittin g b ackw a rds a lusty , ,
lazy knave lance in hand with hi s luxuriou s feet raise d

, ,
on a holy wa t er p ail that lay a l on g an d th erein a cat n ew -

, , ,
kittened s a t glowin g o er her b ro o d and sp ark s fo r eyes

,
’
, .
An d th e cart hors e cavalier had on his shoulders a roun d -
bundle and th ereon did p erch a co ck an d crowed with z eal

,
.
p o or r u ll l er p rou d of his b rave feathers a s th e rest and

, ,
haply with more reason b eing his own And on an ass , .
another wife and n ew b orn ch i ld ; an d on e p o or quean -
a fo o t scarce dra gged herself al on g

-
s o n ear her tim e was ,
she yet hel d two littl e o nes b y th e hand an d h elpl essly

, ,
help ed them on th e ro ad And th e littl e folk were j u st a .
’
farce ; som e ro de sticks with hors es heads b etween their , , ,
legs which pran ce d an d caracol ed an d so on we a ried th e

, ,
riders s o sore they sto o d sto ck still and wept which cava
'
, ,
li ers were presently taken into cart and cu f fed And on e .

,
more grave lo st in a man s hat a n d feather walke d in

,
’
E gy ptian darkness handed b y a girl ; anoth er had the great ,
saucep an on his b ack and a trem endou s thre e —fo ote d clay ,
p o t s a t on h i s head and shoulders swallowing him s o a s he ,
t oo went darkling led by his sweeth eart thre e fo ot high .
When they were gone b y and we had b oth l au gh ed lustily , ,
said I Natheless master my b oWel s they yearn for on e

, , ,
of that tawdry b and even f or th e p o or wife s o n ear the ,
d own lying scarce able t o dra g hers elf yet still p o or soul
-
, , , ,
’
helping the weaker on the way .
C a th e
r i ne . Nay nay Margaret Wh y , , .
, wench pluck ,
”
up heart . Ce r t es thou art no B ohemian .
’
K a le N ay m oth er tis not th at I tro w b ut h er
.
, , , ,
father And d ear heart why tak e notice to p ut h er to

.
, ,
the blush ?
R i ch a r t S o I say. .
”
An d h e derided m e Why that is a b il t r e g e r .
,
' ‘
,
’
s aid h e an d you waste your b owel s on a p i llow or so forth
, , .
’
I tol d him he lied Tim e woul d show sai d h e wait til l
.
, ,
th ey camp An d risin g a fter m eat an d m editation a n d

.
’
,
travell in g forward we found them cam p ed b etween two ,
great trees o n a common b y th e wayside ; and th ey had

lighte d a great h t e an d on it w a s their c al dro n ; and on e
,
of th e trees slan ting o er the fi r e a ki d hun g down b y a ’
chain from th e tree fo rk to th e h r e and i n th e fork wa s -

,
~
wed ged an urchin turnin g st i ll th e chain to eep t h e m eat
k
from burning and a gay sp ark with a feather in his cap
, ,
cut up a sh e ep ; an d another h ad sp itted a le g of it on a

’
wo o den stak e ; an d a woman ended chanticl eer s pride with
w ringin g of his n eck And u nder the other tree four ruffl ers
.
pl ayed at card s and qu arrell ed an d no word san s o ath ; ,
and o f thes e l ewd gambl ers o ne had co ckles in hi s hat and

was my reverend p il grim An d a female youn g and .
,
comely an d dresse d l i ke a b u t t er fly s a t and mende d a

, ,
heap of dirty ra gs And Cul d e Jatte s ai d Yo n i s th e

.
'
,
-
_
”
V 0 p p er and I lo oked incredulou s an d lo oke d again
, ,
and it was s o an d at her feet s a t h e th at had s o late lashed

,
h er ; b ut I ween h e had wist wh ere to strik e or wo e b etid e ,
him ; and s h e did n ow opp ress him sore and made h i m ,
thread her very n eedl e th e which h e did with al l humility ; ,
s o wa s th eir com edy tu rn ed s eamy side without ; and Cul

’
d e Jatte tol d m e twas stil l s o with Vopp ers an d their
men in camp ; th ey woul d don th eir b ravery thou gh b ut
f or an hour an d with th eir tins el emp ire an d the man
, , ,
’
du rst no t th e l east gainsay th e V 0 p p er o r sh e woul d turn ,
him off at thes e times a s I m y master and tak e another , ,
tyrant more sub missive And my master chu ckl ed over .
me . Nathel ess we so on esp ie d a wife s et with her ba ck

agai nst th e t ree an d her hair down an d her face white an d
, , ,
b y h er sid e a wench h el d up to her eye a n ew b orn b ab e -

,
wit h word s of ch eer and th e rou gh fell ow her husb an d , , ,
did b ring h er h ot win e in a cup and b ad e h er ta k e cou r age , .
An d j u st 0 er t h e place s h e s a t they h ad p inned from

’
b ou gh to b ou gh of tho se neighb ourin g trees two shawls ,
and blank ets two to gether to keep th e drizzl e off h er

, , .
And s o had another p o or littl e ro gu e co me into the wo rld ;

an d b y h er own p articul ar folk tended gi p s y w i s e but 0 1 ,
th e ro asters an d b oil e rs and Vopp ers an d gamblers no

, , , ,
more noticed no not for a sin gl e moment th a n sheep

, , ,
CL O I S I E R AND THE HEARTH
’ ‘
3 62 TH E I
"
'
tell m e h i s ad ventur e S aid h e I sat ou t s i d e t h e g a t e of ‘ '
.
,
o m onastery full of s o r es ? w h i ch I showed th e p assers

y u , ,
by . Oh B o n B e c b eautif uller sore s you n ever s a w ; and

, ,
it rained cop p ers in my h at Presently th e m onk s cam e .
hom e from s om e p ro ce ssion an d th e co nvent do gs ran out ,
to meet th em curs e th e qu i en s l What did th ey fal l on

,
‘
the e an d b ite th ee p o or s o ul ? Worse worse dear B o n , , ,
B ee .H ad th ey b itten m e I had e arn ed silver But th e .
great idiots b ein g a s I th i nk pupp ies or li ttl e b etter fell

, , , , ,
on m e wh ere I s a t do wn e d m e an d fell a li ck i n g my sores , ,
am o n g th em A s thou f al s e kn ave di dst swe a r th e wh elp s

.
, ,
’
in h eaven li ck e d th e sore s oi -L az yb on es a b e ggar ot ol d ,
.
Nay nay said

, I I s ai d n o su ch thin g
,
’
But tell m ,e .
,
si nce th ey h i t th e e not b ut sp ortfully licke d th ee what

.
, ,
h arm ? Wh at har m n o o dl e ; why th e sore s cam e off

‘
, ,
.
How coul d th at b e ? How c o ul d a u gh t el s e b e ? an d ‘
them j u st fresh pu t on D i d I th ink be wa s s o we ak a s .

'
b it e holes in his fl es h with ratsb an e ? N ay h e was an ,
ar tist a p ainter l ik e hi s s ervant a n d h a d p ut o n s ores m ad e

, ,
of pi gs blo o d ry e m eal an d glu e S o when th e folk s a w

’ "
.
, ,
my s ores g o on ton gu es of p upp ies th ey lau gh ed , and I ,
s a w cord or sa ck b efore m e 8 6 up I j ump e d an d sh ou ted

-
.
, ,
A miracl e ! a m i racl e ! Th e very do gs of thi s h oly eon

v en t b e holy and have cu re d m e
'
Go o d fath ers
, cri ed I .
, ,
“
who s e day i s thi s ? St Isid ore s sai d one w f S t ; .
’
, .
‘
-
Isi d ore ”
crie d I in a So rt of rap ture
, W h y S t I sid ore
, .
, .
i s my p atron s aint : s o that accounts And th e simpl e .
folk swall ow ed my miracl e as tho s e accurs e d qu i en s my

But th e m o nk s to ok m e insid e an d shu t th e gate
’
wounds .
,
and p ut their h eads to ge th er ; bu t I have a qu ick ear an d

Caret miracul o mon asterium whi ch i s Greek
,
o n e did say , ,
p atter l ea s tway s it is n o b e ggar s cant

, Final l y th ey b ad e ’
.
th e lay b rethren gi ve m e a hidi n g an d ta k e m e out a b ack ,
w a y an d put m e on th e ro ad an d thre atene d me di d I com e ,
b ack to the town to h and m e to th e m a gistrat e a n d h ave

-
m e d ro wn ed for a pl ai n i m p os t b r Pr ofi t n ow b y th e .
”
a nd mend thy way s
’
Church s g race Sai d th ey , So , .
fo rw ard B o n Be c f or my l ife i s not sure n i gh han d this

, ,
town As We went h e worked h i s sho ulders

.
’
Wo w b ut ,
A n d what m e an s yo n p iece of m onk s

’
th e breth r en lai d on .
'
’
cant I wonder ?
, S o ) I tol d h im th e words m eant th e
monast ery i s i n want of a miracl e b u t t h e a pp l i c a t i on ,
’ ‘
thereof was d ark to m e D ark crie d h e dark a s n oon .

,
’
, .
W h y it m eans th ey ar e going to work th e mir acle m y

, ,
‘
miracl e an d gather al l th e grain I sowed

, Therefore thes e .
blows on the i r b en efacto r s s houlders ; therefo re i s he th at ’
wrou ght their scurvy miracl e driven fo rth with strip es an d

’
thr eats Oh coz enin g kn a ve s ! S ai d I , B eco1 n es y o u t o
.
,
‘
.
THE CLO ISTER AND THE HEARTH 3 63
’ ’
complain of guil e Alas B o n B ec said h e I b ut out
.
, , ,
wit th e simpl e but the s e mo nks would pluck Lu cifer o f his

,
’
wing feathers An d went a l eagu e b emo aning hims elf
.
tha t he was not co nvent b red l i k e his servant H e would -
put it to more p r ofi t ; an d railin g on q u i en s An d as for .
tho se mo nks there was on e Ab ove , Certes said I .

’
,
’
,
th ere i s on e Ab ove What then ? Who w ill call tho s e .
shavelin gs to compt one day quoth h e And a l l d eceitful , ,

’
.
m en
’
, said I A t on e that afterno on I got armo ries to
.
p aint : so my m aster to ok t h e yellow j aundice an d went

b e gging throu gh the town an d with his o ily ton g ue an d , ,
s a fi r on water face-
d i d fi l l his hat N ow in all th e town s , .
are certain l icensed b eggars and on e of thes e was an ol d ,
favourite with the townsfolk : h a d his station at S t Martin s .

’
p orch : th e greatest church : a blind man : they called him

blind Hans H e s a w my master drawing C Op p eI S on the
.
‘
o ther side the street and knew him by his tricks for an ,
imp o stor so s ent and warned th e constabl es and I m et

, ,
my master in th e constabl es hands and go ing t o hi s trial ’
in the town hall I followed and many m ore ; and h e was .
none ab ash ed neither by th e p omp of j ustice n or m emo r y

, ,
.
of his misd eeds but demanded his accu ser like a trump et , . .
’
An d blin d Han s b oy cam e forward b ut wa s sifted narrowly ,
by my master and stammered an d faltered a n d own e d h e

, ,
.
had seen nothing but only carri ed blin d Hans s tal e to th e ,

’
’
chief constabl e This is but hearsay said my m aster .
, .
Lo y e now here standeth Misfortune b ackb it by Envy

, .
But stand thou forth blind Envy and vent thine own lie , , .
’
And blind Hans b ehove d to stand forth sore a gainst his ,
,will. Him did my master s o press with questions and so ,
p inch and torture asking him a gain and a gain h ow b ein g , , ,
blind he coul d see all th at b e t el ] and som e that b efell

, ,
n ot acro ss a way ; and why an h e coul d no t s ee h e cam e ,
there holding up his p erj ured hand an d m aligning the

, ,
misfortunate that at last he gro an ed al ou d and would utter

,
n o word more And an ald erman said In so oth Hans

.
, , ,
y e are to blame ; hast cast more dirt of suspicion on thyself

than on him But th e burgomaster a wondrou s fat man
.
’
, ,
and m ethinks of his fat some had gotten i n to his head ,
checke d him and said N ay Hans we know this many

, , ,
y ears and b e he blind or not h e hath p ass ed for blind s o

, ,
l ong tis all on e B ack to thy p orch go o d Hans an d let

,
’
.
, ,
the strange varlet leav e t h e town incontinent on p ain of

whipping Then my master winked to m e ; b ut th ere ro s e
.
’
a civi c o ffi cer in his gown of state and gol den chain a D ign ity ,
with u s lightly prized and even shunne d of some but in , ,
Germany and France much courted save by condemned ,
m al efactors to wit the h angm an ; and says h e An t please

’
, ,
’
you fi r s t let u s s ee why h e weareth h i s hair s o thick and l ow
,
.
And his m an went an d lifted Cul d e Jatte s hair and low ’
, ,
th e upp er gr istl e of b oth e ars was go ne How is this .

,
knave ? qu oth the b urgomaster My master s ai d care .
lessly h e minded no t precisely : his had b een a li fe of m i s

,
fortun e and lo sses Wh en a p oor so ul h a s l o st the u s e

.
of his le g nobl e s irs th es e more trivial wo e s rest lightly in

, ,
hi s m emory Wh en h e found this would not serve h i s

.
’
turn h e nam e d two famou s b attl es in each of which h e had

, ,
l o st half an ear a fi gh t i n g l ike a tru e m an a gai nst trai tors

,
and reb el s But th e han gm an showed them the two cuts

.
T i s no
’
w ere mad e at on e tim e an d by m easurement , .
’ ’
b unglin g soldier s work my m asters said h e ’
tis ourn , , ,
.
Then th e b urgomaster gave j udgment : The present charg e

is not proven a ga inst thee ; but an thou b eest not gu ilty ,
now thou hast b een at o ther times witnes s th ine ears

, ,
.
Wh erefore I s end th ee to priso n for on e mo nth and to ,
gi ve a florin toward s th e new hall of th e g uilds now a

b u i lding an d to b e whipt ou t of th e town and p ay th e hang
, ,
m an s fee for th e sam e

’
An d all th e aldermen approved .
’
,
an d my m aster was h al ed to prison with one lo ok of a n guish .
It di d strik e my b o som I tried to get sp eech of him b ut .

,
the j ailer d enied m e But lingerin g near th e j a i l I heard .
a whistl e and th ere was Cul d e Jatte at a narrow window

,
twenty feet from earth I went under an d h e a sk ed m e .

,
what m ade I th ere ? I told him I wa s l o ath to g o fo rward

a n d n ot b id him farewell H e seem ed quite amazed ; b ut
'
so on h i s su sp icious soul got the b etter That wa s not all .
min e errand I tol d him not all : the p s al tery :

. Well ‘
what of that ? T w a s not mine b ut his ; I woul d p ay him

’
,
th e price of i t Then throw m e a rix doll ar said h e

. I ,
’
.
counte d out my co ins and th ey cam e to a r i x dollar an d ,
two b atzen I threw h i m u p his m oney in thre e throws

.
,
and wh en h e ha d go t it all h e said softly B on B ec , , .

’
Master said I , Th en th e p o o r ro gu e w a s greatly m ove d

’
. .
’
I thou ght y e ha d b een m o ckin g m e said h e ; oh B on , ,
B ee B on B ee if I h ad found th e worl d l i k e the e at startin g

, ,
I had put my wit to b etter u se an d I had no t lain h ere , .

’
Then h e wh imp ere d ou t I gave not quite a r i x doll ar for ,
th e j in gler ; and threw m e b ack th at h e had gon e to cheat

m e oi ; honest fo r once and o ver late ; an d s o wi th m any , ,
sighs b ad e m e Go dsp eed

, Thu s di d my m aster after .
often b a f flin g m en s j ustice f al l by the i r in j u sti ce ; f or h i s

,
’
l o st ears prove d n ot his gu ilt only b ut o f that g uilt th e ,
b it t er punishment : s o th e account was even ; yet th ey

for his ch a stisement did chastise him Nath eless h e wa s .
a p a rlou s ro gu e Yet h e holp to mak e a m an of m e Thank s

. .
to his go o d wit I went forward richer far With my p saltery

3 66 THE C L O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH
sai d S y b r a n d t ou t of a V ery b i g on e an d there ensconce d ,
him self gorgeou s an d glowing S y b r a n d t had to wed ge .
h i m self into th e o ne which was t oo small for the m a gn ifi

,
cent dwarf s soul and M argaret resum ed

’
, But as this p art .
oi the l etter was o ccup ie d with notices of places al l whi ch

.
,
my reader p rob ably knows an d i f not can fi n d h an dl ed , ,
at l arge in a do z en well known b o oks from Munster to -

,
Murray I skip th e top o graphy and hasten to that p ar t wh ere

, ,
it o ccurred to him to throw his letter into a j ourn a l Th e .
p erso n a l n arrative that intervene d m ay b e thu s con densed .
H e sp ok e b ut littl e at fi r s t to his new comp anions b ut ,
listene d to p ick up their characters N either his noble .
S ervant no r h i s s ervants coul d rea d or write ; and as he

often m ad e entries in his tabl ets b e impresse d them with ,
som e awe O ne of his entries was

. L e p eu qu e sont l e s ,
”
homm es For h e foun d th e surly innke ep ers l ick e d th e
. _
very groun d b efore him n ow ; n or did a s o ul su sp ect th e

ho sier s so n in the count s feathers nor th e count in the
’ ’
,
’
m i nstrel s weeds _
.
This s eem s to h ave surp ris ed him ; f or h e enlarge d on

it with th e nai vet e an d p omp o sity of youth A t on e place .
,
b ein g humbly requ ested to p resent th e inn with his arm orial
b ear ings h e consente d loftil y ; b ut p ai n te d th em h i mse l f
, ,
to mine ho st s wonder who thou ght h e lowere d hi mself b y

’
handl in g brush Th e tru e count sto o d grinning b y an d

.
,
—
hel d the p aint p ot whi l e th e sham count p ai nte d th e shi el d
,
with th re e re d herrings ramp ant un der a sort of M al tes e

cros s m ade with two ell —m easures A t fi r s t his p leb eian .
s erv a nts wer e insolent But th is comin g to th e notice .
of his nobl e on e h e fo rgot what h e was doing p enance f or

, ,
and d rew h i s sword to cut off th eir ears heads inclu ded , .
But Gerar d interp o s ed and save d them an d rebuke d the ,
count s everely And fi n a ll y th ey al l understo o d o n e

.
another and the s u p er i or mind o b tai n e d its n atur al i nfl u en c e

, .
H e played the b ar b a rou s nobl e of th at day vil ely F or h i s .
heart would not l et him b e either tyrannical or cold Here .
wer e thre e hum an b ein gs H e tried to mak e them a ll .
happ ier than h e w a s ; h el d them ravish ed with stories and

songs an d s et Herr P enitent and Co dancin g with his
’
, .
whi stl e an d p saltery For h i s own co nvenience h e made

.
th em rid e an d tie an d thu s pu sh ed rap idly thr ough th e

,
country trave l l in g gen erally fi f t een leagu es a d ay

, .
DI AR Y .
Th is fi r s t of J anuary I o b served a youn g m an of th e

country to meet a strange maiden and kisse d h i s hand , ,
and then hel d it o ut t o her She to ok i t with a smil e and ,
10 1 21 0 u c m ade ; a n d b ab ble d li ke ol d fr i e n ds .
T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 3 67
Greeting so p retty and d elicate I n e er did s e e Yet were ’

.
they b oth of th e b aser sort S o th e n ext la ss I saw a .
comi n g ,
I said to my servant lord For furth er p enance ,
b ow thy p ride o m eet yon b ase —b orn girl ; kiss thy

,
; g
h omi ci d al hand an d give it her and hol d her in discours e , ,
as b est y e m ay An d my noble S ervant said humbly .

’
,
’
I shall ob ey my lord And we drew rein and watch e d .
while h e w ent forward kissed his han d and h eld it out to ,
her . Forthw ith s h e to ok i t smilin g an d wa s m o st a f fabl e '
with him an d h e with h er ; Presently cam e up a b an d of

,
h er comp anions S o thi s tim e I b ad e him d oh hi s b onnet

.
to t hem a s thou gh th ey were emp ress es ; and h e did s e

,
.
An d 1 0 ! th e lasses drew up as sti ff a s h e d g es t a k es and

‘
,
”
m oved not no r sp ak e .
“
D en y s Aie l aie l aie l Pardon th e comp any
.
, .
This surp rised m e n one ; f or s o th ey did di scountenance

p o or D enys And th at whol e day I wore in exp erimentin g
’
these German l asses ; and twas still th e sam e A n y e d o lt

’
.
b onnet t o them they s tiff en into statu es ; distance fo r

distance . But acco st th em with ho nest f reedom an d with
‘
,
that cu stoma ry and thou gh ru stical mo st gra ciou s p ro ffer , , ,
o f the kissed hand and th ey withhol d neither their hand s ,
in turn nor their acquaintance in ; a n h on es t way

-
S eein g '
which I vexed myself that D enys w a s not with u s to p rattl e

”
with th em ; h e i s so fond of women Are y ou fon d .
of wom en D enys ? , And th e reader op ene d two great

Viole t eyes u p on him with gentle surpri se .
“ —
D en y s A em l h e says s e
b .
1
s h e comrad e B y Hanni , .
bal s helmet tis their fault not m ine

’
,
’
Th ey w i l l h ave su ch , .
soft voices and white skins and sunny h air and dark blue
‘
-
, , ,
eyes and
'
lt I a r g a r et ( Readin g su ddenly ) . Which th eir a ff ab ility ’

.
I put to p r ofi t t h us I a s k e d t h em how they m ad e shift .

'
t o grow ro ses in yul e ? F or k n ow d ear Margaret that

'
, ,
throu ghout Germany the b aser sort of lasses wear f or head ,
d res s nou ght b u t a crantz or wreath of ro ses encircl ing ’
, ,
their b are hair a s laurel C aesar s ; and thou gh of th e worship

,
’
f n l scorne d y e t is braver I wist to your eye an d min e

, , ,
wh ich p ainters b e thou gh sorry ones than the gorgeou s , , ,
uncouth mechanical head —gear of th e time and adorns

, , ,
not hides her hair that go o d ly ornament fi t t e d to h er head ,
by craf t divine S o th e go o d lasses b eing qu estioned clo se

.
, ,
d i d let m e know the ro sebu d s are cut in summ er and laid ,
then in great clay p ots thu s or d er e d z — fi rst b ay salt then -

, ,
a r ow of b i l d s an d over that row b ay salt sprinkle d ; then

, ,
ano t her row of bud s placed cro sswise ; for th ey s a y it i s

dea th to th e bud s to tou ch on e a nother ; and so on b u d s ,
and salt in layers Then each p ot i s covere d and soldere d .

3 68 THE CLO I S T E R AND THE HEARTH u
'
tight an d kep t in co ol cellar

,
An d o n S aturday n ight the .
m aster of the hous e or mistres s if master b e n on e O p en s

, , ,
a p ot an d d o l e s the ro sebu d s ou t to every femal e in t h e

,
hou se h igh or l ow withouten gru d ge ; then sol ders i t u p

, ,
a gain An d su ch a s of th es e b u d s would full blown ro se s

.
-
m ak e p ut them i n warm water a l ittl e sp ac e or el se in th e

, ,
stove an d then with tiny b ru sh and soft wetted in Rh enish

, ,
win e do co ax th em t il l t h ey op e the i r folds

, , An d som e .
p erfum e them with ro s e water F or al ack the i r sm ell it

-
.
, ,
i s fl e d with th e summ er ; and o nl y their fair b od y e s li e

wi thouten s o u l in tomb of cl ay awaitin g resurrection
, ,
.
An d som e wi th th e ro se s an d b u ds m i x n u t m e g s gil de d
b ut not b y my go o d wi ll for gold b rave in itself cheek , ,
b y j owl with ro se s i s b ut yell ow e a rth , And it do es th e .
eye s h ear t go o d to s ee th e s e fair h eads of hair com e blo om

’
,
in g with ro ses o ver sno wy ro ads a n d b y snow cap t h edges

, ,
-
,
F or
’ ’
s etting wi nter s b eauty b y th e sid e of summer s glory .
wh at s o fair a s wi nter s l ili e s snow yclep t a nd what s o ’

, ,
brave a s ro s es ? An d S h oul dst have had a p icture h ere ,
b ut for th eir s up erstitio n L e an ed a l ass i n Sunday g a rb. ,
cro ss ankl ed agai nst her cotta ge corn er who se l ow ro o f

, ,
was snow —cl ad an d with her crantz did seem a summer

,
fl ower sp rou ti n g fr om wi nter s b o som I drew r ei n a n d ’

.
,
‘
ou t p encil and bru sh to l i mn h er fo r th ee But the s i mpl e .
t on fear i n g th e evil eye or gl am our clap s b oth han ds to

, , ,
h er face and fl i e s p ani c stricken But ind e ed they ar e-

.
,
n ot m ore su perstitiou s th an th e S eve n b ergen folk which ,
tak e thy father for a ma g icia n Yet softly sith at thi s .

,
m om ent I p r ofi t by this darkn ess of the ir m in d s ; fo r at ,
fi r s t sittin g down to wr ite this di ary I coul d fram e nor

, ,
thou ght nor word so harried and d eaved w a s I with no ise

,
of m e chanical p ers ons an d ho ars e lau ghter at dull j ests

,
of o n e of thes e p arti coloured fo ol s which are s o r i fe ‘ ’

-
,
in Germ any .But oh sorry wit that i s dr ive n to th e , ,
p o or re source of p o inted ear cap s an d a green an d yellow -

,
b o dy Tru e wit m ethinks i s of th e mind

.
, We m et i n , .
Burgun dy an h onest wench thou gh over free for my p al at e , ,
a chamb ermai d had m ade havo c of all th es e z anie s droll

, ,
b y brute force Oh D i gr e s s or l Well th en I to b e rid

.
, ,
of ro arin g r u s t i c a ll s a n d m in dl ess j ests p ut my fi n g er in a

, ,
gl ass a n d d rew on the tabl e a great watery circl e ; wh ereat

th e r u s t i ca l l s did lo ok a skan t lik e veniso n at a cat ; an d in ,
that c i rcl e a sm aller c i rcl e Th e r u s t i c al l s h el d the ir p ea ce ;

.
a n d b esides thes e circles cab alistical I laid down on th e ,
tabl e s olemnly yon p a rchm ent d eed I h ad out of you r

h ou se Th e r u s t i c al l s hel d the i r breath
. Th en did I lo ok .
a s glum a s m ight b e an d muttered slowly thu s V i d ea m u s

—
,
r
—
qu am diu tu fi ct u s morio vos qu e veri s t u l t i a u d eb i t i s —
3 70 T H E C LO I S T E R
=
A ND THE HEARTH
an d h e that sat nearest b eh oVe d to drain i t Tis well
'
’
'
. ,
'
said I : now for thy p enance whisp er thou i n y on prince s ,
ear that Go d hath given him his p eopl e freely and not
, ,
sou ght a price fo r th em a s for h orses And pray him look .
in side th e huts at h i s h ors e p al ace do or an d b ethink him

'
-
'
,
self is it well to hou s e his h ors e s and stabl e his folk Said '
.
’
V
y e mu st d o
’ ’
he ,
Twill give s ore oft en ce
’
But said I .
, ,
‘
it discreetly an d cho o s e your S o h e p r omised An d .
’
ridin g on w e heard p l a i n t i ve cr i es z Alas said I som e ~
, ,
sore misch ance hath b efal l e n s om e p oor soul : wh at m ay it

'
An d we ro d e u p a n d l o ! ; i t w a s a w e d d i n g feast ;
'
'
’
b e? ,
»
an d th e gu ests were p l y i n g t h e b usines s of drinkin g sa d

'
and sil ent b ut ever and anon crie d l ou d an d dolefully ,

,
’
S ey t e f r ol i ch l B e m er ry .
J 3 —
a n n ar
y Yesterday
’
b et w e en Nurnb
. erg an d Au gs
b urg w e p ar te d comp any I gav e m y l ord l ate S ervant .
, ,
b a ck his b rave cl oth es f or min e ; b u t h i s hors e h e m a d e m e

'
’ ‘
k eep an d h y e gol d p iece s an d said h e wa s still m y d eb t or

,
i
, ,
his p enan ce it h ad b een slight alon g o i m e b ut p r ofi t a b l e , .
But h i s b est Word w as this :

-
I s e e t i s mor én ob l e t o b e ’
'
~
love d than feared An d t hen h e did s o praise m e as I

.
’
blush e d to p ut on p ap er ; y et p o or fo ol w ou l d f a i n tho u , ,
'
couldst h ear h i S Vvor d s b ut from som e oth er p en than mm e

' '
.
,
An d the servants di d he ar tily g ra sp my hand an d wish m e -

,
And r i din g ap ace yet coul d I n o t rea ch Au gs -j

'
go o d lu ck
'
-
.
,
b urg t i ll t h e gates wer e clo se d ; b ut it m a t t er e d l i t t l e fo r ‘ ‘
t h i s A u g s b u r g i t i s an en chante d city F or a small coin

' ' '
- '
'
.
(
on e took m e a lon g way r ound to a fam ou s

p os t er n c a l l e d
' ‘
f
H ere s t ood t wo gu ardi an s l ik e statu es ;
'
der Einl ass e .
They n o dde d me
,
T o t he m I gave my nam e an d b u siness

‘
’
'
'
'
“
’
l eave to kn o ck ; I kn ocked ; an d the iro n g a t e op en e d with

' '
'
‘
a great n ois e an d hollow r a t t l i n g b f a chai n b u t n o h an d

'
'
s e en n or ch ain ; a nd h e wh o dre w th e h i d d en ch a i n sits a '
h utt s l en gth fro m the g ate ; an d I ro d e

’
"
cl o s ed with a cl a n g after m e 1 I f oun d myself in a gr eat
.
.
‘
b u i ldin g with a b ri d ge at m y feet Thi s I ro de over and ,

.
presently c am e t o a p or t er s lo dge wh ere on e a s k ed me f
,
‘
a ga i n my n am e an d bu si nes s th en ran g a b ell an d a great , ,

'
p ortcullis that b arred t h e way b egan to rise dr awn by a -
wheel overhe ad and n o h a n d s een B ehind th e p ortculli s

’
'
, .
was a thick o a ken do o r stu dded with steel It op ene d .
without hand and I ro de int o a hal l as dar k a s

, ,
Tremblin g t h er e a wh i l e a do or O p ened an d s h ow e d m e a
'
, ,
s m a l l e r h a l l lighted I ro d e into i t : a t i n gobl et cam e

’
’
d o wn from th e ce il in g b y a littl e chain : I put t wo b a t z en

'
‘
‘
i nt o i t a n d i t w en t up again
'
,
n
B eing gone ; a n ot l i er thick
'
.
d o or cre ak e d an d op ened , an d I rid through

'
It clo sed on ‘
.
THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
me with a tremendou s cla n g and b ehol d m e in Au gsburg ,
city. I lay at an inn called The T h r ee Mo ors over an ,

’
hundred years ol d ; and this morning a ccording to my way ,
of viewing towns to learn their comp ass and shap e I ,
mounted the highest tower I coul d fi n d and setti n g my ,
d ial at my fo o t surveyed th e b eautiful city : whol e streets

of p alaces and church es tiled with copp er burnished lik e
gold ; and the hou se fronts gaily p ainte d and all gl az ed ,
and th e glass so clean and burnishe d a s tis m o st resplend ent ’
and rare ; and I now fi r s t s eein g a great city did crow

, ,
with delight an d lik e a co ok o n his ladd er and at th e tower

, ,
fo ot wa s taken into custo dy fo r a spy ; for whilst I watched

the city the watchman h ad wa t ch ed m e Th e burgomaster .
received m e courte ou sly and h eard my story ; th en rebuked

h e th e o ff i cers : Coul d y e n ot ques tion him yourselves ,
or read in his face ? This is to m ak e ou r city stink in stran

’
gers rep ort
’
Th en h e tol d m e my curio sity was of a com
.
mendabl e sort ; and seein g I was a craftsman and inquisi

tive b ade his cl erk take m e among th e guil ds Go d bl ess t h e
,
.
’
city where th e very b urgomaster is cut of S olomon s cloth !
J a n nar y— 5
D ear Margaret it is a nobl e city and a
.
, ,
kind m other to arts H ere they cut in wo o d an d ivory

.
,
’
that tis like sp ider s work and p aint on glass an d sing
’
, ,
an gelic al ha rmoni es Writin g of b o oks is quite gon e b y ;

.
h ere b e six p rinters Yet wa s I o ff ered a b ountiful wage

.
’
to write fairly a m erchant s acco unts o n e Fu gger a grand , ,
and wealthy trader and hath sto re of ship s yet his father
, ,
was but a p o or weaver B u t here in comm erce her very

.
,
garden men swell like mushro oms

,
An d h e b ou ght my .
horse of me and ab ated m e not a j ot wh ich way of d ealin g

, ,
is n ot known in Holland But oh Margaret th e workm en .

, ,
of all th e guild s are s o kind and broth erly to on e another ,
an d to m e Here methinks I have found th e tru e G erman

.
, ,
m i nd loyal frank and kindly somewhat chol eric withal

, , , , ,
but nou ght revengeful Each m echanic wear s a sword. .
The very weavers at the lo om s i t girded with th eir weap ons ,
an d all Germans on to o slight o ccasion d raw th em an d

ti ght ; b ut n o treachery : chall en ge fi r s t then draw an d , ,
with th e edge only mo stly th e face not with S ir Po int ;

, ,
f or if in th es e comb ats one thrust at his adversary an d hurt

him ti s called ein s ch el em s t u ck e a h einou s act b oth m en
,
’
, ,
a nd women turn the ir b acks on him ; and even th e j udges

punish thrusts b itterly but p ass over cuts Hence in
, .
Germany b e go o d store of s carre d faces thre e in fi v e at least , ,
and in F rance scarce m ore than on e in thre e .
But i n arts m ech ani cal no citizens may comp are with
these . Fountain s in every str eet th at play t o h eaven a n d ,
in th e garden s s eeming trees which b ein g appro ach ed on e , ,
standing afar to u ch e s a sprin g an d ev ery twi g sho ots water , ,
and souse s th e gu ests to th eir ho st s mu ch del ectatio n ’

.
B ig culverins of war th ey cast with no mo re ado th an ou r

folk horse —sho es an d h ave don e this foursco re years
,
.
All stu ff s th ey we ave and linen fi n e as o urs at h om e or

, ,
n early wh ich els ewhere in Europ e vainly shall y e s eek

,
.
S ir Printin g Press— sore f o e to p o or G erard bu t to o th er ,
i —
humans b en e fi c a l p l i et h b y night an d day an d ca steth ,
go o dly wo rd s l ike s ower a fi el d ; whil e 1 p o o r t o ol can b ut , ,
s ow them a s I s a w wom en in Fran ce s ow rye dribblin g it ,
i n th e furrow grain b y gra in And of th e ir stran ge m ech a n i .
cal skill tak e two exampl es F or endin g of exemplary .
ro gues th ey have a fi g u r e like a woman s even fe et high , ,
an d call ed Jung Frau ; b ut 1 0 a sp ring i s tou ch ed s h e , ,
s e i z et h th e p o or wretch with iro n arm s and op en ing hers elf , ,
h ale s him inside h er an d there p i erces him throu gh and

,
thro u gh with two s core lan ces S eco ndly i n all great h ou se s .
,
th e S p it is turn e d no t b y a s crubby b oy b ut b y smo k e ,

.
Ay m ayst well admire an d j ud ge m e a lying knave

, , Th es e .
cunning G erm an s d o s et in th e chimney a littl e windm ill ,
and th e sm ok e stru ggl in g to wen d p ast turns i t an d fro m , ,
th e mill a w i re runs thro u gh th e wall an d turns th e sp it on

wheel s ; b ehol din g which I d o ffed my b onn et to th e m en o f
Augsb urg for wh o b ut th es e h ad ere d evis e d to b ind y e s o
,
dark an d sub tl e a knave a s S ir S mok e an d s et him to ro ast ,
D am e Pull et ?
This d ay Jannary 8 with three craftsm en o f th e town
, , ,
I p ainte d a p ack of card s Th ey were for a s enator in a .

,
hurry . I the diam on ds My qu e en cam e forth with eye s

.
lik e sprin g viol ets hair a gold en b rown and W itchin g sm il e

, , .
My fell ow craftsm en s a w h er an d p ut th eir arms roun d

-
,
my n eck and ha i l e d m e m aster Oh no bl e Germans ! N o .

,
j ealo u sy of a b rother workman : n o sour lo oks at a stranger ;

-
and wo uld have m e S p en d S und ay with them after m atins ;

and th e merchant p aid m e s o richly a s I wa s asham e d to
tak e th e guerdo n ; and I to my inn and tri ed to p aint th e ,
qu e en of diam onds for p o or Gerard ; b ut n o s h e w oul d no t ,
co me lik e aga in Lu ck wil l not b e b esp oke

. Oh happy .
,
rich m an that hath go t h er ! Fi e l fi e l Happ y Gerard

that sh al l h ave h erself on e day and k eep hou se with h er ,
a t Au gsburg .
J a n u ar y 8 —With my fellows and on e V eit S to ss a

.
, ,
wo o d carv er and on e H a f n a g el oi th e goldsmiths gu ild ;

‘
’
-
, ,
and their wive s an d l asses to H a f n a g el s cou sin a s enato r ,

’
o f thi s free city an d his stup en dou s w i n e ves s el

, It i s ~
.
r i bb ed l ike a ship and h ath b e e n eight een month s in hand

, ,
‘
it in a ro man ce y e sh ould cry Mo st improb abl e ! And ,
s o still wo nderin g th at I a m al ive to write i t and thankin g ,

'
for it Go d an d th e s aints this i s wh at b efell thy Gerard , .
Yestreen I weari ed o f b ein g shut up in litter an d of th e ,
mul e s slow p ace an d s o w ent forward ; an d b ein g I know

’
, ,
not why strangely full of sp irit and h op e a s I h ave heard

, ,
’
b efall som e m en when on tro ubl e s b rink seem ed to trea d ,
on a i r and so o n distance d th em a ll
,
Pres ently I cam e to .
two ro ads a n d to ok th e lar ger ; I shoul d have tak en th e

,
sm al l er After travell ing a go o d hal f hour I found my

.
-
,
error an d returne d ; an d d e eming my comp any h ad long

,
p ass ed b y p ush ed bravely on b ut I coul d not overt ak e

, ,
th em ; and sm all wo nd er a s you sh al l h ear Th en I w a s , .
anxiou s and ran b ut b a r e w a s th e ro a d of th o s e I sou ght ;

'
, ,
an d night cam e down and th e wil d b easts afo ot an d I , ,
b emo ane d my folly ; al s o I was hun gered Th e m o on ro s e .
cl ear and b ri ght exceedingly an d p resently a littl e way of f ,
th e ro a d I s a w a tal l windmill Com e s ai d I

. mayhap .
,
’
,
th e m ill er w i ll tak e ruth o n m e N ear th e m i ll was a h ay .

’
stack and s cattere d ab out w ere store o f littl e b arrel s ;

,
b ut 1 0 ; they were not fl our b arrels b ut tar b arrel s o n e o r -

,
-
,
two and th e rest of sp irits B rant V ein an d S chie dam ; I

, ,
knew th em m om ently h avin g s een th e lik e in Holl and , .
I kno ck e d at th e m ill do or b ut non e answered I lifte d -

, .
th e latch and th e do or op en e d inwards

, I went i n an d .
, .
gl adly for th e night was fi n e b ut col d an d a rim e o n th e

, ,
trees which were a kind o f lofty sycamo res

, Th ere was a .
stove b ut bl ack ; I li ghte d it with som e of th e hay an d

,
wo o d for there was a great p i l e of wo o d outside an d I

, ,
know not how I w ent to sle ep N ot l on g had I sl ept I

, .
,
trow when h earing a no is e I awok e ; an d th ere were a

, ,
do z en men aroun d m e with wil d faces an d lo ng black

'
, ,
ha i r an d b lack sp arkling eyes

, .
C a th er i n e Oh my p o or b oy l th o s e black h aired
.
,
-
o nes do st i ll s car e m e to l o ok ou .
I made my excu se s in su ch Ital ian a s I knew and ,
ekin g ou t b y signs Th ey g rinn ed I ha d lo st my c om

. .
p any Th ey g rinn ed
. I was an hun gered Still th ey . .
’
gr i nned an d S p ok e to o ne a nother in a ton gu e I kn ew not

, .
A t l ast on e gave m e a p iece of b rea d an d a tin mu g of w ine ,
a s I thou ght b ut it was sp ir its neat , I mad e a wr y fa ce .
a n d ask ed for water : th en thes e wi l d m en l au ghe d a ho rr i bl e

’
lau gh I thou ght to fl y b ut lo oking towards th e d o or it

.
, ,
wa s b olte d with two eno rm ou s b olts of i ron and n ow fi r s t ,
a s I ate my b read I s a w it wa s all gu arde d to o an d ribb e d

,
'
,
with ir on My blo o d cur dl e d within m e and yet I coul d

.
,
no t tel l th e e why ; b ut hadst th ou s ee n the faces wi l d , ,
stup id an d ru t hl ess , I m u m bl ed my b rea d n ot to l et .

,
TH E CL O ISTER A ND T H E HEARTH 3 75
'
th em s ee I feared th em ; b u t oh it co st m e to swallow it
'
and k eep it in m e Th en it whirl ed in my b rain wa s there .

,
no way to e scap e ? S aid I They will no t l et m e forth b y ,
th e do or ; t t e b e smu ggl ers or rob b ers

-
S o I feign ed .
’
drowsiness and taki n g ou t t wo b atzen said

, Go o d m en , ,
fo r o u r Lady s grace l et m e li e on a b e d and sl e ep for I

’
am
’
faint with travel Th ey no dd e d an d grinn ed th eir .
horribl e grin an d b ad e on e light a lanthorn and l ea d m e

, .
H e to ok m e up a windin g staircase u p u p an d I s a w n o , , ,
windows b ut th e wo o den wall s were p ierced lik e a b arb ican

,
tower and m ethink s for th e sam e purp o s e an d throu gh

, ,
thes e slits I got glimp ses of th e sky and thou ght Shall I , ,
’
e e r s ee th ee a gain ? H e to ok m e to th e ve ry to p of th e
mill and there wa s a ro om with a h eap of straw i n on e
,
corner an d many emp ty b arrel s an d by th e wall a tru ckl e ,
b ed . H e p o inted t o i t an d went do wn stairs h e a V i l y ,

'
,
taking the light f or in this ro om wa s a great w indow and

, ,
th e mo on cam e in b right I lo oke d out to s e e a n d 1 0 it .

, ,
was s o high that even th e mill sail s at th eir high est cam e
n ot up to my window by som e feet b ut turned very slow ,
and stately underneath for wind th ere w a s s carce a breath ; ,

'
and th e trees seeme d silv er fi lagree m ade by an gel crafts

men .My h op e of fl i gh t w a s g en e .
But now tho se wil d faces b ein g ou t of sight I smil e d

, ,
at my fears : what an if th ey were i l l m en woul d it p r ofi t ,
th em to hurt m e ? Nath eles s for cautio n a gainst su rprise ,
I woul d put the b ed ag a inst th e do or I went to m ove i t .

,
b u t co u l d not It wa s fre e at th e head but at th e fo ot

.
,
fast clamp ed with iron to th e fl oor S o I fl un g my p saltery .
o n th e b ed but for mys elf m ad e a l ayer o f straw at the d oo r

, ,
so a s none coul d op en on m e unawares And I laid my .

’
sword ready to my hand An d said my prayer s for t h e e .

"
an d m e an d turne d t o sl eep
,
.
B el ow th ey d rank and m ad e m erry An d h e arin g .
this gave m e con f i dence S aid I Out of sight out of mind .

, , .
An ot h er hour and th e go o d S chiedam will m ak e t h em f orget

that I a m h ere An d so I comp o se d myself to sle ep A n d
’
f or som e time coul d n ot fo r th e b oisterous mirth b elow

. . .
A t l a st I d ropp ed O ff How lo n g I sl ep t I kn ew n ot ; but I

.
wok e with a start : the no i s e had ceased b el ow and th e su dden ,
silence wok e me And s carce wa s I awake wh en su dden the

.
,
tru ckl e b ed was gone with a l ou d cl an g all but the feet and ’
the fl o or yawned and I heard my p saltery fall and b reak to

,
atoms deep deep b elow th e very fl o o r of th e mill

, , , It had .
fallen into a well An d s o h a d I don e lyin g wh ere it l a y

.
,
.
Margaret shuddered and put h er face in her hands .
B ut sp eedily resumed .
I lay s t u p efi e d a t fi r s t Then horror fell on m e an d I

'
-
. ,
ro se b ut sto o d ro ote d there shakin g from hea d to fo o t

, , .
A t l ast I found myself lo oking down into tha t fe a rsome

gap and my very h air di d b ristle as I p eered
,
An d th en .
,
I rememb er I turne d quite cal m and m ad e U p my mind

, ,
to die sword in han d For I saw no man m ust know th i s .
th e i r blo o dy s ecret and live And I said P o o r Margaret ! .

,
And I to ok out of my b o s om where th ey l i e ever ou r m ar , ,
r i a g e l i nes an d kisse d them a gain and a gain

, A n d I p inne d .
t h em to my shi rt a gain that they might lie in o ne grave ,
w it h m e i t di e I must
,
An d I th o ught A ll our love and .
,
h op e s to end t h u s l
E li Whisht al l l Their m a rriage l ines ? Give her

.
tim e ! B ut n o word I can b ear no c h at My p o or l a d l . .
D urin g the l on g p au s e th at ensu ed Catherine leane d

.
fo rwar d a n d p ass e d s om et h i n g a d r oi t l y from h er own l a p .
u nder her dau gh t er s apro n who s a t n ext h er ’

.
Pres ently thinki n g al l in a w h i rl o f al l that ever , ,
p asse d b etwe en u s an d tak in g leav e of all th o s e pl e asant

,
hours I cal le d to mind h ow on e day at S evenb erg en tho u

,
t a u g h t es t m e to m ak e a rop e of straw Mindest thou ? .
Th e m oment m emo r y b rou ght that happy day b ack to

m e I cried ou t very l ou d : Mar gar et gives m e a c h an ce for
,
lif e even h ere I wok e fro m my l ethargy .

’
I se i z ed on .
t h e straw and twisted it eagerly a s thou di dst t each m e , ,
b ut my fi n g er s trem b l e d an d delaye d th e task Whil es I .
wr ou ght I heard a do or op en b el ow That was a terr i bl e .
m om ent Even a s I twi sted my rop e I go t to th e windo w

.
an d lo ok ed down at th e great arm s o f th e m ill com in g slowly

up , then p as sing then t u rni n g le ss slowl y d own a s it
, ,
s eem ed ; and I thou ght They g o no t as wh en there i s ,
win d : yet slow o r fast wh at m an rid ever o n such ste e d

, ,
a s th es e and lived , Yet sai d I b etter trust to th em

_ .
,
’
an d Go d than t o ill m en A n d I p rayed to Him whom .
even th e w i nd ob eyeth .
D e ar M a rgaret I fastene d m y rop e and l et myself , ,
gently down an d fi x e d my eye o n that hu ge arm of th e

,
mill which th en w a s creep ing up t o m e and went to sp rin g

, ,
o n to i t But my h eart fa i l e d m e at th e p in ch
. An d .
m ethou ght it was no t n e a r enow An d it p asse d cal m an d .
awf u l b y I watch ed fo r anoth er ; they were three

. And .
af ter a littl e wh il e on e crept up slower than th e rest me

thou ght And I with my fo ot thr ust myself in go o d tim e
.
s om ewhat ou t from th e w al l and cryin g al ou d Margaret ! ,
did g rip with all my soul th e wo o d work of the s a il an d tha t -

,
”
m oment was swimming in the air .
Gi l es . WE L L D O NE ! WE L L D ON E !
3 78 TH E C L O ISTER AN D e E HEARTH
curse d at that b ut others wail ed F or I ha d th em all at
An d doubtles s with my smoke grime d
.
,
dea dl y vantage .
,
-
face an d fi en di sh rage I lo oke d a d emo n , An d now there .
was a stea dy ro a r in sid e the m ill Th e fl am e wa s go in g .
up it a s f u rnace up i t s chim ney Th e mill cau ght fi r e . .
F ire gl i mm ere d throu gh i t To ngues of fl am e darted .
throu gh each lo ophol e an d sho t sp ar ks an d fi er y fl ake s into

th e night One of th e ass ass ins leap e d o n to th e sail as
. ,
I ha d do ne In h i s hurry h e m i s s ed h i s grasp an d fell at

.
my feet and b ounded fro m th e har d gr oun d lik e a b all

, ,
an d n ever sp o k e nor m ove d a gain And the rest s cream e d

l ik e wom en and with their desp air came b ack to m e b oth
.
,
,
. .
ruth for th em an d h 0 p e of l ife for my sel f An d the fi r e .
gn awed throu gh th e m ill i n pl ac en an d shot f or t h sh owers

'
of g reat fl at sp arks l i k e fl ak es oi fi e r y , s n ow ; and the sail s

cau ght fi r e on e after anoth er ; an d I b ecam e a man a ga i n
an d stagger e d away terror strick en l eaning o n my sword -
, ,
from th e sight o f my revenge an d with great b o dily p ain ,
crawl e d b ack to th e r oa d A n d d ear Margaret th e r i my 1 ,
trees were now all lik e pyramids of gol den fi l a gr e e, an d la ce

.
,
co bweb fi n e i n th e red fi r el i gh t : Oh ! m o st b eau t i ful !

,
An d a p o or wr etch go t entangl ed in the b urnin g sa il s an d ,
wh i rl ed rou nd s cream in g an d lo st hol d at th e wr ong t i me

, ,
an d h url ed lik e sto n e fro m mangon el h i gh into th e air ; then

a dul l thump ; it was hi s c arcas s strik i ng th e e ar th Th e .
next m om ent th er e was a lou d c r ash Th e mi ll fell in on .
its d estroyer a n d a m ill io n gre at s p arks fl ew u p and the

, ,
s ail s fe l l over th e b urnin g wreck and at th at a m ill ion mo re ,
sp ar k s fl ew u p an d th e groun d w a s strewn with b urning

,
wo o d an d m en I p rayed Go d forgive m e and kn eeli ng

.
,
with my b ack to that fi er y sha mbl es I s a w lights on th e ,
ro ad ; a wel com e sight It wa s a comp any coming towar ds

.
m e and scarce two furlongs off

, I ho b bl e d towards th e m . .
Ere I h a d go ne far I heard a swift step b ehin d

O ne had es cap ed ; how e sca ped who can divin e ? His ,
sword sho ne in th e m o onl ight I fear ed him Meth ought ;
the gho sts of a ll th o se d ea d s at on th at glittering glaive .
I p ut my other fo o t to the grou nd m an gre th e angu ish and , ,
fl ed towar d s th e torch es moan in g with pa in an d shout i ng

, ,
for aid .But what co ul d I do ? H e g ai n e d on m e Be .
ho oved m e t u rn an d fi gh t D enys had tau ght m e sword .
play in S p ort I wheel ed ou r swo rd s clashed His cloth es

I cut s w
.
, .
th ey sm ell e d al l singed i ftly upwar d with suppl e

.
hand an d his d angled bl eeding at th e wrist and his swo rd

, ,
fell ; i t ti nkl e d on th e ground

, I rais ed my sword to h ew .
h i m sho ul d he s t 0 0 p for t H e sto o d and curse d m e

’
. He .
drew his dagger with his left ; I opp o se d my p o int an d d ared

h i m with my eye to clo se A gr eat s h out ar o s e b ehind m e
.
THE C L O ISTER AND T HE HEARTH
’
from tru e men s throats H e started H e sp at a t m e in . .
his rage then gna sh ed his teeth and fl e d blasphemin g

, I .
turned an d s a w torch es clo se at hand Lo th ey fel l to .

,
dancing up and down m ethought and the n ext— moment ,

—
all was dark— I had— a h .
C a th er i n e Here h elp i water ! Stan d alo of you th at

.
, ,
b e m en !
Margaret ha d fainted away .
C HAPTER L IV
W H E N sh e recovered her h ead wa s on Cath erin e s arm an d,

’
,
the honest h alf o f the family s h e ha d invaded like a fo e .
sto o d round h er uttering rou gh homely word s of e ncoura ge

m et esp ecially Giles who ro are d at her that sh e was n ot
, ,
to take on like that Gerard was alive and well or h e

.
,
coul d not have writ this l etter th e b iggest m ankin d had ,

”
seen a s yet and as h e thou ght
, th e b eau tifullest and
, ,
m o st moving and small est writ , .
”
A y go o d Master G i l es
, sigh ed Margaret feebly he , ,
wa s alive But how know I wh at hath since b efall en h i m ?

.
Oh why left he H olland to g o amon g stran gers fi er c e a s

,
lions ? And why did I not drive him from m e so oner than
p art him from his own fl esh and blo o d ? Forgive m e you ,
that are his moth er !

An d sh e gently remove d Cath erine s arm an d ma de a ’
feebl e attemp t to slid e off th e chair on to her knees which , ,
after a b rief stru ggl e with sup erior force ended in her ,
h udin g h erself on Catherin e s b o som Th en Margaret h el d ’

.
ou t th e letter to Eli an d said faintly but sweetly , I w ill ,
trust it from my hand n ow In so oth I a m littl e fi t to rea d .

,
a yn more — and — and — lo th to leave my comfort ; and

sh e wreath ed her other arm round Catherine s neck ’
.
”
Read thou Richart said Eli : thin e eyes b e youn ger
, ,
than mine .
Rich art to ok th e letter Well said h e ,

su ch wr iting .
, ,
s a w I never A writeth with a needl e s p o int ; and cl ear ’

.
to b o ot W h y is h e not in my countin g ho use at Amster

.
-
dam instea d of vagab onding it ou t yon der !

When I came to myself I was seated in th e litter an d ,
my go o d m erchant holdin g of my h and I b ab bled I know .
n o t what and then shu ddere d awh i le in s i lence

, H e put a .
h orn of wine to my lip s .
C a th er i n e Bless him i bless him !

.
E li . W h i sh t l
An d I tol d him wh at had b ef a ll en H e woul d se e my .
leg. It was sp rained sore and swell e d at th e ankl e ; and ,
all my p oints were b roken as I coul d scarce k e ep u p my ,
h o se and I s aid
,
S i r I sh all b e b ut a b urd en to you I
, , ,
d oub t an d can m ak e y ou no harm o ny now ;

,
my p o or
p s al tery it is b rok en ; an d I did grieve over my b rok en
mu sic comp anion of s o many weary lea gu e s
,
But he .
p atte d m e o n th e ch eek an d b ad e m e no t fret ; also h e did ,
p ut up my leg on a p ill ow and t ende d m e l ik e a kind fath er , .
J a n n ar y 1 9 — I
sit all d ay in the litter fo r w e are pu s h
.
,
in g forward with haste an d at night th e go o d kin d m er , ,
ch ant s en deth m e to b ed and will not l et m e work S trange ! , .
whene er I fall in with m en l ik e fi en d s then th e n ext

’
mo m en t Go d still s endeth m e som e go o d m an or wom an lest ,
I shoul d turn away fro m human kind Oh Margar et ! .

,
h ow stran gely m ixed th ey b e and how ol d I a m by wh at ,
I w a s three mo nths agone And 1 0 1 it go o d Master Fu gger .
”
hath no t b een an d b ou ght m e a p sal tery .
C a th er i n e Eli my m an an yo n m erch ant com e s ou r

.
, , ,
”
way l et u s b uy a hun dre d ell s of cloth of him an d no t higgl e , .
”
E li Th at will I tak e your o ath on t l
.
,
’
Wh il e Richart prep ared to read K ate lo ok ed at her ,
m other an d with a faint blu sh drew out th e p ie ce of work

,
from un der h er ap ron an d s ewed with h ead d ep re ss ed a ,
littl e m ore than n ecessary On this h er m othe r drew a .
p iece of wo rk out of h er p o cket an d s ewe d to o whil e B i ch a r t , ,
read B oth th e sp ecim en s th es e swe et surrep ti t iou s crea

.
tures now fi r s t exp o se d to ob se r vatio n were b ab ie s cap s ’
an d m o re than half fi n i s h e d which tol d a tal e Ho rro r ! , .
th ey were like l ittl e m onk s cowl s in shap e and d eli ca cy ’

.
J a n uary 20 —
Laid up in th e litter and a s go o d as
.
,
blind b ut haltin g to b ait L omb ardy pl ain s b urst on m e

, , .
Oh Margaret ! a lan d fl owi n g with m ilk an d hon ey ; a l l

,
slop in g pl ains g ood l y r i v er s j o cund m eadows delectable

'
, , ,
o rchard s an d blo oming gardens ! and thou gh winter l ooks

,
warmer than p o o r b el oved Holland at midsumm er and ,

’
m ak e s the wan dere r s face to shine an d his heart to l eap ,
f or j oy to s ee earth so kind and sm i lin g

.
H ere b e Vin es .
,
cedars olives and cattl e plenty b ut thre e go ats to a sheep

, , , .
Th e drau ght o xen we a r white linen on their necks and ,
standin g b y dark green olive trees ea ch on e i s a p icture ; -
an d th e folk e sp ecial ly wom en we a r d elicate strawen hats

, ,
with fl ower s and l eave s f ai rly imitated in silk with sil ver ,
m ixed Th is d ay w e cro s se d a river p rettily in a chained

.
ferry b o at On either b ank wa s a windla ss and a single

-
.
,
man by turning of it dr ew ou r whole comp any to his shore ,

the h eat of their inward p art s : sp ite of which m any d i e
’
su dde n ly from drink ; b ut tis a m atte r of r eli gi o n to sl ur
i t an d glo z e i t and ch arge som e inno cent dis ease th er ewi th
, , .
Yet tis more a cu sto m th an very n ature for th eir wom en

’
,
com e am on g th e tippl ers an d do but stan d a m ome nt an d , ,
as it wer e ki ss th e w in e cup ; an d are inde ed mo st temp erate

,
-
in eating an d dr i nkin g an d of al l w om en m od es t an d Vi r , ,
.
tuo n s an d tru e sp ou se s an d frien ds to th eir m ates ; fa r

,
b efore ou r Holl an d lass es th at b ein g m ai ds put th e qu esti o n , ,
to th e m en an d b ein g wiv ed do lo rd it over th em Why

, ,
.
.
-
,
th ere i s a w if e in T er g ou not far from ou r d o or O n e cam e , .
’
to th e h ou s e an d sou ght h er m an S ays sh e Yo u ll no t .
,
fi n d h i m : h e aske d my le ave to g o a b ro ad th is afterno o n ,
an d I did give it h i m .
’
T was B eck H u l se
’ ’ ’
C a th er i n e Ti s so oth ! tis s oot h l
. ,
”
Jon ah s w i fe
’
Thi s com e s of a w om a n w e d d i n g a b oy
‘
. .
In the south wh ere win e is the gentry dri n k them ,
s elve s b are ; b ut n ot in th e north : fo r with b eer a n obl e

shal l so o ner b urst h is b o dy th an m elt his l an ds Th ey are .
qu arrel som e b ut tis th e liquor not th e m ind ; for th ey are

,
’
,
no n e r evengeful An d wh en th ey h ave m ad e a b ad b a rgain

.
drunk th ey stan d to it sob er

,
Th ey k e ep th eir windows .
b right ; an d j ud g e a m an b y h i s cl othes Wh atever fr uit .
or grai n or h erb grows b y th e r oa d s i d e ga t h er and eat

.
.
,
’
Th e owner s eein g yo u sh a ll s a y Ar t w elcom e h on est m an , ,
.
B ut an y e plu ck a waysid e grap e your very lif e i s in j eo ,
p ardy T is eatin g of th at Heaven gav e to b e dru nk en

.
’
.
Th e French are mu ch fairer sp oken and not nigh s o tru e ,
h e ar ted Sweet word s co st them nou ght They c a ll it

'
. .
”
p ayer eu b lanch e .
D en y s L e s co qu ins ! h a ! h a !
.
N athel e ss courtesy i s in th eir h earts a y in their

, , ,
very bl o o d Th ey say comm o nly

. Give you rself th e ,
’
tro ub l e of sitt i n g down An d su ch straws of S p e ech show
Al s o at a p ub li c show i f y e w
.
h ow bl ow s th e wi n d . oul d ,
l eave your seat y et not lo s e i t ti e b ut your napkin round

, ,
the b en ch and n o F rench m an or wo man will s i t her e ; b u t

,
rath er ke ep th e p lace for you .

’
“
C a th er i n e Gram ercy ! that 1 8 manners F r a n c e f or m e l
—
. .
D enys ro se a n d place d h i s hand gracefully to h i s b reast

pl ate .
“
Nath el ess th ey s a y thi n gs in S p o rt whi ch are n ot "
.
O
C
,
courteou s b ut sho ckin g , Le diabl e t em p or t e l All ez .

’ ‘
A
M
a u di abl e ! an d s o forth But I trow th ey m ean not su ch fl
‘
-
m
.
drea df ul wish e s : cu stom b el ik e Mo d erat e in drinki n g

w
.
,
an d m i x water with th eir wine an d sin g an d dance over ,
th eir cup s an d ar e then enchanting comp any

, Th ey a r e .
‘
’
curiou s n ot to dr ink in another man s cup In war th e
'
.
THE CL O ISTER AND TH E ‘
HEARTH
English gain th e b etter of them in the fi el d ; but th e French
are their m asters in attack an d defence o f cities ; witne ss
Orleans wh ere th ey b esiege d their b esiegers and h ashe d
, ,
th em sore with their doubl e and treble c u l v er i n es ; an d '
many oth er sie ge s in this our century More th an all .
nations they fl atter th eir women and despise th em No , . .
Sh e m ay b e th eir soverei gn ruler Also th ey o ften hang .
their femal e malefa ctors i n stead of drownin g them d ecently , ,
as oth er nations u s e The furniture in their inns is walnut

.
,
in G ermany only deal French wind o ws are ill

. Th e lower .
half i s of wo o d and op ens ; th e upp er half is of glass b ut

, ,
fi xed ; s o that th e servant cannot com e at it to clean i t Th e .
G erman windows are al l glass and movabl e and shin e far , ,
an d near like diamon ds In France m any m ean hou se s are

.
not glaze d at all Once I s a w a Frenchman p ass a church

.
w i t h ou t u n b on n et i n g
1 This I n e er wi t n es se d in Holland
.
’
.
,
Germany or Italy A t m a n y inns th ey show th e traveller

, .
'
h i s sheets to give him assuran ce th ey are clean an d warm

, ,
them at the fi re b efore him : a laudabl e custom They .
receive him kindly an d l i k e a guest ; th ey m o stly cheat

’
him and whiles cut his thro at

, They plead in excu se h ard ;
an d tyrannous laws An d tru e i t is their law thru steth

.
.
its no se into every platter a nd its fi n g er into every p ie , .
In France wo rshipful men wear th eir hats and their furs

indo o rs and g o abro ad lighter cla d In G erm any they d on
'
'
.
,
hat and furre d cl o ak t o g o ab ro ad ; b ut sit b areheade d and

light clad roun d the stove .
The French intermix not the m en and women t olk in '
assemblies a s w e Hollander s use

, Rou n d their p reachers .
the women s i t on t h ei r h eel s in r ows and the men stand '

‘
b eh i n d t b em T heir h a r ves t s a r e rye and fl a x and wine

.
, , .
Three mules shall yo u s e e to on e h orse and whole flo cks of

‘
,
,
s heep as b lack as co al .
In Germany the sna i l s b e red I lie n ot The French . .
bu y minstrel sy but b ree d j es t s a n d mak e th eir o wn m irth

‘
,
-
,
'
T h e G ermans fo ster t h e i r z s et fo ols with ear cap s which -

,
m ove them to lau ghter b y Simu l atin g m adn es s ; a calam ity

that asks pity not lau ghter , In this p articul ar I deem .
that lighter nation wiser than the graver Germ an What .
sayest t hou ? Al as ! canst not answer m e now .
In Germany th e p etty laws are wondrou s wis e an d

j u st Tho se against criminals bloo dy
. In France blo o dier , .
still ; and executed a t r i fl e m ore cruelly there Here th e .
wheel is common and th e fi er y stak e ; and under this king

,
they d rown m en by t h e score in Paris river S eine yclept ,

.
But the Englis h are as p eremptory in hanging and dro wning

f or a light fault ; s o travellers rep ort Fi n ally a true .
,
hearted Frenchman when y e chance on on e is a man as

, ,
C L O ISTE R
'
3 84 THE A ND T H E HEAR T H
near p erfect a s earth a fi or d s ; and su ch a m a n
”
is my D eny s ,
sp ite of h i s foul m outh .
D en y s My fo ul m outh ! I s that
. so writ , Mast er
R ich a rt ?
R i ch a r t A y , in s o oth ; s ee el se
. .
D en y s ( insp e ctin g th e l etter gra vely ) . I read not t h e

”
l ett er so .
R i ch a r t How then ? .
D en y s H ump h .l a b em i why -
j ust th e contrary He .
added : Tis kittl e work p eru sing of these black s cratche s

’
m en ar e a gree d to tak e f or words An d I trow t i s s t il l .

’
b y gu es s you clerks do go worthy s i r My foul month ?

, .
This i s th e fi r s t tim e e er I h ear d on t Eh m esdam es ?

’ ’
.
,
B u t th e femal es did n ot s eiz e th e O p p ortunity h e gave

them an d b urst into a l ou d and general disclaim er
,
Mar .
garet blu sh ed and sai d nothin g ; th e oth er two b ent s i l ently

over th eir work wi th som ethin g very l i ke a s l y sm ile D enys .
in sp e cte d th eir countenances lon g and carefull y An d the .
p eru sal w a s s o s atisfa cto ry that h e turne d with a tone of ,
i nj ured b ut p ati ent inno cence and b ad e Rich a rt read on

, , .
Th e Italian s are a p oli sh ed an d sub tl e p eople They .
j ud ge a m an n ot by h i s hab its b ut his sp eech and gestu re

, , .
Here S ir Chou gh m ay by no m eans p ass for fal con gentl e ,

’
a s di d I in G erm any pranke d in my no bl e s erva nt s fea t hers
, .
Wisest of all natio ns i n their sin gul ar temp erance of fo od

and drink Mo st fo olish of all to search stran gers co ming
.
into th eir b ord ers a n d s tay th em from b rin gin g mu ch m oney

,
ih They sho ul d rather invite i t ; an d l i ke other nation s ,
Also here in V enice

.
l et the traveller from t a kin g of it ou t .
th e d am es turn th e i r b lack hair yell ow by the s u n and art ,
t o b e wis er than Him who mad e th em Ye ent er n o Ita l ian .
town without a b i ll of he al th t hou gh now i s n o pla gu e in ,
This p eevi shn ess i s for exto r ti on s s a k e

'
’
Europ e . The .
innk eep ers crin ge and fawn and cheat an d i n c oun tr y , ,

‘
pl aces murder you

, Yet will they give you clean she ets
.
by p ayin g therefor D eli cate i n eatin g an d abhor from

.
,
puttin g the i r hand i n th e plate ; so on er they will apply

a cru st or what not Th ey do even tell of a cardin al at
.
Rom e whi ch a r m et h his gu est s left hand wi th a little

,
’ ‘
b ifurcal dagger to h ol d the m eat wh il e h i s knife cutteth ,
it. B ut m ethink s thi s t oo i s to b e wiser than H i m who

, , ,
”
mad e th e han d s o supple and preh ensil e .
”
E li I a m of your min d my l ad
.
, .
Th ey are s ore troubl ed with t h e itch And ointment .
for i t u n g u en l o p er l a r og n a is crie d at every corner of V enice

, , .
From this m y wi ndow I s a w an urchi n sell it to th re e s ever a l

”
dame s i n s i lken tr a i ns a n d to two velvet knights
, .
eyel ets a wo o den j a l os y
,
Their nam e for a cowar dl y a s s .
’
as si m i s a brave m an and for an harlot a courteou s p erson
‘
,
’
,
‘
,
which is a s mu ch as t o ay that a woman 5 worst Vi ce a n d ’

,
a m an s worst vice are vir tue s

’
But I p ray Go d f or li ttl e
,
-
.
Holland that th ere an assassin ma y b e ycl ept an assassin ,
and an harlot an h arlot til l d o m esday ; an d then glo z e

, , ,
foul faults wi t h silk en nam es w h o can !

E l i ( with a sigh ) H e shoul d have b e en a p ri est
.
,
savin g your pres ence my p o or lass ,

.
J 26 — Swe etheart I m u s t b e b ri ef an d tell

a n u ar y .
, ‘ ,
the e b ut a p art of that I have s een for this day my j ournal ,
ends . To ni ght it s a i l s for th ee and I unhappy not with

-
, , ,
i t but to —
,
m orrow in anoth er ship t o Rom e
, ,
.
D e ar Margaret I to ok a h a n d 1 i t t er and was carried

, , ,
to S t Mark his church

. Outside i t towar d s th e mar k et
.
,
place i s a nobl e gal lery and ab ove it four fam ou s horses

, , ,
cut in b rass by th e ancient Rom an s and s eem a l l m ovin g , ,
and at th e very n ext step must needs l eap do wn on th e b e

hol der Ab out th e church are s i x h undre d pil l a rs of
.
m arbl e p orph y ry and ophi t es

, , Insid e i s a treasure greater .
-
than either at S t D enys or Loretto or Tol edo

. Here a
, , .
j ewell e d p itcher gi ven th e s ei gniory by a P ersian kin g al so ,
th e du c al cap bl azing wi t h j ewel s and on its crown a ,
di a mon d an d a chrysolite each as b i g a s an al mon d ; two ,
gol den cro wn s and twelve gol den stoma chers stu dded with
j ewels from Constantinopl e ; item a m on strou s sapphire ;
, ,
item a great diamond given b y a F r en ch k i n g ; item a

, ,
pro digiou s car b uncl e ; item thre e unicorns horns But ,

’
.
what are th es e comp ar e d with th e s acred relics ?

D ear Mar garet I sto o d an d s a w th e b raz en che st that
,
h ol ds th e b o dy of S t Mark th e Evangelist .I s a w with .

.
th es e eye s and handled his rin g an d his go sp el wri t ten with ,
h is own ha nd an d al l my travel s seem ed light ; for wh o

,
a m I that I shoul d s ee su ch things ? D ear Margaret his ,
sacre d b o dy wa s fi r s t b rou ght fro m Al ex andria by m erch ants

in 8 1 0 and th en n ot priz ed a s now ; for b etween 8 2 9 wh e n
, ,
this church w a s b uil ded and 1 0 9 4 th e ve ry place where it , ,
lay wa s forgotten Then holy p riests fasted and p raye d

.
m any days seeking f or light and l o ! th e Evangelist s b o dy ,

’
b rak e at m idnight throu gh the m arbl e an d sto o d b efore t h em .
Th ey fell to th e earth ; b ut in th e mo rn in g found th e

crevi ce th e sacre d b o dy had burst throu gh an d p eerin g ,
thro u gh it s a w h im l ie Then th ey to ok an d l aid him in

.
his ch est b eneath th e al tar and carefully put b ack th e stone ,
with its miraculou s crevice which crevice I s a w and shall ,

-
gap e for a mo num ent wh il e th e world lasts

~ After that .
they showe d m e th e V irgin s cha ir it is of stone ; al so h er ’
,
picture p ainted by S t Luke very dark and th e feature s
,
.
, ,
now scarce visible This p icture in time of drou ght th ey

.
, ,
carry in pro cession and b rings the rain I wish I had not
, .
seen i t Item two p ie ce s of marbl e sp o tted with J ohn the

.
,
’
B aptist s blo o d ; item a p iece of th e tru e cro ss and of ,
th e p illar to which C hrist was tie d ; item the ro ck struck

,
by Mo ses and wet to this hour ; also a stone Ch r ist sat on

, ,
preachin g at Tyre ; b ut som e s a y i t i s th e on e the p atriarc h

Jacob laid his head on and I hold with them by reaso n ou r , ,
Lord never p reached at Tyre Go ing h ence they showed .

,
me th e state nursery for the ch ildren of tho se aphro disian

da m es their favourites
,
Here in th e outer wall wa s a .
b ro ad niche an d if they br ing them so littl e as th ey can

,
squeez e them throu gh it a live t h e b airn fall s into a n et ,
inside and th e state take s charge o f i t b ut if to o b i g th eir

, , ,
mothers mu st even tak e them hom e a gain with w hom ,
abidin g tis like t o b e mali co rvi mali ovum

’
Coming o ut .
of th e church w e m et th e m carryin g in a corp se with th e

'
feet and face b are This I th en fi r s t l earned is V enetian

.
cu stom and sure no other town will ever rob them of i t

, ,
nor of this that follows On a great p orphyry slab in the .
piazza were thre e ghas tly h eads rottin g and tainting the
air and in their hot summers like to tak e ven geance with
,
breeding of a plague These were traitors to t h e state .

,
and a heavy p ri ce— two thou sand du cats — b c i n g p u t o n

each head their friends had slain them and b rou ght all
,
three t o the slab and so sold blo o d of oth ers and their own
,
faith No state b uys heads so m any nor p ays half s o high

.
,
a price for th at sorry m erchandise But what I m o st a d .
’
mired was to s ee over a gainst th e D uk e s p alace a fair
gallows in alab aster reare d exp ress to hang him and n o , ,
other fo r the least treason to the s t ate ; and there i t stands

,
in his eye whisp ering him m em ento m ori I p ondered and .

,
own ed these signors my masters who will let no man no t , ,
even their sovereign b e ab ove th e commo n weal Hard

, .
b y on a wall the workmen were j ust fi n i s h i n g b y order of

, , ,
the seigniory the stone e ffi gy of a tragical and enormous

,
act enacte d last year yet o n the wall lo oks in no cent Here
, .
two gentl e folks whisp er to gether and there other twain

'
, ,
their swords by their side Four brethren were they .

,
which did o n either sid e conspire t o p oi s on th e o t her two z
and so halve their land in lieu of qu artering i t ; an d at a

mutual b anquet these twai n dru gge d the wine and tho se
twain envenomed a ma r ch p a i n e to su ch go o d purp o se
,
that the same afternoon lay four br ave m en around on e

t abl e grovelling in mo rtal agony and cursing of on e anothe r ,
and themselves and so conclude d m iserably and the land

, , .
for which th ey had lo st their immortal souls went into ,

another fam i ly . And why not ? it coul d n ot go into a
Vvor s e .
But O sovere i g n wis do m of bywords ! how tru e they

,
put the fi n g er on each nation s or p a r t i c u l a r s f a u 1 t

’ ’
.
, ,
Q u a n d I t a li e s era s a n s p oi s on
E t F r a n ce s a n s t ra h i s on
'
E t l A n g l e t er r e s a n s g u er r e
’
,
Lor s s era l e m on d e sa n s t e rr e .
R ichart explained this to Cath erine then pro ce e de d : , An d

after this they to ok m e to th e qu ay an d presently I e sp ie d ,
-
am ong th e m asts o ne g a rl an de d with am aranth fl ow er s .
Tak e m e thith er sa i d I and I l et m y g u id e kn ow th e

,
’
,
'
custom of our D utch skipp ers to hoist fl ower s to th e m ast

head wh en they are courting a m ai d Oft ha d I s co f fe d at .
’ ’
this saying S o then h i s wo o in g i s th e earth s c on cern
,
.
B ut now s o far from th e R otter that b unch at a m asth ead

, ,
mad e my h eart leap with as surance of a countrym an .
They carri e d m e an d oh Margaret ! on th e stern o f that

, ,
D utch b oy was writ in mu ckl e letters

, ,
R ICHART E L I A S S OE N , AMSTERD AM .
’ ’
Put m e down I sai d ; for ou r L ady s sak e put m e down
,
’
.
I sat o n the b ank and lo ok ed scarce b elievin g my eyes , ,
and lo ok ed and p r esently fel l to cryin g til l I coul d se e th e

Ah me h ow th ey wen t to my he a rt tho s e
, ,
w ord s no m ore .
, ,
b are l etters in a foreign land D ea r R i c h a r t l go o d kin d .

, ,
b roth er Richart ! often I have sat on his kne e and ri d on

Kisses many h e has given me unkind word s
-
his b ack .
,
from him had I n ever And there wa s his nam e on his .
ow n ship and his face and al l his grave b ut go

, o d and gentl e ,
ways cam e b ack to m e an d I sob b ed veh em ently and

, , ,
‘
cried alou d Why why is not b rother Richart h ere an d
, , ,
not his nam e only ? I sp ak e in D utch fo r my h eart was ,
t oo ful l to ho l d th eir foreign to ngue s an d ,
E li Well Richart g o on 1 a d prithe e g o ou

.
, I s this
, , , .
a pl ace t o halt a t ?
R i ch a r t Fath er with my duty t o you it is ea sy to s a y
.
, ,
g o on but think y e I a m no t fl es h and b l o o d ?

, The p o o r
b oy s— simpl e grief and brotherly l ove coming— s o su d den
’
-
on m e th ey g o through my h eart and— I cannot g o on ;
,
sink m e if I can even s ee the word s tis writ so fi n e ,

’
.
Cou r a g e z go o d Master R i c h a r t l
'
D en y s . Tak e your
tim e .Here are m ore eyne wet than yours Ah littl e com
. .
,
”
rade ! wo uld G od t hou wert h ere an d I at Venice for thee , .
“ '
R i ch ar t Po or littl e curly h eade d la d what had h e

.
-
,
”
done that we have driven him s o far ?
3 90 TH E CL O ISTER AND THE H EARTH
D ear father dear m other wh at can we do to pl easure
, ,
th e ab sent b ut b e kin d to his p o or l ass ; and h er own troub l e

,
afore h er ?
“
Tis w ell !
’
said Eli ; b ut I a m ol der than th ou .
Then h e turn ed gravely to Margaret : Wilt answer m e a

qu estion my p retty m istress ?
,
”
If I m ay sir f al tered Mar gar et
, ,
.
What ar e th es e m arriage lin es Gerard sp e a k s of in the

l etter ?
O ur mar riage l ines s i r His and mine Know you , . .
not that w e are b etrothe d ?
B efore wi tn es ses ?
A y sure ,
My p o or father an d Mart in W i t t en h a a g en
. .
T hi s i s t h e fi r s t I ever h e a r d of i t How cam e th ey .
in hi s hands ? Th ey sho ul d b e in yours .
’
Al as s i r the more is my grief ; but I n e er doub te d
, ,
h im ; an d he sai d it was a comfort t o him to h ave th em in

”
his b o som .
Y ar e a very fo oli s h lass

’
.
Indeed I was sir B ut troubl e tea ches th e simpl e

, . .
Tis a go o d answer
’
Well fo olis h or n o y a re h onest .
, ,
’
.
I had shown y e m or e resp ect at fi r s t b ut I th ou ght y h a d ’
b een hi s l eman an d th at is th e truth , .
G od forb id s ir ! D enys m ethink s tis tim e f or u s to ’

’
, ,
go . Give m e my l etter sir , .
B id e y e i b ide y e i b e n ot s o h ot f or a wo rd ! Nath e
les s w ife m ethi nk s her re d che ek b ec om es h er
, , .
B etter th an it di d you to g ive it h er my m an , .
S oftly w ife softly , I a m not counted an unj ust m an

,
.
thof I b e s om ewhat slow .
H ere Richart b roke i n W h y mistress di d y e sh ed .

, ,
-
your b lo o d fo r our Gerard ?

“
N ot I s i r B ut m ayb e I woul d
, . .
Nay n ay B ut h e says you di d

,
. Sp eak s o oth now ! .
Al as ! I know not what yo u m ean I rede y e b elieve .
n ot a l l that my p o or l ad says of m e L ove mak e s him .
”
b l ind .
Tr aitress ! cried D enys L et n ot her throw du st .
in thine eyes Master Richart , Ol d Martin tells m e— y e .
—
n ee d not mak e si g nal s to m e sh e comrade ; I a m a s b lind -
,
as love Martin tell s m e sh e cut h er arm an d l et her blo o d ,
fl ow an d sm eare d h er heel s when Gerard w as hunte d by

,
”
the bl o o dhounds t o turn th e scent from h er l ad , .
Well an d if I did twas my own and sp ill ed for th e

, ,
’
,
”
go o d of my own said Margar et d efi a n t l y , But Catherine .
su ddenly cl asp ing her s h e b egan to cry at havin g found ,
a b o som to cry on of one who would have al so sh ed her ,
b l 3 od for Gerard in d a n ger .

Eli ro se from his chair Wife said h e sol emnly .
, ,
y ou wil l s et another chair at ou r tabl e for every m eal :

al so another plate an d knife They will b e for Margaret .
an d P eter S he will c om e wh en sh e likes an d stay away

.
,
when s h e pl eas es No ne may take her pla ce at my l ef t

.
hand Su ch a s can welcom e her are welcom e to m e

. Su ch .
a s cannot I force th em not to abi de with m e

, The worl d .
is wide and free Within my walls I a m m aster an d my

.
,
son s b etrothed is welcom e

’
.
C ath erine hu stle d ou t to prep are supp er Eli an d .
Ri chart sat down an d conco cted a letter to b rin g Gerard

hom e Richart promise d it sh ould g o by s ea to Rom e
.
that very week Sy b r a n d t and Cornelis exchan ge d a

.
glo omy wink an d stole ou t , Margaret seein g Gile s deep .

,
in m editation for the dwarf s intelligence had tak en giant

,
’
strid es aske d him to b rin g her th e l etter

,
You hav e .
heard but half go o d m aster Giles said she

, Sh all I re a d , .
you the rest ?

I shall b e mu ch b eholden to you sh oute d th e sonorou s ,
atom .
She gave him her sto ol : curio sity b owe d his pride to sit
o n i t ; and Margaret murmured the fi r s t p art of th e letter
into his ear very low not to disturb Eli an d Richart An d, .
to do thi s s h e leaned forward and put her lo vely face cheek

,
by j owl with G il es s hi deou s on e : a stran ge contrast an d

’
,
worth a p ainter s while to try and represent ’

An d in thi s .
attitude Catherine found her and al l th e m other warm ed ,
towards her and sh e exchanged an elo quent glance with

,
little Kate .
The latter smil ed an d sewed with dro op ing l ashe s , ,
Get him hom e on th e instant ro ar e d Giles , .
mak e a m an of him .
Hear the b oy said Catherine half comical ly half

, , ,
p rou dly .
We hear him said Richart ; a mo stly makes himself

,
heard when a do sp eak .
S y br a n d t Wh ich. will get to him fi r s t ?

C or n el i s ( glo om i ly ) . Who can te l l ?
3 92 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HEART H
C HAPTER LV
-
A B O U T two m onth s b efore th is s cen e in E l i s h om e the ’

,
n atives of a littl e m a r itim e pl ace b etween N apl es and R om e

might b e s een fl ock i n g to the s ea b each with eyes cast s e a ,
war d at a shi p that lab oure d a gai nst a s t i fi gal e bl owing

,
dead o n the shore .
A t tim es sh e seem ed likely to weath er th e dan ger an d ,
th en th e sp ectators con gratul ate d h er al ou d : at others th e

i
win d an d s ea drove h er v s i bly n ear er an d th e l o okers on ,

-
w ere not without a s ecret satisfa ctio n th ey woul d not h ave

o wne d even to th em selves .
Non qu i a v exa r i qu e m qu a m es t j u cu n d a vol u pt a s

S e d qu i b u s 1
p se m a li s c a r eas qu i a c e r n e r e s u a v e es t .
And th e p o or ship thou gh n ot s ci en t i fi c a l l y b uilt f or s a i ling

, ,
was admir a bly co nstru cte d for go i n g ashore with her ext r a v a ,
gant p o op that cau ght the wind an d h er lines lik e a co cke d ,
hat reverse d To tho s e on th e b e ac h t hat b attere d lab our

.
ing fram e of wo o d s e eme d alive an d stru gglin g against ,
death with a p antin g hear t B ut coul d th ey h ave b een .
transferre d to her de ck they wo ul d have s een s h e h ad not

on e b eating heart b ut m any an d n ot o n e nature b ut a s core ,
were com i n g out clear in that fe arful hour .
The mar iners stumbl e d wil d ly ab out th e deck handl in g ,
th e rop es a s each thou ght fi t and cursin g and prayin g ,
al ternately .
Th e p assen gers were hu ddl ed to gether roun d th e m ast ,
s om e sitting som e kne elin g som e lyin g p ro strate and

, , ,
g rasp in g the b ulwa r k s a s th e vessel roll ed an d p itched in

th e mighty waves One com ely young man who se ashy
.
,
cheek but compres se d lip s sh owe d how hard terror was

, ,
b attling in him with self —resp ect sto o d a little ap art hol d , ,
ing tight b y a shrou d and wincin g at each s e a , It was the .
ill fate d Gerard

-
Meantim e p rayers and vows ro se i r om the
.
tremblin g thron g amid ship s and to hear them it s eemed -

, , ,
,
there were a mo st as m any go ds ab out as m en and wom en

l
.
The s a il ors indee d relied on a singl e go ddess

, , Th ey varied .
her titl es o nly cal lin g on her a s Qu een of Heaven

, Star ,
” ” ”
of th e S ea , Mistress of the Worl d Haven of S afety , .
But amon g th e landsmen Polytheism raged Even tho se .
who by som e strang e chance hit on th e s am e divin ity did

not hit on th e sam e editio n of that divinity A n Engl ish .
m erchant vowed a h eap of gold to o ur lady of Walsingham .
B ut a Geno e s e m erchant vo we d a silver co l l a r of four

3 94 THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
Ay , th ere I do b eli eve sat Anti q u ity am on g tho se m edi ,
aev al s S ixteen hun dre d years had not tainte d th e ol d

.
Rom an blo o d in h e r veins ; an d th e in stin ct of a race sh e

had p erhap s s carce h ear d of tau ght her to di e with de cent
di gni ty .
A gi g a ntic friar sto o d o n th e p o op with fe et ap art ; li k e

the Colo ssu s of Rho de s no t s o mu ch d efying as i gnorin g , , ,
th e p eril that surrounded him H e re cited vers e s from the .
Canticl es with a lou d unwaverin g vo ice ; and in vite d th e

p assen gers to conf ess to h i m S om e d i d s o o n th eir knees . . .
an d he h eard th em an d l a i d hi s h ands o n t h em an d ab solve d

, ,
th em as i f he had b een i n a snug sacristy instead of a ,
p erishin g ship Gerard g ot n earer a n d nearer to h i m b y

.
,
the instinct th at tak es th e waverin g to th e sid e of th e

imp re gnab l e An d in truth th e c oura ge of her oe s facing
.
,
fl es hl y o dd s might have p al e d by th e si de of that gi ganti c

friar an d his st i ll m ore gi gantic comp o sure
,
Thu s even .
,
h ere two were foun d who mai nt ai ne d th e di g nity o f o ur

,
race : a wom an tender yet heroic and a mo nk st e el e d by

, , ,
reli gio n agai n st m ortal fears

An d now th e s ai l b ein g go n e t he s ai l ors cut down th e
.
, ,
u sel ess m ast a fo ot a b ove th e b o a rd a n d it fell with i t s ,

’
remaining h amp er over th e sh i p s sid e Th is se em ed to . .
reli eve h er a littl e .
But now th e hull n o lon ger imp ell e d b y canvas coul d

, ,
not k eep ah ead of th e s ea It stru ck h er a gain an d a gain .
on th e p o op an d the trem en dou s bl ows s eem ed given b y

,
a ro cky m ountai n n ot b y a liqui d , .
Th e captain l eft th e h elm an d cam e ami dship s p al e a s

”
.
de ath .Lighten h er h e cried Fling all overb o ard

, .
,
or w e shal l founder ere we strik e an d lo s e th e o ne littl e ,
chance we h ave of life W h il e th e s a i l ors were exe cuting

.
thi s order th e cap t ai n p al e hi m self and s u rrounded b y

, , ,
p al e fa ces that dem an de d to know their fate was t al kin g ,
a s unlik e an English skipp er in lik e p er i l a s c a n we l l b e

”
imagined Friends
. s ai d h e last ni ght when a l l was
, ,
fa i r to o fair al a s l there cam e a gl ob e of fi r e clo se to th e

, ,
'
shi p Wh en a p a i r of th em come it i s go o d l u ck an d
.
,
nou ght can dr own h er that voyage W e m a ri n ers call .
th es e fi e r y gl ob e s Castor and Pollux But if Ca sto r com e .
without Pollux or P ollux without Castor s h e i s d o ome d

, , .
”
Therefore lik e go o d Chri stian s p rep are to die
, , .
These words were r eceived with a l ou d wail .
To a trembling inqu iry how l on g they had to prep ar e ,
the captain replied Sh e m ay or m ay not la st hal f an h Our ;

, ,
-
,
over t h a t 1 m p os s i b 1 e ; sh e le a k s lik e a sieve ; bu stle m en

, , ,
lighten her .
Th e p oor p a s sengers seiz ed on everyt h i n g tha t w as on

d eck and flung it o verb o ard Presently th ey laid hol d of .
a heavy sack ; an ol d m an was lying o n i t s ea sick They , .
lu gged it from und er him It rattl ed Two of them drew . .
it to the sid e ; up started th e own er an d with an un earthly ,
shriek p ounced on i t
, Holy Mo ses ! what woul d you do ?
.
’
’
Tis my al l ; ti s the whol e fruits of my j ourney ; silver
candlesticks silver plates b ro o ches hanap s
, , ,
L et go thou ho ary Villain

, cried th e others ; shal l ,
all our lives b e lo st for thy il l gotten gear ? Fling him -
”
in with i t cried on e ;
, tis this E b r ew we Christian m en ’
”
are drowned for Numb ers so o n wrench ed it from him
.
,
an d heaved it over th e side It splashed into th e waves . .
Then its owner uttered on e cry of anguish an d sto o d ,
glaring his white hair stre amin g in the wind an d was goin g
, ,
to leap after i t and would had it fl o ated

, But it sank , .
,
and was gone f or ever ; an d he staggered to and fro tearin g ,
his hair and cursed them and th e ship and the s e a and
, , ,
al l th e p owers of h eaven and hell al ik e .
And now th e captain cried ou t : S ee th ere i s a church ,
in sight Steer f or that church mate an d you frien ds

.
, , , ,
”
pray to th e saint wh oe er h e b e ,
’
.
S o they steere d for th e church an d prayed to th e u n

known go d it was nam ed aft er A trem en dou s sea p o op e d .
them b roke the ru dder and j amme d it immovable an d

, , ,
flo o ded the deck .
Then wil d with sup erstitiou s terro r som e of them came

round Gerard H ere is the cau s e of all
. they cried , .
H e h a s n ever invoke d a singl e saint H e i s a h eathen ; .
here is a p agan ab o ard .
Alas go o d friends s a y not s o said Gerard his te eth

, , , ,
chatterin g with col d an d fear Rather c a ll th ese heathens .

,
th at lie a p rayin g to the s ea Friends I do honour the .

,
saints— b ut I dare not pray t o th em now there i s n o -
time— ( oh l) what avail me D ominic and Thoma s and , ,

’
Cath erin e ? N earer Go d s throne than thes e S t P eter sit .
’
teth ; an d if I pray to him it s o d d b ut I sh al l b e drowned , ,
ere h e h as tim e to pl ead my cau se with G od Oh ! oh l oh ! .
I mu st n eed go straight to Him that made the s e a an d the ,
saints and m e
,
Our Fath er which art in h eaven s ave
.
, ,
th ese p o or so ul s and m e that cry for th e b are life ! Oh .
sweet J es u s p itiful J es u s th a t didst walk G en ez a r et when

, ,
P eter sank and wept for L a z a r u s d e a d when th e ap o stl e s

’ '
eyes were dry oh save p oor Gerard— fo r d ear M a rgaret s

, ,
’
sake !
A t thi s mom ent the sailors were seen prep arin g to d esert
th e sinkin g ship in t h e littl e b o at whi ch even at that ep o ch ,
every ship carried ; then th ere was a ru sh of egotists ; a n d

thirty so u l s crowded into i t Remained b ehin d thre e wh o .
3 96 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEAR T H
were b ewil dered and two wh o were p aralys e d with terror
, ,
.
Th e p aralys ed sat lik e h eap s of w et rags th e b ewildered ,
o nes ran to and fro and s a w th e thirty egotists p ut off , ,
b ut m ade no attemp t to j o in them : onl y k ep t running to

and fro and wrin gin g th eir hands
,
B eside s th es e th ere .
was on e on h i s kn ees p raying o ver th e wo o den statu e of ,
th e V ir gin Mary a s l arge a s life which th e sail ors had

, ,
reverently detach ed fro m th e m ast It wash e d ab out the .
d eck a s the water cam e slushin g in from the s ea and

, ,
p ourin g o ut at th e s cupp ers ; an d this p o or soul kept

followin g it on his knee s with his hand s clasp ed at i t and , ,
th e water pl aying with i t And th ere wa s th e J ew p al sied .

,
b ut n ot b y fear H e was n o longer cap abl e of s o p etty a

.
p as sion H e s a t cro ss le gged

. b em o anin g h i s b ag and -
, ,
when ever th e S p ray l ash ed h i m sho ok his fi s t at where it ,
cam e from and cu rse d th e N az ar enes and their go ds and

, , ,
their d evils an d their ship s and th eir water s to all eternity

, , , .
An d th e gigantic D om inican h avin g shr iven the wh ol e ,
ship sto o d calmly commun in g with his own sp irit

,
An d .
th e R oman wom an s a t p al e an d p atient o nly drawin g her ,
chil d clo ser to h er b o som as d e ath cam e n earer .
Gerard saw thi s an d it awak en e d his m anho o d, .
’
S ee ! s ee ! h e said th ey h ave ta en th e b o at an d ,
”
l eft th e p o or wom an an d h er chil d to p erish .
Hi s he art so on s et hi s wi t workin g .
’
Wife I ll save the e yet pl eas e Go d
, An d he ran to , .
fi n d a cask or a p lank to flo at her There wa s none . .
Th en hi s eye fell o n th e wo o den ima ge of the V i r g in .
H e cau ght it up in hi s arm s and heedl e s s of a wail th at ,
issu ed from i t s w orshi pp er lik e a child robb ed of its t oy ,
ran aft with i t Com e wife he cri ed

. I ll lash the e , , .
’
’
and th e chil d to this Tis sore worm eaten ; b ut twill .
’
s erve .
She turn ed her great d ark eye on h i m and said a singl e

word :
Thys el f ?
But with wonderful ma gn animity and tenderness .
”
I am a man a nd have no ch il d to tak e care of
, .
Ah ! said s h e an d his word s s eemed to animate h er

,
face with a d esire to live H e lash ed th e ima ge to her side . .
Then with th e hop e of life s h e lo st somethin g of h er h eroi c

c al m ; not mu ch : h er b o dy trembled a littl e b ut not h er ,
eye .
Th e ship was now s o l ow in t h e water th at by u si ng an

oar as a l ever h e coul d slid e her into the waves .
”
Com e s ai d h e wh il e yet th ere i s tim e
, , .
Sh e turne d h er gr eat Roman eyes w et now up on him ,
P o or y o h l Go d forgive m e 1 —m y ch il d !
.
,
u t — An d h e
‘
3 98 THE CL O ISTER AND T HE HE ARTH
He left th e m ast accordin gly an d ex tendin g hi s p owerful ,
ar m s ru shed thr ou gh th e water

,
Gerard so on foll owed him . .
A t each overp owering wave th e monk sto o d l i ke a tower ,
an d clo sing his m outh threw his h ead b a ck to encounter i t , ,
an d was ent i rely lo st under i t awhil e : then em erge d and

plou gh ed lustil y on A t l ast th ey cam e cl o s e to th e shore ;
.
b ut th e su ctio n outward b a th e d a l l th eir attempts to land .
Th en th e n atives sent stout fi sh er m en into th e s ea h ol ding ,
b y l ong sp ear s in a tripl e chain ; and so dragged th em

ashore .
Th e fri ar sho ok him sel f b estowe d a short p atern al ,
b enedi ctio n on th e natives an d went o n to Ro me with , ,
eyes b ent o n e a rth a ccording to h i s rul e an d with out ,
p aus ing H e di d not even cast a gl ance b a ck up on that

.
s ea which had s o n ear ly en gul fed h i m but h ad n o p ower to

, ,
h a rm h i m without hi s M aster s l eave

,
’
.
Wh i le h e stal ks o n al o ne to R om e with out lo oking b ack ,
I who a m not in th e s ervice of Holy Church stop a m om ent

, ,
to s a y that th e reader an d I were within s ix in ches of th i s

gi an t once b efore ; b ut we es cap ed hi m that ti m e N ow .
I fear w e are in for him G erard gr asp e d every han d up o n.
the b each Th ey b rou ght him to an e norm ou s fi r e a n d

.
,
with a delica cy he woul d h a r dl y h ave encountered in the

north l eft him to dry hi ms elf al on e : o n this h e to ok ou t of
,
his b o som a p a rchm ent and a p ap er a nd dr i ed th em care , ,
fu l ly Wh en thi s wa s d on e t o hi s m ind an d no t till then

.
, ,
h e co ns ente d to pu t on a fi sh er m a n s dre s s an d l eave his ’
own b y th e fi r e an d went d owl l to th e b each , Wh at h e .
s a w m ay b e b riefly rel ated .
Th e captain stu ck b y th e shi p not so much from g al ,
lantry as from a co nvictio n that -i t was idl e to res ist Castor

,
or Pollux whichever it was that ha d Co me for hi m in a b a ll

,
of fi re .
N everthel es s th e s ea b rok e th e ship an d swep t th e -

up
p oop capt ai n an d a l l cl ear of t h e rest an d to ok h i m s a fe

, , ,
a shore Gerar d h ad a princip al hand i n p ul li n g h i m out

. .
of th e water Th e di sconsolate Heb rew l an ded on a n ot h er

'
fra gment and on tou chi ng earth ofi é

.
, red a reward for h i s ,
b ag which excited littl e sy mp athy b ut som e am us ement

, , .
Two m ore were s aved o n pi eces o f th e wreck

'
Th e th irty .
e gotists cam e ashore b u t on e at a time an d d ead ; on e , ,
b reathed sti l l Him th e nati ves with ex cell ent i ntentions

.
, ,
to ok to a ho t fi r e S o then h e to o reti red from thi s sh i ftin g

.
s cene .
As Gerar d sto o d by th e s ea watchi ng w ith h o rro r an d ,
curio sity mixed h i s late comp anions wash ed a sho re a hand

, ,
was laid li g h tly on his shoulder H e turned It w as t h e . .

'
R om a n m atron b urnin g with wom a nly gratitu de , Sh e .

to ok h i s hand gently and raising it slowly to h er lip s kisse d

, ,
i t ; but so nobly s h e seemed to b e co nferring an honour on

,
on e deserving hand Then with face all b eaming and m oist

.
eyes sh e held her chil d up an d made him kiss his p reserver

, .
Gera r d kissed th e chil d more than once H e was fon d .
of childr en B ut h e said nothin g

. H e was mu ch m oved ; .
f or s h e did not sp eak a t all excep t with her eyes and gl ow , ,
ing cheeks and noble antiqu e gesture s o large and stately

, , .
Perhap s she was ri ght Gratitu de i s not a thing of words . .
It was an ancient R oman matron thanking a m o dern from

her heart of hearts
N ext day t oward s afterno on Gerard— twice as ol d a s
.
last year thrice as l earned in human ways a b oy no mo re

, , ,
but a man who ha d shed blo o d in self defence and graz ed -

,
the grave by land and s ea — reache d the Eternal City ; p os t

to! /
n a u r ag i a l u t us .
CHAPTER L V I
G ER A RD took a modest lo d ging on th e west b ank of the

Tib er and every day went forth in search of work taking
, ,
a sp ecimen round t o every shop h e could h ear of that

executed su ch commissions .
They receive d him coldly W e mak e ou r letter som e .
what thinner than this said on e How dark your ink , .
”
is,
said another But th e main cry was ;
. What avail s
this ? S cant is th e L a t in writ here now Can y e not wri t e .
Greek ?
Ay but not nigh so well as Latin
,
.
Then you shall never mak e your b read at Rome .
Gerard b orrowed a b eautiful Greek manu script at a

hi gh price and went home with a s a d hole in his purse
, ,
but none in his courage .
In a fortnigh t h e h ad made vas t p 1 o gress with th e Greek

character ; so then to lo se n o time h e u sed to work at it
, ,
til l no on and hunt cu st om ers th e rest of the day

, .
When h e carried round a b etter Greek sp ecim en than

any they p ossessed th e traders inform ed him that Greek ,
an d Latin were alike unsaleabl e ; th e city was thronged with

wo rks from all Europ e H e shoul d have com e last year . .
Gerard b ou ght a p saltery His l andlady plea sed with .

,
his lo oks and manners u se d often to sp eak a kind word in ,
p assin g One day s h e mad e him din e with her and som e
.
,
what to his surprise asked him what had dashed his spirits .
H e told her She gave him her r ea d i n g of the matter '
. .
Those sly traders sh e woul d b e b ound ha d writers

, ,
4 00 TH E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
in their p ay f or wh o s e work th ey received a nobl e p ri ce
, ,
and p a i d a sorry on e S o no wonder they b l ow col d on y ou

. .
Methinks yo u write t oo well How know I that ? s ay you .

.
.
Marry—Tm a r r y b ecau s e you l o ck not your do o r l ik e the churl

, ,
Pietro an d wom en will b e cur i ou s

,
A y a y you write to o .
, ,
well for th em
’f
.
Gerard a s k ed an expl anation .
Why said s h e ,
yo ur go o d wo 1 k might put out th e , ,
eyes of that they a r e s ell in g

”
.
Gerard sighed Al as ! d am e yo u read folk Ou t h e

.
,
ill side an d y ou so kind and frank yourself .
My dear littl e h e art thes e Romans are a subtl e race ,
M e ? I a m a S iennes e thank s to th e V irgin ”

,
.
My mistake w a s l eaving s ai d Gerar d

Au gsburg ? said sh e hau ghtily : i s that a pl ace to
”
even t o Rom e ? I n ever h eard of i t for my p art ,
.
Sh e th en assured him that h e shoul d m ake h i s fortune

in S p ite of th e b o ok sel l ers S eein g th ee a stranger th ey .
,
lie to the e without s ense or di scretion Why a l l th e w orl d .

,
knows that ou r great folk are b itten with th e writing sp ider

this m any years an d p ou r ou t th eir m oney lik e water and
, ,
turn go o d l an d and hou ses into writ sheep skins to k eep in ,
a ch est or a cupb o ard Go d help them an d send them s afe .

,
t hrough th i s fu r y a s H e hath throu gh a h eap of oth ers ;

,
and in so oth hath b een som ewhat l ess cuttin g and stab b ing
among rival factions and vindictive eating of their opp o ,
site s livers minc ed an d fried since S cr i bbling cam e i n

’
, , _ .
Why I can tell y ou two

, There i s his eminence C ardinal .
B a s s a r i on an d h is holiness th e Pop e him self

, Th ere h e a .
p air coul d keep a score such a s the e a writin g night a nd

’
day . But I ll sp eak to Teresa ; s h e h ears the go ssip o f the
court .
Th e next d a y s h e tol d h i m s h e had s een Teresa a n d h a d ,
h eard of fi v e m ore si gn ors who were b itten with the writing

S p ider Gerard to ok down the i r nam es an d b ou ght p arch
.
,
m ent and bu si ed himself fo r so m e days in p rep aring sp eci

,
m ens H e l eft on e with h i s n am e an d ad dress at each

.
, ,
’
of th es e si g nors do ors and hop eful ly awai t ed th e result , .
Th ere w a s none .
D a y after d ay p assed and l eft him heartsick .
And strange to say this was j ust th e tim e wh en Marg a ret

was fi ghting s o h a rd against o dd s to feed h er m al e d ep en d
ents at Rotterdam and arreste d for curin g without a licence
,
inste ad of killing with on e .
Gerard saw r u in stari ng him in th e face .
H e sp ent th e afterno o ns picking up canzon e ts and

m astering them H e lai d in playing card s to colour and
.
,
struck off a m eal p er day .

4 02 THE CL O I STE R AND THE HEARTH
to numb er your m e al s —
for m e an d th e D utch wife your ,
m oth er that is f ar away : we two women sh all set t le that

,
m atter . Mind th ou thin e own b u siness b ein g a m a n an d , ,
leave co okin g an d the lik e to u s that are in th e worl d for ,
littl e els e th at I s e e b ut to ro ast fowl s an d su ckle m en at ,
start i n g a n d sweep th eir gr own up cobweb s

, .
D ear kind dam e in so oth yo u do o ften p ut me in min d

,
of my m other that i s f a r away .
All t h e b etter ; I ll p ut yo u more in min d of h er b efore

’
I have do n e with you And th e hon est soul b eam e d with

.
pl easure .
Ger ar d no t b ein g an egotist n or blinde d b y femal e

’
p artiali ti es s aw his own grief in p o o r prou d Pietro ; and

,
t h e m ore h e thought of it th e m ore h e r e s Ol v e d to share hi s

humbl e m ean s with that unlucky art i st ; Pietro s sym p athy ’
woul d rep ay h im H e tri ed to waylay him ; b ut wi t hou t

.
su ccess .
One day h e heard a gr oanin g in th e ro o m H e kno ck e d .
at th e do or b ut receive d n o answer
, H e kno ck e d a gain . .
A l s u r l y vo ice b ade him enter .
"
H e ob eye d somewh at timidl y an d entere d a garret .
,
furni she d with a cha i r a p icture face to w al l an i ro n b asin

, , , ,
an eas el an d a lon g chest o n which was coil ed a h aggard

, ,
youn g m an with a wonderfull y b right eye Anything m ore .
lik e a coil e d cob ra rip e for str i king th e fi r s t com er was never
se en .
Go o d S i g no r Pietro s ai d Gerard for give m e that , , ,
weary of my own solitu de I intru d e on yours ; b ut I a m ,
your ni ghest neighb our in this h ou se and m ethink s your ,
b roth er in fortun e I a m an a rtist t o o . .
You ar e a p ainter ? Welcom e S i gn o r

-
S it down o n , .
”
my b ed .
An d Pietro j ump e d off an d wave d him into th e vacant

thron e with a m a gn i fi c en t demonstratio n of courtesy .
Gerard b owed an d sm il e d ; b ut h esitat ed a littl e

, I .
m ay n ot c all myself a p ainter I a m a writer a c al i gr a p h .

,
-
.
I copy Greek an d L atin m anu scripts wh en I can get th em ,

-
”
to copy .
An d y ou call that an artist ?

Without o f fence to your sup erio r m erit Si gno r Pietro ,
.
N o o ffence stranger n one , Onl y m eseem eth an ,

.
,
artist i s on e who think s an d p aints his thou ght Now a

, .
c a l i gr a p h b ut draws in bl ack an d wh ite th e thou ghts o f -
another .
’
Ti s wel l distin guish ed ; S i gnor But then a wri ter .
,
can write the thou ghts o f th e great ancient s ; and ma tters

of pure reason su ch a s no man m ay p aint : a y and '
, , ,
th e thou ghts of Go d which angel s could not p aint , But .

THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEART H
let th at pass I a m a p ainter a s well ; b ut a sorry
.
one .
The b etter thy luck They w i ll buy thy work in .
”
Rom e .
B u t s e ek i n g to comm end mys elf to o ne of t h y emi

.
n en c e I th ou ght it well rath er to cal l myself a cap abl e

,
writer than a s curvy p ainter

, .
A t this mo ment a step was h eard on th e stair Ah ! .
’
ti s th e go o d d a me cried Gerard Wh at ho l ho stess
,
.
,
I a m here in co nversatio n with Si gnor Pietro I dare say .
”
he will l et m e h ave my humbl e dinner h ere .
Th e Italian b owed gravely .
Th e landlady brou ght in Gerard s dinn er smoking an d ’
savoury Sh e put th e dish down on the b e d with a face

.
divested of all exp ressio n an d went , .
Ger a rd fell to But ere h e had eaten many m outhfuls

.
,
h e stopp ed an d said : I a m an ill m ann ered churl S i gnor

,
-
,
Pietro I ne er eat to my mind wh en I eat alon e

.
’
F or our .
L ady s sake put a spo on into this ragout with m e ; tis not
’ ’
unsavoury I promise y ou , .
Pietro fi x e d hi s glittering eye on him .
What go o d youth tho u a stranger and otf er es t m e

‘
, , ,
thy dinn er ?
Why s e e th ere i s m ore than on e can eat
, , .
Well I accept sai d Pi etro ; an d to ok th e dish with

, ,
som e app earance of calmness and nun g th e contents ou t ,
of wind ow .
Then he turned trembling with m or t i fi c a t i on an d ire , ,
and said : Let that teach the e to offer alm s to an artist

”
thou knowest no t master writer , .
Gerard s face flu she d with an ger an d it co st him a b itter

’
,
’
stru ggl e n ot t o b ox this hi gh soule d creature s ears An d -
.
then to g o and d estroy go o d fo o d ! His mother s milk ’
curdled in hi s veins with horror at su ch imp iety Finally .

,
p ity at Pietro s p etulance an d egotism and a tou ch of resp e ct

’
for p overty struck p ride p revailed -

,
.
However h e said coldly Lik ely wh at thou hast done

, ,
might p ass in a novel of thy countryman Si gno r B o ccaccio ; ,
but twas not hone st

’
.
Make that go o d ! said t h e p ainter sullenly .
I off ered thee half my dinner ; no more But .
thou hast ta en it all Hadst a right to throw away

’
.
thy s h are but not mine , Pride is well but j ustice i s .

,
b etter .
Pietro stare d then r efl e ct ed ,

.
Tis well
’
I to ok thee for a fo o l s o transparent wa s
.
,
thine a r t i fi c e Forgive m e ! And prithe e leave m e ! Thou

.
s e est how ti s with me Th e worl d hath soured m e I

’
. .
4 04 THE CL O ISTE R AND TH E HEARTH
hate ma nk ind I was not a lways s o . O nce m o re excus e .
th at my discourte sy an d fare the e well , .
Gerard sigh ed and m a de for th e do o r , .
But su dde nl y a th ou ght stru ck him S i gnor Pietro .

,
said h e we D utchm en are har d b argainers

, We ar e t h e .
l ads een ei j s ch eeren th at i s to shave an e gg There ,

’
, .
’
fore I fo r my lo st dinn er d o cl aim to feast mine eyes o n

, , ,
”
your p icture who s e face i s toward th e wall, .
“ ”
Nay nay s aid th e p ainter hastil y
, , ask m e n ot ,
that ; I h ave al rea dy misco ndu cte d myself enou gh toward s

th ee I woul d n ot sh e d thy blo o d
.
S aints forb id ! My blo o d ?

”
S tranger said Pi etro sull enl y irritate d b y rep eate d
, ,
insul ts to my p icture wh i ch is my chil d my heart I di d in , , ,
a moment o f rage m ak e a sol emn v ow to drive my dagger

into th e n ext on e th at sh oul d fl ou t i t and the l ab our an d ,
”
love that I h ave given to i t .
Wh at are a ll to b e slain th at wil l n o t prais e thi s

,
p icture ? and h e l o oke d at its b ack with curio sity .
N ay nay ; if y ou woul d b ut lo ok at i t an d hol d you r

, ,
p arrot ton gues B ut yo u will b e tal kin g .S o I have turned .

‘
it t o th e wall for ever Woul d I w ere d ea d an d b urie d .

,
in it for my co f fi n !
Gerard r efl e ct e d .
I accep t the co nditions Show m e th e p i cture ! I can .
”
but h ol d my p eace .
Pietro w ent an d turne d its face an d p u t it in th e b est ,
li ght th e ro om a ff o rded an d coil e d —hims elf a gain o n his ,
chest with his ey e an d stil etto glitterin g

, , , .
Th e p icture repres ente d th e V irgin an d Christ flying ,
throu gh the air in a sort o f clou d of sh adowy ch erub i c

faces ; un dern eath was a lands cap e forty or fi f t y mile s i n ,
extent an d a p urpl e s k y ab ove

, .
G erard sto o d an d lo oked at it in sil ence Th en h e .
stepp ed clo s e an d lo oke d T h en h e retire d a s far o ff

, .
a s h e co ul d and l o oke d ; b ut said not a word

, .
Wh en h e h ad b een a t this gam e half an hour Pietro ,
crie d out qu er ul ou sly an d som ewhat inco nsi stently : Well ,
h ave y ou n ot a word to s a y ab ou t i t ?
Gerard started I cry you r m ercy ; I fo rgo t there .
”
were three of u s h ere A y I h ave mu ch to s a y An d h e .
, .
drew his sword .
Alas ! a l a s l cried Pi etro j ump in g in terro r from his ,
Wh at wouldst thou ?
Marry d efen d mys elf a gainst thy b o dkin S i gn or ; and
, ,
at d u e o dds b eing a s af oresaid a D utchman

, Th erefore , , .
hol d alo of while I deliver j ud gm ent or I will p i n th ee t o

,
, ,
”
th e wal l lik e a co ckchafer
, .
4 06 THE C L O ISTE R AN D THE HEARTH
Well m o nster w i lt b e gentl e now and sup with m e ?
, , ,
Ah ! th at I will Whith er go est thou ? .
To ord er supp er on th e instant W e will have th e .
”
p ictur e f or third m an .
I will in vi te it whil es tho u art gon e My p o or p icture .

,
”
ch il d of my hear t .
Ah m aster tw il l lo ok on many a supp er af ter the

, ,
’
”
worm s have eaten you an d m e .
”
I hop e s o sai d Pietro , .
C HAPTER LV I I
A B O U T a week ai ter this th e two frien ds s a t workin g t o -
gether b ut no t in the sam e sp irit

,
Pietro dash e d fi t f ul l y .
at his an d di d wo nders i n a few mi nutes an d then di d

, ,
nothin g ex cep t ab u s e i t ; th en p res ently resum ed it in

,
a fury to l ay it down with a groan

, Throu gh al l which .
kep t cal mly working cal mly sm iling th e canny D utchm an , , .
T o b e plain Gerard who n ever h ad a friend h e di d no t

, ,
m aster h ad put his O na gra in har ne ss

, Th e friends w ere .
p aintin g pl aying c ard s to b oil th e p ot .
Wh en done th e in di gn ant m aster to ok up his p icture

,
to m ak e hi s da i ly tour in s e arch of a cu stom er .
Gerar d b egged h i m to tak e th e card s as w ell a n d try ,
an d s ell them H e lo oked all the rattl e snak e bu t even

.
-
,
t u a l l y emb raced Gerar d in th e It al ian fashion an d to ok ,
th em after fi r s t dryin g th e l ast fi n i sh e d o nes in th e s u n

, ,
which was now p ow erf ul in th at happy cli m e .
Gerar d l eft al on e exe cute d a Greek l etter or two an d

, , ,
then m ende d a littl e rent i n his ho s e H i s l an dl ady foun d .
h i m thu s employed an d inqu ire d iro ni c al l y wheth er th ere

,
were n o wom en in th e h ous e .
Wh en you have don e that s ai d s h e com e an d tal k , ,
t o Ter es a my frien d I sp ok e to the e of that hath a hu sb an d

, ,
n ot go o d for mu ch whi ch b rags his a cquaintan ce with th e

,
”
great .
Gerar d went down an d wh o shoul d T ere sa b e b ut th e ,
Roman m atron .
Ah m adam a , s aid h e is it y ou ? Th e go o d dam e

, ,
told m e not that —

An d th e littl e fair h a i re d b oy i s b e well ?
.
,
i s h e none th e wors e for his voya ge in th at stran ge b o at ?

H e i s well said th e m atron , .
Why wh at ar e you two talki n g ab out ?

, s aid th e
landl ady starin g at them b oth in turn ;
, an d why trembl e
you s e T eresa m i a ?
,
‘
’
He saved my child s life said Teresa making an e ff ort , ,
to comp o s e herself .
Wh at ! my l e dger ? and h e n ever told m e a word of

that . Art n ot asham ed to lo ok m e in the face ?
Alas ! sp eak no t harshly to him s aid th e m atro n , .
She then turned to her frien d and p oured ou t a glowin g

description of Gerard s conduct during which Gerard sto o d ’
blu shin g like a girl and scarce reco gnizing his o wn p er ,
f or m a n c e gr atitu de p ainted it s o fair

, .
And to think thou shoul dst ask m e to s erve thy

lo dger of whom I knew nou ght but that he ha d thy go o d
,
wor d oh Fiammina ; and that was enou gh for m e

, D ear .
”
youth in s er vm g thee I ser ve myself
, .
Then ensu ed an eager description by th e two wom en , ,
of what ha d b een d one and wh at sh oul d b e d one t o p en e , ,
trate th e thick wall of fees commissions an d chicanery , ,
which sto o d b etween th e p atron s o f art an d an u nknown

artist in the Eternal City .
Teresa sm i l ed sadly at Gerard s simplicity in l e aving

'
’
sp ecim en s of his skill at th e do ors of th e great .
What ! sai d sh e without p romisin g th e servants ,
a sh a r e w i t h ou t eve n fe eing th em to l et th e signo rs s ee

fi
,
”
thy m erchandis e ! As well have flun g it into Tib er .
“
Well -a day i sighed Gerard
-
Th en h ow is an .
artist to fi n d a p atron ? f or artists are p o or n o t rich , .
B y goin g to s om e city nobl er and not so greedy a s

”
this ,
said Teresa La corte Rom ana non vuol p ecora
.
’
senza lana .
She fell into thought and s aid s h e woul d com e again ,
t o m orrow
- .
Th e landlady felicita ted Gerard T eresa has got .
”
som ethin g in her h ead s aid she , .
'
Teresa was scarce gone wh en Pietro re t urne d with his

p icture l o okin g black as thunder
,
Gerard exch an ge d a .
glance with th e landl ady and foll owed him up stairs to ,
consol e him .
”
What have th ey l et the e brin g h om e thy m asterp i ece ?
,
As heretofore .
More t o ol s they th en , .
That is not th e worst .
Why what is th e m atter ?

,
They have b ou ght the cards y elled Pietro an d , ,
hamm ered th e air furiously right and l eft .

1
”
All th e b etter said Gerard cheerfully , .
They fl ew at m e f or them Th ey were enraptured .
with them They tried to co nceal their lon gin g for them
. .
but could not I saw I fe igned I pil la ged ; curs e th e

.
, ,
b o ob ies .
4 08 THE CL O ISTER AND THE H E AR T H
And he fl ung down a do z en sm al l silver co ins on th e ,
fl o or and j ump ed on them an d dan ce d o n them with b asilisk ,
eyes and th en ki cke d them assi duo u sly and s ent them
‘
, ,
spinnin g and flying and running all ab ro ad D o wn went

,
-
.
G erard on hi s kn ees an d followed th e m altreate d inno cents ,
d irectly and transferre d them tend erly to h i s p urs e

,
.
Shoul dst rather sm il e at their ignorance an d put it ,
to p r ofi t sai d h e
, .
An d so I will s aid Pi etro with concentrate d indi gna

, ,
ti on . Th e b r u t es l We will p aint a p ack a day ; w e will

s et th e whol e city gamblin g an d ru inin g its elf whil e we live ,
lik e p rin ces on its vice s an d stup idity There w a s on e of .
th e qu e ens thou gh I h a d fain have k ept b ack

, Tw as yo u
, .
’
lim ne d her b rother She had lovely re d bro wn h a i r and

, .
- .
”
sapphire eyes an d ab ove all soul , , .
”
Pietro sai d Gerard softly
, I p ainted that o ne fro m ,
my heart
—
.
The quick witted I t al ian no d ded an d his eye s twinkle d , .
You l ove h er s o well yet l e ave h er , .
Pietro it i s b ecaus e I love h er so dear that I have

,
wan dere d al l this weary ro ad .
This interesting collo quy was interrupte d b y the l and

l ady cryin g f r om b elow Com e down you are wanted , , .
H e went down an d there was Teresa a gain , .
Com e with m e S er G er a r d , .
CHAPTER L V I I I
G ER A R D w al k e d sil ently b eside T eresa won dering in his ,
own mind after th e m anner of artists wh at she was go in g

, ,
to do with him ; instea d o f askin g h er S o at last s h e tol d .
him of her own a ccord A friend had info rm e d h er o f a .
workin g gol dsmith s wife wh o wa nted a writer ’

Her S hop .
”
i s h ard b y ; you w i ll not have far to g o .
Accordin gly they so o n arrived at th e gol dsmith s ’
wife .
Madam a said Teresa L eonora tell s m e you want

, ,
a writer I have b rou ght yo u a b eau tiful on e ; h e saved my

”
ch il d at s ea Prithe e l o ok o n him with favour
. .
’
The gol dsmith s wife complied in on e sense She fi x e d .
her eyes on Gerard s com ely face an d coul d har dl y tak e ’
them off a gain But her reply w a s unsatisfa ctory

. Nay .
,
I have no us e for a writer Ah ! I mind now it i s my go ssip .

, ,
Cl ael i a th e sausage -m aker wan t s on e ; sh e tol d m e and I

, , ,
”
tol d Leonora .
41 0 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEAR TH
sen d them o ver T ib er again b u t only a hundred yards down ,
th e street to Lu cretia who k ept the glove shop she it was , ,
wante d a wr iter ; b ut what for App ia Cl au di a co ul d n ot ,
conceive Lu cretia was a m erry littl e d a m e who receive d

.
,
them h eart i ly enou gh and tol d them s h e wanted no writer , ,
k ep t all h er accounts in h er h ead It was for my e on . ,
f es s or Fath er Colonna ; h e i s m a d after th em

, .
I have h eard o f his excell en cy said Teres a , .
Wh o has no t ?
But go o d dam e h e is a fria r ; h e h a s m ad e v ow; of
, ,
.
p overty I canno t l et the yo ung m an write and no t h e

.
,
p ai d .H e s ave d my chil d at s ea .
D i d h e now ? An d Lu creti a c a st an app ro ving l o ok

‘
on Gerard Well m ak e your mind ea s y ; a Col onna never

.
,
wants fo r m oney Th e go o d father h as o nly t o e s a y th e

.
word and th e p rin ce s o f his r a ce wi ll p o ur a thou san d

,
f
cro w ns into h i s l a p - And su ch a confesso r d am e ! th e . .

,
b est in R om e His h ead is leagu es an d l e agu es away all

.
th e whil e ; h e n ever heeds what yo u are saying W h y I .

,
think no mo re of confes sin g my sins to him th an of t ell in g

them to th at wall O nce to try him I confessed al o n g with
.
, , ,
th e rest as how I had k i ll e d my l o dg er 5 littl e girl an d

,
’
b ak e d her in a p ie Well wh en my vo i ce l ef t off confes sin g

.
,
h e starte d ou t of h i s dream an d says h e a m u s t er i n g up , ,
a glo om My errin g sister s a y thre e P at erno sters an d three

, ,
Ave Marias kneelin g an d eat n o b utt er n or e gg s n ext Wed , ,
n es d a y an d p ax v ob i s cu m l and off a went with hi s han ds

,
b ehin d him lo okin g as if t h ere was n o su ch thi n g as m e

,
”
in th e world .
T eresa wai te d p ati entl y then calmly b rou ght thi s d i s ,
cursive l ady b ack to th e p o int : Woul d she b e s o kin d a s

g o with this go o d youth to the friar an d sp eak fo r him ? _
Al a ck l h ow can I l eave my shop ? An d wh at n e e d ?

His do or i s aye O p en t o wri ters an d p ai nters an d s cholars , , ,
and a ll su ch cattl e Why o n e day h e w o u l d not receiv e

.
,
-
,
th e D uk e d U r b i n o b ecaus e a l earn e d Greek w a s clo s eted

’
with him an d th e friar s h ead an d h i s s o cl o s e to gether

,
’
over a du sty p archm ent j ust com e in f r om G r ee ee as yo u '
_ ,
coul d put on e cowl over the p air H i s wench O nesta tol d

.
.
_
‘
'
me . Sh e m o stly lo ok s in h ere for a ch at when s h e go es '
an errand .
This is t h e m an for th ee my friend said Teresa , , .
All y ou h ave to do c on t i n u e d Lu cr et i a i s to g o
‘
‘
, ,
to his lo d g ings ( m y b oy shall show t h e m y ou ) an d te l l , ,

'
Onesta yo u com e from m e and you ar e a gw r i t er an d -s h e , ,
wil l take you up to him If you put a p i e ce of s ilver in th e .
’ ’
wench s hand twill do you no harm : that stands to,
-
I have silver said Teresa warmly , .

TH E CL O ISTER AN D TH E H E A R TI I 41 1
B ut stay said Lu cretia

, mind o ne thing What , .
the young m an saith h e can do that h e mu st b e abl e t o ,
do or l et him shun th e go o d friar like p oison

,
H e is a .
very wil d b east a gainst all b unglers Why twas b ut .

,
’
t other day on e b rought him an 1 1 1 - carved cr u ci fi x

’
, S ays .
he ,
Is this how you present S alvator Mundi ? who died
_
‘
f or you in m ortal agony ; and y ou go and grudge him care

f ul wo rk Thi s slovenly gimcrack a c r u c i fi x ? But t h at
.
,
it i s a c r u ci fi x of some sort an d I a m a h oly m an I d dust

,
’
your j ack et with your cr u ci fi x says h e Onesta heard ,

’
.
every word throu gh th e keyhol e ; s o mind .
”
Have n o t ears m adama said T eresa loftily
,
I will
,
.
”
answer for his ab ility ; h e saved my chil d .
Gerard was not subtl e enou gh to appreciate this con

elusio n ; and was so far from sharing Teres a s c on fi d en c e ’
that he b egged a resp ite H e woul d rather not g o to th e

.
friar t o-day : would not t o morrow do as well ? -
Here is a coward for y e sai d Lu cretia , .
”
No he is not a coward
, said Tere sa fi r i n g up , ,
”
i s mo dest .
I a m afraid of this high b orn fastidiou s friar said -

, ,
Gerard . Consider he has seen th e handiwork of all th e

writers in Italy d ear dam e Teresa ; if you woul d but l et
,
m e p rep are a b etter piece of work than yet I have done ,
and then to morrow I w i ll face him with i t

-
.
”
I consent said T eresa
, .
Th ey walked hom e to gether .
N ot far f r om his own l o dgin g was a shop that sol d

vellum . There was a b eautiful white skin in the window .
Gerard lo ok ed at it wistfully ; b ut h e knew h e co uld n ot

p ay for it so h e went o n rather hast i ly However h e so on .
,
m ade up his mind where to get vellum and p arting with ,
Teresa at his own do or ran hastily up stairs and to ok th e

, ,
b ond he had b rou ght all th e way from S evenb ergen and ,
l aid it with a sigh on the tabl e H e th en prep are d with .
his chemical s to erase the ol d writing ; b ut as this was h is

l ast chance of re ading i t h e now overcam e his deadly r e
,
u g n a n c e to b ad writin g and p ro ceeded t o deciph er th e

p ,
d ee d in sp ite of its detestable contractions It app eared .
b y this deed that Gh y s b r ech t V an S w i et en was to advance

some money to Floris Brandt on a p iece of l and and was ,
t o repay himself out of th e rent .
On this G erard felt it woul d b e imprudent and impro per

t o destroy the deed On the contrary he vowed to decipher
.
,
every word at his leis u re , H e went downstairs determined

.
,
to buy a small p iece of vellum with his half of th e card

money .
A t the b ottom of th e sta i rs he found t h e landlady and

Teres a talking A t sight of him the fo rm er cried
. He r e ,
he is You are cau ght donn a mia

. S e e what sh e has , .
b ou ght yo u ? An d whi pp e d ou t from under her apron

th e very skin o f vellum Gerard h a d l onge d for .
Why dam e ! why donna Teres a !

,
An d he wa s ,
sp e echl es s with p leasure and asto nishment .
D ear do nna Teres a th ere is not a skin in al l Rom e ,
lik e i t However cam e you to hit on this on e ? Ti s

’
.
gl a m our .
“
Al as dear b oy di d not thine eye rest on it with
, ,
desir e ? and didst thou not sigh in turnin g away f r om i t ?

An d was it f or Teres a to l et th e e want th e thing afte r that ?
W h at sagacity ! what go o dn ess m adam a ! Oh d am e , , ,
I n ever thou ght I sho ul d p o ssess this What di d you p ay .
for i t ?
I forget Addio Fiammina Ad dio S er Gerard
.
, .
, .
B e happy h e p ro sp erou s as you are go o d

,
An d th e ,
.
R om an m atro n gl ide d away whil e Gerard wa s h esitatin g ,
and thinkin g how to o f fer to p ay s o stately a c reature for

h er purchase .
Th e n ext day in th e af terno on h e went to Lu creti a and ,

’
h er b oy to ok him to Fra C ol on n a s l o dgings H e a nnounced .
his b u siness and fe e d O nesta an d sh e to ok him up to the

, ,
friar . Gerard entere d with a b eatin g hea r t The ro om a .

,
lar ge on e was strewed an d heap e d w ith obj e cts of art

, ,
anti quity an d l earnin g lyin g ab out in rich p ro fusio n an d

, , ,
co nfu s ion Manu s crip ts p ictures carvings in wo o d an d

.
, ,
ivory mu sical instrum ents ; and in this gl o riou s ch ao s s a t

,
th e friar p orin g intently over an Arab ian m anu s crip t

, .
H e lo oke d up a l ittl e p eevishly at th e interru ption .
O nesta whisp ered in hi s ear .
“
V ery well said h e
”
L et him b e s eate d
, Stay ; . .
youn g m an show m e how yo u write ? , An d h e thr ew

Gerard a p ie ce of p ap er and p o inte d to an i nkhorn , .
S e pleas e you reveren d father said Gerard

, my , ,
han d it trembl eth to o mu ch at this m om ent ; b ut l ast night

I wrote a vellum p age of Greek and th e Latin vers io n by ,
its sid e to show th e variou s characters

, .
Show it m e ?
Gerard b rou ght the wo rk to him in fe ar and trembl in g ;
th en sto o d h eart sick awaitin g his verdict -
“hen it cam e it sta ggered him Fo r the verdict wa s

, , .
T .
,
a D ominican fa l l in g on his neck .
next day an event to ok pl ace i n Holland the e f fect

Th e ,
of which on Gerard s d estiny n o m ortal at th e tim e nor

’
, ,
even my i ntelligent read er now coul d I th ink foresee , , , .

d wa r ven , and tiger cats which m ay not b e whil es earth
-
, ,
them yiel deth Our last hop 0 my thumb tumbl ed down

.
’
’
the well t oth er day .
An d think you I ll l et my darlin g g o to su ch an i ll ’

= ~
guided hou s e as yon where th e re ckl ess tr 0 1 1 0 p s of s ervants

,
clo s e n ot the well m outh b ut l eave it op en to trap inno ,
cents l ik e wolven ?
,
Th e representative of a u to cracy lo st p atience at this

unwonte d opp o sitio n an d with ste m l o ok an d voice b ade .
her b ethi n k her wh ether it was th e b etter of the two ; to

h ave your ab ortion at court fe d lik e a b ishop an d p ut o n
lik e a p rince or to h ave all your head s stri cken off and
,
b orne o n p ol es with the b ellm an cryin g B ehol d the h eads

, ,
of hardy reb els which h avin g b y go o d luck a misb egotten

,
s on ,
did traitorously grud ge him to th e D uke who i s th e ,
tru e father of al l his fo l k little o r mickl e ? ,

”
N ay sai d Eli sadl y , mi scal l u s not We b e tru e ,
.
folk an d neither reb el s n or traitors

,
But tis su dden an d .
’
,
the p o or l ad i s our tru e fl esh an d bl o o d an d b ath of l ate ,

”
given pro of of mo r e s ense th an h eretofore .
”
Avail s n ot threatenin g o ur lives whimp ered Cather ,
in e ; we gru d ge him n ot t o th e D uke ; b ut in so ot h h e

cannot g o ; his linen is a ll in h ol es S o th ere i s an end . .
But th e m al e min d resisted this crusher .
Think yo u th e D uk e will no t fi n d linen an d cloth o f ,
gol d to b o ot ? N on e s o b rave no ne s o affe cted at co urt , , ,
a s ou r m o nsters b i g o r w ee , .
How lon g th e disp ute might have lasted b efore th e iro n ,
argum ents o f desp otism a chieved th e inevitabl e vict o ry ,
I know not ; b ut it was cut short by a p arty whom n either

disputant h ad d ei g ned to consult .
Th e b o n e o f co ntentio n walke d o ut of th e hou se an d ,
si ded W ith m onarchy .
If my folk ar e m ad I a m not h e ro ared I ll go , , .

’
with you and on th e instant .
A t this Cath erine s et up a p iteou s cry

'
She s a w an oth er .
of her b ro o d e scap in g from under her win g into som e u n

known element Gile s was no t quite insensible t o h er
.
distress so simpl e y et s o elo qu ent

, H e said ; Nay tak e .
,
not on m oth er ! Why tis a g od s en d

, And I a m sick ,
-
’
.
f
of this ever sin ce Gerard left i t

, .
Ah cru el G i l es ! Shoul d y e no t rather s a y s h e i s

,
b ereave d of Gerard : th e more nee d o f you to stay aside

her an d comfort her .
Oh ! I a m n ot goin g to Rom e Not s uch a fool I . .
sh al l n ever b e farther th an Rotterdam ; an d I l l o ften com e

°
’
and s ee you ; and if I like not th e place who shall k eep m e ,

”
th ere ? N o t all the dukes i n Ch r i s t en d om ~
.
Go o d sens e lies in littl e b ulk s aid th e emis sary a p ,

“
provin gly Therefo re Master Gil es b u ss th e ol d folk
.
, , ,
and thank them for misb egetting o f th e e ; and — ho l yo u

”
b ring hither h i s mule .
One of his retinu e b rou ght up th e dwarf mul e Gil es .
refused it with scorn An d on b ein g asked the reason said

.
,
it was not j ust .
Wh at ! woul d you throw all into on e s cale ! P ut

mu ckl e to mu ckl e and littl e to wee l B esides I hate an d
, ,
’
scorn small things I ll g o on th e highest hors e h ere or
.
,
n ot at all .
Th e pursuivan t eye d him attentively a mom ent He .
then adopte d a courteou s m anner I sh al l stu dy your .
will in all things reasonabl e ( D ismount Eric yo urs is .

, ,
the high est ho rse ) And if y o u woul d halt in th e town an

.
ho ur or s e whil e y ou b id th em farewell s a y but th e word

, ,
”
and your pl easure shall b e my deli ght .
Giles r efl e ct ed .
” ’
Master s aid h e if we wait a mo nth twill b e still
, , ,
th e sam e : m y m oth er i s a go o d soul b ut h er b o dy is b igger ,
than h er spirit We shall not p art without a tear or two

.
,
’
and the quicker t i s done th e fewer ; s o brin g yo n hors e
”
to m e .
Catherine threw her ap ron over h er face an d s ob b ed .
Th e h igh hors e was brou ght an d Giles wa s for swarming ,
U p his tail lik e a rop e ; , but o n e of th e s ervants crie d ou t

”
hastily ,
Forb ear fo r he k i ck et h I ll kick him
, said .
’
Gil es. Bring him clo se b eneath this window and I ll ,

’
learn you all how to m ount a hors e which k i ck et h an d will ,
n ot b e clomb by th e tail the staircas e of a h orse And h e , .
dashed into the hous e an d almo st imm ediately reapp eared ,
at an upp er win dow with a rop e in his hand H e fastened

, .
an end som ehow an d holdin g th e oth er descended as swift

, ,
and sm o oth as an o il ed thunderb olt in a gro ove and lighted ,
as t rid e his high h ors e as unp erceived by that anim al as a

fl y settlin g on him .
Th e o ffi cial lifted hi s h ands t o h eaven in mawkish a d

“ ” “
m i r a t i on .I have gotten a p earl thou ght h e an d wow , ,
but this will b e a go o d day s work fo r m e ’

.
Com e father com e m other bu ss m e and bless m e

, , , , , ,
”
and off I go .
Eli gave him his bl essin g an d b ade him b e h onest and ,
tru e and a credit t o his folk

, Cath erin e coul d not sp eak .
,
b ut clun g t o him with m any sob s and emb races ; an d even

through the mist of tears h er eyes d etected in a moment
a little -rent in his sl eeve h e h ad m ad e gettin g ou t of window ,
and s h e whipp ed ou t h er needl e and m ended it th en an d

th ere an d her tears fell on his arm th e whil e unh eeded
, ,
e x e ep t tho s e u n fl es h l y eyes wi th which they s a y th e
by
‘
very air is thro nged .
An d s o the dwarf m ounted th e high h ors e and ro de ,
away compl acent with th e ol d h an d layin g the cou r t b utter

on his b ack with a trowel .
Little re ek e d Per p u s il l u s of two p o o r silly femal es that

s a t by th e b ereaved h earth ro ckin g them s elves a n d w eep
"
'
, ,
in g an d dis cu ssin g all his Virtu es ; and how his mind h ad

,
op ened l ately an d blin d as two b eetle s to his faults who

, ,
ro de away from th em j o cun d an d b old ,

.
In gentes anim e s angusto p ecto re v er s a n s .
Arrive d at court h e sp ee dily b e cam e a gre at favourite .
On e stran ge p rop ensity of his el ect r i fi e d th e p al ace ;

’
b ut on a cco unt o f hi s sm al l siz e an d f or v a r i et y s s a k e an d , ,
as a m on ster h e wa s in dul ge d o n i t In a word he wa s 1 t

'
,
.
,
sp eak the truth .
It i s an unp opul ar thin g .
H e m ade it an intol erabl e o ne .
B awled i t .
CHA P TER L I X
H A PPY th e m an who h a s two chain cables : M erit an d -

,
Wom en .
Oh that I l i k e Gerard h ad a ch a i n e d es d a m es to pull

, , ,
up b y .
I woul d b e pro s e l aure at o r professor of the sp asmo dic , ,
or som ething in no tim e , E n a tten d a n t I will sketch th e

.
,
Fra Colo nna .
Th e tru e revivers of ancient l earnin g an d philo sophy

were two writers of fi ct i on— P etrarch an d B o ccaccio .
Th e ir lab ours were not cro wn ed with g r ea t p u b 1 i c an d ,

'
imm ediate su cces s ; b ut th ey sowed the go o d se ed ; an d it

n ever p erished b ut quickene d in th e s o il awaitin g sunshine
, , .
From their day It al y was n ever without a n ative s chol ar

or two vers ed in Greek ; and each l ear ne d Gre ek wh o
,
lan ded th ere was received fraternally Th e fourteenth .
century ere its clo se saw th e b irth of Po ggio ; V alla an d

,
, , ,
th e el der Gu arino ; and early in th e fi f t een t h Fl orence under

Co smo d e M edici was a n est of Pl atonists Thes e headed .
,
by G em i s t u s Pl et h o a b orn Greek b e gan ab out A D 1 4 4 0

, , . .
to write down Aristotl e For few minds are b ig enou gh to

.
b e j u st to great A without b ein g unj u st t o capit al 3 .
Th eo dore Gaza defended that great man with m o d era

tion ; George of Tr eb i z on d with a cerb ity and retorted on ,
41 8 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEART H
hi s scep tism was as na 1 f as his enthu siasm H e a ffecte d .
to lo ok on th e religiou s ceremonies of his day as his m o d els ,
th e heathen phil o sophers regarde d th e worship of go ds

,
an d dep arted hero es : mumm eri es go o d f or th e p opul ace .
But h ere his min d drew un cons ciously a droll distin ctio n .
Wh atever Christian cerem ony his l e a rnin g tau ght him was
of p ur ely p agan ori g in th at h e resp ecte d out of resp e ct
, ,
-
f or anti qui ty ; thou gh had b e with h i s turn of m in d b een , ,
a p ag a n an d its contemp orary h e woul d have scorn e d it ,
from hi s philo sophic h eights .
Fra Colonn a was charm e d with h i s n ew ar tist and ,
havin g th e run of h a lf th e p al aces in Rom e sound ed his ,
p raises s e th at h e was so on call ed up o n to resi gn h i m

,
.
H e tol d Gerard what great princes wanted h im But I .
”
a m s o happy with y ou fath er obj ecte d Gerard
, , Fid dl e .
stick ab out b ein g happy with m e said Fra Colonna ; you

,
must not b e happy ; you mu st b e a m an of th e worl d ; th e

gran d l esson I imp re s s on th e young is b e a m a n of th e ,
worl d . N ow t h es e Mon t e s i n i can p ay yo u three tim es a s

—
mu ch a s I can an d they sh all to o b y Jup iter
,
”
.
’
And th e friar cl app e d a t er r ifi c p rice on Ger ar d s p en .
It was accede d to without a m urmur Mu ch higher p rice s .
were go in g for cop y i n g than a u th or s h i p ev er ob t ai ne d for

centuries un der th e p rintin g press .
Gerard ha d three hundr ed crown s fo r Ari s totl e s treatis e ’
on rhetori c .
Th e great ar e mighty sweet up o n a ll their p ets whil e ,
th e fan cy l asts ; an d in the ra ge for Greek MS S the han dsom e

writer so on b e c am e a p et an d n obl es of b oth sexe s car esse d
,
h im l ik e a lap do g .
’
It woul d have turn ed a vain fell ow s head ; b ut the
can ny D utchm an s a w th e steel hand b eneath th e velvet
glove an d di d not p r esum e
, N everthel ess it was a p rou d
.
day fo r him wh en h e found h i m s elf seate d with Fra Colonna

at t h e tab l e of his present empl oyer Cardinal B essarion , .
They were ab out a m i l e from th e t 0 p of that tabl e ; b ut

n ever m in d th ere they were ; an d Gerard had th e advantage
,
of s ee in g ro ast pheasan ts dishe d up with all their feath ers

as i t th ey h ad j u st fl own ou t of a copp ice in stead of of f
the sp it : al so chi ck e n s co oke d in b ottle s and tende r as
°
.
,
p each es . B ut th e gran d novelty was th e napkins surp ass ,
i n gl y fi n e an d fol ded into co cke d h ats an d b irds wings

, ,
’
an d fan s etc instead o f lyin g flat

, .
, This el ec t r ifi e d Gerard ;.
though my readers h ave seen the d a zzlin g phenom enon

w ithout tumbling b ackwards chair and all .
After dinner th e tables were split in p ieces and carr ied ,
away and 1 0 under each was another tab l e spread wi th

, ,
sweetm eats Th e si gn e ras and sign or i nas fell upon th e m

.
and g or m a n d i ee d ; but the signors eyed them with reaso n

abl e susp icion .
But dear father

, obj ected Gerard I s ee not th e
, ,
b i f u r ea l daggers with which m en s a y his excellency a r m et h

,
”
the left han d of a m an .
’
Nay tis th e Cardinal Orsini which hath invented
,
y on p e evish instrum ent for his gu ests to fumbl e their m eat

withal . One b eing in h aste did skewer his tongu e to his
, ,
palate with i t I b ear ; 0 temp e ra O m ores !

, Th e ancients , .
reclinin g go dlik e at their feasts how h ad th ey spurne d su ch ,

”
p edantries .
As soon as th e l adies had disported themselves among

th e su gar plums th e tables were su ddenly removed and
-
, ,
the guests s a t in a r ow a g a inst th e w al l Th en cam e i n .

,
du cking and scraping t wo eccl esiastics with lutes and , ,
kneeled at the cardinal s l eet and th ere san g th e service ’
of the day ; then retired with a deep ob eisan ce : in answer

to which the cardinal fi n g er e d his skull cap a s our late
Iron D uk e his hat : th e comp any disp ersed and Gerard ,
had dine d with a cardin a l and on e that had thrice j u st

misse d b eing p op e .
But greater honour was in store .
O ne day th e cardinal sent for him and after pr a isin g ,
the b eauty of his work to ok him in his co ach to the V atican ;

and up a private stair to a luxurious littl e ro om wit h a ,
great oriel w indow Here were inkstands sl opin g fram es

.
,
for writing on and a l l th e instrum ents of art

, The cardinal .
whisp ere d a courtier an d presently th e Pop e s private ,

’
secretary app eared with a gl orious grimy ol d MS o f Plu .
t a r ch s Lives An d so on Gerard was seated al one copyin g

’
.
i t awestruck yet h al f deli ghted at th e thou ght that his

, ,
holiness would h andl e h i s work and read i t .
The p ap al inkstands were all gloriou s externally ; but

w ithin th e ink was v il e But G erard carried ever go o d ink
.
,
home made in a dirty littl e inkhorn : h e prayed on his

-
,
knees f or a fi r m and skilful h and an d set to work , .
One side of his ro om was n early o ccupi ed by a massive

curtain divided in the centre ; b ut its ampl e folds overlapp ed .
Af t er a whil e Gerard felt drawn to p eep throu gh that cur

tain H e resisted th e impulse
. It returned It over . .
p owered him H e l eft Plutarch ; stol e acro ss th e m atted

.
fl o or ; took th e folds of th e curtai n and gen tly gathere d ,
them up with his fi n ger s and putting his no s e throu gh th e ,
chink ran it against a col d steel halb ert Two sold iers .
,
armed cap a pie were holding their glittering w eap on s

- -
,
cro ss ed in a triangle Gerard drew swiftly b ack ; but in

.
that instant h e heard th e s oft murmur of vo ices and s a w ,
a group of p ersons cringing b efore som e hidden fi g u r e .

4 20 THE CL O ISTER AN D THE H EARTH
He never rep eated his attempt to pry thro u gh th e

gu arded cur tain ; b ut often ey ed i t Every hour or s o an .
e ccl esiasti c p eep e d i n eyed h im chill ed h im and exit

,
All , , .
this wa s glo omy an d m e ch ani cal ,

But th e n ext day a .
gentl em a n richl y arm ed b ounced i n an d glared at him

, , ,
.
Wh at is towar d h er e ? sai d h e .
Gerard tol d h i m h e was writi ng ou t Plu t arch with th e ,
help of th e s a i nts Th e sp ark sai d h e di d not know th e

.
S i gnor in qu estio n Gerard expl ai ne d th e circum stan ces

.
o f tim e an d sp ace that h ad dep rived th e Si gnor Plutarch

of th e a dv a ntage of t h e S p ar k s co nversation
’
.
Oh ! on e of th o se ol d dead Greek s th ey k eep su ch a

”
coil ab out .
A y si gn e r on e of th em who b e i n g dead yet live

, , , , ,
.
I un derstan d you not youn g m an said the nobl e , , ,

“
with al l th e digni ty of i gn orance Wh at di d th e ol d .
fell ow writ e ? L ove stories ? and his eyes sp arkl e d :

m erry t al es lik e B o ccaccio
, .
Nay lives of h ero es an d sages

, .
”
S ol diers an d p op es .
S ol diers a n d p rin ces .
Wilt read m e of th em s om e day ?

An d wi ll in gly sign e r But wh at woul d th ey s a y wh o
, .
employ m e were I to b reak 0 1 1 work ?

,
Oh n ever heed th at ; know you not wh o I a m ? I a m

,
Jac ques B on aventura neph ew to his holiness th e Pop e , ,
an d captai n of h i s gu a rds An d I c a m e here to lo ok after .
my fell ows I trow th ey h ave turn ed th em ou t o f their

.
ro om for you S i g nor B onaventura th en hurried away

. .
This l ively comp anion however h avin g acqu ire d a h ab it , ,
of runn in g into th at l ittl e ro om an d fi n d i n g Gerard go o d ,
comp any often looke d in o n h i m an d ch attered eph em eral

, ,
ities wh il e Gerar d wrote th e imm ortal lives .
One day h e c a m e a chan ged an d m o o dy m an an d threw ,

“
himself into a ch a ir cryin g Ah t r a i t r es s l traitress !
, ,
Ger a rd in qu ired what wa s h i s ill ? T r a i t r es s l traitress !

was th e reply Wh ereu p on Gerard wrote Plutarch
. Then .
says B onaventur a I a m m elancholy ; and f or our L ady s

,
’
sak e read m e a story out of S er Pl u t a r ch o to so oth e my b i l e : ,
in al l that Greek i s there nou ght ab out l over s b etrayed ?

Gerard read h im th e l i fe of Al exander H e got excited .
,
marche d ab out th e ro om an d embracing the reader vowe d , ,
t ( ) shu n soft delights that b ed of nettl es and follow

, ,
gI ory
Wh o s o happ y now as Gerard ? His art w as honoured
.
and fab ul ou s p r i ces p aid for i t ; in a year o r two he sh oul d

ret u rn b y s ea to Holl an d with go o d store o f m oney and s et ,
'
,
up with hi s b elo ve d Margaret m Bru ges or Antwerp or de a r , ,

4 22 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH ’
with its fi ve—

an d - twenty temple s D o b ut note this Monte . ,
S a vel l o ; wh at is i t , an i t i p l ea s e y ou , b ut the ruins of th e

-
anci ent theatre of M arcellus ? and a s f or T es t a ci o, on e of

th e high est hill s in m o dern R om e r i t i s b ut an ancient du st
h eap ; th e wom en of ol d Rom e flun g their broken p ots and
p an s th ere and lo — a m ountain .
,
' '
E x p e d e H er cu l em ; l e on e m
°
ex u 1 1 ue
g .
1 ; G erard listene d resp ectfully b ut when th e hol y friar ,
pro ceede d b y anal o gy to imply that th e moral sup eriority

of th e heathen R omans was p rop ortionably grand b e r e ,
sisted stoutly Ha s th en the worl d l o st b y Ch r i s t H i s

.
_
'
co mi n g ? sai d h e ; but blushe d f or h e felt him s elf r e ,
p r oa ch i n g his b en efacto r .
’
S aints forb id ! s aid th e fri a r Twere h eres y to s a y .
An d h avin g m a d e this di rect concession h e pro ceede d

'
so .
,
g radu ally to evade i t by subtl e circumlo cution an d reache d ,
th e f orb idden d o or b y the S pir al b ack staircas e In the .
mid st of all whi ch th ey cam e to a ch u r ch w i t h a knot e t

p ersons in th e p orch A demo n was b eing exorcised .
within N ow F r a Colonna ha d a way of utterin g a curiou s

.
s ort of l ittl e m o an wh en things Z eno or Ep icuru s woul d not

,
h a ve swallow ed were p resented to him a s facts This m o an .
conveyed to such as had o ften h eard it not onl y stron g

'
dissent b ut p ity for hum an credulity i gnorance and erro r

, , , ,
esp ecial ly of cours e when i t blinded m en to th e m erits of -
Pa gandom .
The friar m o an ed a nd said Then com e away ,

-
.
Nay father prithee ! prithe e ! I n e er s a w a divell

, ,
’
-
cast ou t .
Th e friar accomp anied Gerar d i nto th e church b ut had ,
a go o d shru g fi r s t The r e th ey foun d th e demonia c force d

.
down on his knee s b efore the altar with a s carf tie d round
his ne ck b y which th e offi ci a t i n g pri est h el d h im l i k e a do g
,
in a chain .
N ot m any p ersons w ere p resent for fam e h ad pu t forth ,
that the last d em on cast ou t in th at church went no farth er

than into on e of the comp any as a cony ferr eted out of
'
on e burrow runs to th e next .
W hen Gerard an d the friar cam e u p th e pri est s eem e d ,
to think there were now sp ectators enou gh ; an d b egan .

‘
H e faced th e d em on i a c b r evi a r y in hand and fi r s t s et ,

'
,
’
hims elf to l earn th e individual s nam e with whom h e h a d ‘
to deal .
Com e ou t Ashtaroth Oh o l it is n ot y ou then

, Com e . .
'
ou t B elial
, Com e ou t T a t z i ; Com e ou t Ez a
. No ; h e
, , .
‘
trembles not Com e ou t A z y m ot h

. Com e b u t Periander , . ,
,
Com e ou t F ol e t h o Com e ou t A s t y m a
, . Com e out N eb u l , .
, .
Aha ! what have I found y e ? tis thou th ou rep til e ; at

,
’
t h in e ol d trick s L et u s p ray ! .
Oh L ord we p ray t he e to drive the foul fi en d N eb u l

,
out of this thy creature : ou t of hi s hair and his eyes ou t , ,
of his no s e ou t of his m outh out of his ears ou t of hi s gum s

, , , ,
ou t of his teeth ou t of his shoulders ou t of his arm s le gs, , , ,
loins stomach b owel s thighs knees calve s fe et ankl es

, , , , , , , ,
”
fi n ger nails t oe na i ls and soul
- -
, Am en , . .
Th e p riest th en ro se from his knee s an d turnin g to the

company said with quiet geniality
, ,G entles we have , ,
here a s ob stinate a divell as y ou may see in a summ er day .
Then facing th e p atient h e sp ok e t o him with great rigour

, , ,
som etime s a ddressin g th e m an an d som etim es the fi en d ,
and th ey an swered him in turn through th e sam e m outh ,
now sayin g th a t th ey hate d tho s e holy nam es th e priest

kept uttering an d now compl ainin g th ey did feel s o b ad in
,
their in side .
It was th e pries t who fi rst confounded th e Victim and

the culprit in idea by p itchin g into th e fo rm er c u f fi n g him , ,
soundly kicking him and sp ittin g rep eatedly in his face

, ,
.
Then h e to ok a candle and lighted i t an d turned it down ,
and b urne d it till it burned his fi n g er s ; when h e dropp ed

it doubl e quick Then to ok th e cu sto dial ; an d sh owed
.
th e patient th e Corp u s D omini within Then burn e d another .
can d le a s b efo re b ut mo re cautiou sly : then sp ok e civilly ,
to th e demonia c in hi s human chara cter dism isse d him , ,
an d receive d th e compliments of th e comp any .
”
Go o d father said Gerard how you have their , ,
name s by heart Our northern p rie sts h ave no su ch ex

.
”
q u i s i t e knowled ge o f th e h ellish squ adrons .
Ay youn g man h ere we know all their nam es an d ek e

, , ,
their ways th e rep t iles ,

This N eb u l is a b itter hard on e to .
”
hunt out .
H e then told t h e comp any in th e m os t a fl a b l e way s everal

'
of his exp eriences ; concludin g with his feat o f ye sterday

when h e drove a great hulking fi en d out of a wom an by her
m outh l eavin g b ehind him certain nail s an d p ins an d a
, , ,
tuft of hi s own hair an d cried ou t in a vo ice of anguish , ,

’
Tis not th ou that conqu ers m e S ee that ston e on the .
window sill Know that th e angel G abriel comin g down

.
to earth once lighted on that stone : tis t hat ha s done my ’
b usiness .
Th e friar m oaned An d you b elieved him ? .
Certes ! who but an i n fi d el had discredited a revelation

so precise ?
“
What b elieve the fathe r of lies ? That is pu shin g
,
”
credulity b eyon d the age .
Oh a liar d o es not always lie

, .
424 THE CL O ISTER AND THE H EARTH
Ay doth h e wh en ever h e tell s an improb abl e sto ry

to b e gin an d sh ows y ou a holy rel ic : arm s yo u against the
,
S atanic ho st F i en d s ( i f any ) b e not so simpl e

. Shoul dst .
h ave a nswered him out of antiquity

Ti m e o D a na os et don a f er en t es .
’
’
S om e bl ack guar d chopp ed h i s w i fe s head off on th at sto ne ,
”
yo un g m an ; you tak e my word for i t An d th e friar .
hurri e d Gerard away .
Al a ck fath er I f ear you ab ash e d th e go o d p riest

, , .
Ay ,
by P oll ux said th e friar with a chuckl e , ,
I blistere d him with a sin gl e tou ch of S o cratic i 1 i

t er r og a t i on What m o dern ca n p ar ry th e weap on s of
.
’
_
antiquity ?
’
O n e af terno on wh en Gerar d h ad fi n i sh e d his day s
,
work a fi n e l ack ey c am e an d d em anded his atten dance

,
at the Pal ace Ce s a r i n i H e went an d was u sh ere d into a .

,
nobl e ap ar t m ent ; there wa s a gi rl seated in i t w or k i n g on ,
a tap estry .Sh e ro s e an d l eft th e ro om an d sai d s h e woul d ,
l et h er mistress know .
A go o d ho u r di d Gerar d co ol h i s h e el s in that great

ro om and at l ast h e b egan to fret
, Th es e nobl e s th i nk .
”
nothin g of a p o o r fell ow s t i m e H owever j u st as he was ’
.
,
m aking up his m ind t o slip out an d g o ab ou t h is b u siness , ,
th e do or op ened and a sup erb b eauty entere d th e ro om

, ,
fo l lowed by two m aids It wa s the young p rinces s of th e .
hou s e of C es ar i n i Sh e cam e in t al k in g rather lou dly and

.
hau ght i ly to her d ep endents but at sight of Gerar d l owered ,
h er voice to a very fem i ni n e to ne and sai d Ar e you th e , ,
writ er m ess er ?
,
I a m sign ora
, .
’ ”
Ti s well .
Sh e th en seate d herself ; Gerard a nd h er m aids remain ed

sta ndi ng .
Wh at i s your nam e go o d yo uth ? ,
Gerard si gn ora , .
Gerard ? b o dy of B acchu s ! i s that th e n am e of a

hum an creatur e ?
It is a D utch n am e s igno ra I wa s b orn at T er g ou
‘
.
, ,
in Holland .
A h arsh nam e girl s fo r s o well -favo ured a yo uth ; , ,
wh at s a y y ou ?
Th e m ai d s a s sente d w a rml y .
Wh at did I s end for him for ? inqu i red th e l ady with ,
lofty l an gu o r Ah I rem emb er

. B e s eated S er G erardo
, .
, ,
a n d write m e a l et t er t o E r col e Or s i ni m l ov er ; a t l e a s t
”
.
, y
h e s ays s e .
4 26 T H E CL O IS TER AND THE HEARTH
ho nour is en gaged XVh a t lie shall I tell th e Gerardo to .
tell th e fo ol ? an d sh e turned her head away from th em

an d fell into d eep th ou ght with her nobl e chin resting o n ,
h er white han d hal f cl ench ed , .
Sh e was so l ovely an d statu esqu e and l o ok ed s o insp ire d ,
with thou ghts cel estial as s h e s a t thu s imp re gn atin g h er , ,
s elf with m endacity that Gerard f er got al l except art and , , ,
p ro cee ded eagerly to transfer that exquisite p r ofi l e to p ap er .
H e h ad very n early fi n i sh e d wh en the fair statu e turn ed

b ru squ ely roun d and lo oke d at h im .
N a y si gnora s aid h e a littl e p eevishl y ;

,
fo r , ,
H eaven s sak e change not your p o sture

’
— twas p erfect ’
.
S e e y ou are n early fi n i sh e d
,
.
All eyes were in stantly on th e work an d al l t on g u e s ac t ive , .
How l ike ! an d do ne in a minute : nay m ethinks her ,
hi ghnes s s chin is not quit e s e ’
Oh a tou ch wil l m ak e that right

,
.
Wh at a p ity tis not col oured I m all f or colou rs

’ ’
. .
Han g bl ack an d white ! And h er highn ess hath such a l ovel y

skin .T ak e away her skin a n d h al f h er b eauty is lo st ,
'
Peace Can you col our S er Gerardo ?

.
,
A y si gnorina I a m a p o or hand at o ils ; there shines

, .
my friend Pietro ; b ut in this sm al l way I can t i n t y ou to

”
th e li fe if yo u have tim e to waste o n s u ch vanity
, .
Call y ou this vanity ? An d for tim e it h an gs o n m e ,
l ik e l ead S en d for your col ours now— qu i ck thi s m oment

.
,
— for l ove of al l th e s aints
"
”
.
Nay signorina I mu st p rep are th em, I coul d com e , .
”
at th e sam e tim e to m orrow -
.
So b e it.
And y ou Fl oretta se e that he b e admitte d
.
, ,
at al l hours Al a ck l L eave my h ea d ! l eave m y h ead !

.
F or gi v e m e S i gnora ; I thou ght t o prep are it at hom e ,
to receive th e colours But I will l eave i t An d now let . .
u s de sp atch th e letter
Wh at l e t t er f?
To th e S i gn or Orsini
_
.
And sh a ll I wast e my t i m e on s u ch va n i ty as wri t in g

—
l etters and to that emp ty creature to whom I a m as ,
ff
indi erent a s the m o o n ? Nay not indi f ferent for I have ,
j ust dis covered my real s entim ents I h ate him and d espise
,
him .Girl s I h ere forb id y ou once for al l to m ention th at

,
’ ’
sign e r s nam e to m e a gain ; el se I ll whip you till th e blo o d
com es You know h ow I can lav on wh en I m rous ed
.
” ’
.
We do We d o . .
Then p rovok e m e not to i t ; and her eye fl a sh ed

daggers an d s h e turned to G erard al l in stantaneou s honey
, .
”
Addio il Gerar d o -
And Gerard b o we d him self out of
, .
this velvet tiger s den ’

.
He came n ext day and col oured her ; and next h e wa s
s et to make a p ortrait of her on a large sc al e ; and then a
full -l en gth fi gu r e ; and h e wa s obliged to s e t ap art two
h ours in the afterno o n for drawing an d p ainting this prin
cess who se b eauty and vanity were p ro digiou s an d candi
, ,
d ates for a p ortrait of h er num erou s Here t h e thriving .
Gerard found a new and fruitful source of in com e .
Margaret seemed nearer an d n earer .
It wa s Holy Thursday No wo rk this day Fra . .
Colonna and Ger a rd s a t in a win dow and saw th e religiou s

pro cessions Their numb er and p iou s ardour thrille d Ger a rd
.
with th e devotio n that now seem e d to an i mate the whol e

p eopl e lately b ent on e arthly j oys
, .
Presently th e Pop e cam e p acing m aj estically at th e

head of his cardinal s in a red h a t wh ite clo ak a capuchi n
, , ,
of red velvet and ridin g a lovely whit e Ne ap olitan b arb

, ,
cap ari sone d with re d velvet frin ged and tassell ed with
- —
gold ; a hundred hor sem en arm ed cap a pie ro d e b ehin d , ,
h i m with their l ances erected th e butt end resting o n th e ,

-
’
man s thigh Th e cardinal s went uncovered all b ut on e
.
, ,
d e Medicis wh o ro de clo se to the Pop e an d co nvers ed with

,
him as with an equal A t every fi f t een step s th e Pop e

.
stopp ed a singl e mom ent and gave the p eopl e his bl essin g
, ,
then on a gain .
Gerard and th e friar now cam e down an d threading ,
som e b y streets reached th e p o rtico of on e of th e s even

-
churches .I t was hung with bla ck and so on the Pop e and ,
cardinal s who ha d entere d the church by another d o o r

, ,
issu ed forth and sto o d with torche s o n th e step s sep arated

, ,
b y b arriers from the p eopl e ; then a canon rea d a Latin

Bull excommunicatin g several p erson s by n am e e sp ecially
, ,
such princes as were k eep in g th e Church ou t of any of her

temp oral p o sses sion s .
A t this awful ceremony G erard trembl ed and s o did ,
th e p eop le But two of the cardinal s sp o iled th e e ffect by

.
laughin g unre servedly th e whol e time .
When this was ended th e bl ack clo th was removed and

, ,
reve aled a gay p anoply ; an d the Pe p e bl es sed th e p eople ,
and ended by throwing h is torch am on g them : so did two

cardin a l s Instantly th ere wa s a scrambl e for th e to rch e s :
.
they were fought for an d torn in p ieces by the candidate s

, ,
s o devoutly that small fra gm ents were gaine d at the p rice

of black eyes b lo ody no ses an d burnt fi n g er s ; in which
, ,
hurtling hi s holines s an d suite withdrew in p eace .
And now there was a cry and th e crowd ru shed on to a ,
square which was a l arge op en stage : s everal pries t s were ,
upo n it praying They ro se and with great ceremony

.
,
do nned red glove s Th en on e o f their numb er kn eel ed and
.
,
with signs of th e l owest reverence d rew fort h from a shrine

a square fram e l ik e that of a m irro r an d inside wa s as it
, ,
were th e i mpression of a face .
It was th e V erum w on or tru e impression of o ur S aviour 5

° ’
face taken at th e very mom ent of His mo st m ortal agony

,
for u s R ec eived a s it was without a grain of doub t

. ,
imagine how it m oved eve r y Christian h eart .
T h e p eople threw th em selves o n th eir faces when th e

priest rais e d it on high ; an d cries of p ity were in every
m outh and tears in al mo st every eye
,
After a whi l e th e .
p eopl e ro s e and th en th e p riest went round the platform

, ,
showi n g it for a singl e mom ent to th e neare st ; and at each

s ight lo u d cries o f p ity and d evotion b urst forth . 1
S o o n after this th e fri ends fel l in with a pro cessio n of

'
F l a g el l a n ts fl o g g in g their b are should ers til l th e blo o d ran

,
streaming down ; b ut with out a sign of p ain on th e ir faces ,
an d m any of them l au ghing and j estin g a s they lashed .
Th e b ystanders ou t of p ity o ff ered th em win e ; they to ok

i t b ut few drank i t ; th ey general ly u s e d it to fre e th e tail s
,
of th e cat which were h ard with clotte d blo o d an d m ake

, ,
th e n ext strok e m ore e f fective

'
Mo st of th em were b oys .
,
an d a youn g woman to ok p ity on on e fair urchin Al as ! .
”
d ear ch il d s a i d sh e
, why woun d thy white skin s o?
,
B asta s ai d b e l aughing
, ti s for your sin s I do i t not
, ,
’
,
”
for min e .
H ear you th at ? said th e friar Show m e th e whi p .
that can w hip the vanity out of m an s heart ! The yo un g ’
m onk ey ; how knoweth h e that stran ger i s a sinner m ore

than h e ?
Father said Gerard , surely th is is not t o our L ord s ’
mind . H e was so p itiful .
Our L ord ? said th e friar cro ssin g him self What , .
has H e to do with this ? This was a cu stom in Rom e s i x

hun dred ye ars b efore H e was b orn Th e b oys u sed t o g o .
throu gh th e stre ets at the L u p ercalia fl o ggin g thems elves

, , .
An d th e marrie d wom en u se d to shove i n an d try and get ,

’
a blow from the mo nk eys s courges ; f or th es e blows con
ferre d fru itfulness— i n tho se days A fo olish trick this .
fl a g el l a t i on ; b ut interestin g to th e bystander ; rem ind s

h i m of th e gr an d ol d heathen We are s o p rone to forg et .
all we ow e them .
N ext they got into on e of the s even churches an d s a w ,
th e Pop e give th e mass The ceremony Wa s imp o sin g b ut

.
,
a gain sp o i l ed by th e inconsistent conduct of th e cardin al s
and oth er p rel ates who s a t ab out th e al tar with th eir hats
,
ou ,chattering a ll through the mass like a fl ock of geese .
The eucharist in b oth kind s was tast ed by an offi c i a l

C L O ISTER H E AR T H
'
430 TH E AND TH E
h ero e s an d dem igo ds is a venerabl e cu stom and i n ci t et h

, ,
”
the vu l gar to virtu e by great an d Vi s ibl e ex am pl e s .
“
Wax en im ages ? Wh at ar e th ey not th e ap o stl es ,
th em selves emb al me d or th e l i ke ?
, ,
Th e friar m oaned .
They di d n ot exist in th e year 8 00 Th e gr eat ol d .
Rom an famil ies always p ro du ced a t th eir funeral s a s eries -
of th es e i m agin es th ereby tyin g p ast an d p resent hi story

’
,
to gether an d sh o win g th e p op ulace th e features of far

,
t a m e d worthies
’
I can conceive no thing m ore thri ll i n g or

.
instructive B ut th en th e efi i gi es w ere p ortraits m ad e

.
d u rin g l ife or at th e ho ur of death Th ese of S t Pa ul a n d . .
”
S t P eter a r e m o ul ded out of p ur e fancy .
Ah ! s a y not s e father , .
But th e worst is thi s hum our o f showin g them up on ,
a shelf an d hal f in th e da rk an d b y snatch es an d with th e

, , ,
p o or m ounteb ank trick of a d r awn curt ai n .
od i
’
Q u od c u n qu e os t en d i s m ih i sic i n cr e d u l u s .
Enou gh ; th e m en o f this d ay ar e not th e m en of ol d L et .
u s have don e wi th th es e n ew fan gl ed m u mm eries an d go -

,
am on g th e Pop e s b o ok s ; th ere w e shal l fi n d th e wisdom

’
”
w e shall vainl y hunt in th e streets of m o d er n Rom e .
An d this idea having o n ce tak en ro ot t h e good friar , .
plunge d an d tore th rou gh th e crow d a n d lo ok ed neither to ,
th e right hand no r t o th e left till h e ha d escap ed th e glori es ,
of th e holy week whi ch h ad b rought fi f t y t h ou s a n d s t r a n g er s

'
to Rom e ; an d had g ot ni ce and qu iet am ong th e dea d i n '

'
th e l ib r a ry of th e V atican .
Presently go in g i nto Gerard s ro om he foun d a h ot

,
’
di s p ute af o ot b etw een him an d Jacqu es B o naventura .
That sp ark had com e i n all steel from h ea d t o to e ; d e fi e d ,
h elm et p u f fed an d r a i l e d m os t s c or ni ul l y on a ridiculou s

, ,
cerem o n y at which h e an d h i s sol diers h ad b een comp ell ed

,
to atten d the Pop e ; to wi t th e bl essin g of t h e b easts of -
b ur den .
Gerard sai d it was not ri di cul ou s ; n ot hi n g a Pop e di d

'
coul d b e ri d i cul ou s .
Th e ar gum ent gre w war m an d th e friar sto o d g ri ml y ,
n euter waitin g lik e th e stork that ate th e fro g an d th e

‘
mou se at th e clo s e o f the i r comb at to grin d them b oth ' “
b etween th e j aws of antiqu ity ; when 1 0 th e curt ain wa s ,
gen t ly drawn an d th ere sto o d a venerab l e ol d m an in a

,
purpl e skull cap with a b eard l ik e whi te fl os s s il k l ook i n g

'
, ,
at them wi th a ki n d thou gh feebl e sm i l e .
”
H a p p y y ou t h said h e that can h eat it self over
, ,
su ch m atters .
They all t ell on their k n ee s ; It was the P op e .

THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 431
Nay rise my ch i ldren

, said h e almo st p eevishly
, , , .
I came no t into this corner to b e in state How go es .
Plutarch?
Gerard b rought his work and kneeling on on e kn ee ,
presented it to his h oliness who had seated him self the , ,
others standing .
His holines s insp ected it with interest .
”
’
Tis exce l lently writ said h e , .
Gerard s heart b eat with delight

’
.
Ah l this Plutarch h e h ad a wondrous art Francesco , , .
How each character standeth ou t alive on his p age : h ow

full of nature each yet how unlike his fello w ! ,
J d eg u es B on a ven t ur a Give m e th e S i gnor B o ccaccio . .
H i s H ol i n es s A n excellent narr a to r cap itano and

.
, ,
writeth exqui site Italian B ut in S pirit a thought to o .
monoto nou s Monks and nuns were n ever all unchaste :

.
on e or two such sto ries were right pl easant and diverting ;

b ut fi v e score p aint hi s tim e fal sely an d sad den th e heart ,
of su ch as l ove mankind Moreover h e hath n o skill at .

,
characters Now this Greek is suprem e in that great art :

.
he c a r vet h them with p en ; and turning his p age se e into ,
how real and great a worl d we enter of war and p olicy , ,
and bu siness and love in its ow n pl ace : for with him as

, ,
in th e great world m en are not all running after a w ench , .
With this great op en fi el d comp are m e n ot the narrow

garden of B o ccaccio and his lit t l e mill round of dishonest ,
-
pl easures .
Your holiness th ey s a y hath n ot disdained to write , ,

”
a novel .
My holiness hath done m ore foolish things than on e ,
wh ereof it rep ents to o l ate Nh en I wrote novel s I l ittle .

‘
”
thou ght to b e head of th e Church .
I search in vain for a copy oi it to add to my p o or

library .
It i s well Then th e strict orders I gave four years

.
a go to destroy every cop y in Italy h ave b een well discharged .
H owever f or your comfort on my b ein g m ad e Pop e som e

, , ,
1 0 0 1 turned it into French : s o that y ou m ay read i t at th e ,

”
price of exil e .
Redu ced to this strait we throw ourselves on your

holiness s genero sity V ou ch safe to give u s your inf al lible
’
.
j u d gm ent on i t ! ’
Gently gently go o d Francesco
, A Pop e s n ovel s , .
are n ot matters of faith I can b ut give you my sincere .
impression Well then th e work in qu estion had as far

.
,
as I can rem emb er a l l th e vices of B o ccaccio without his , ,

”
choice Italian .
F r a C ol on n a Your h oliness is known f or sligh t in g

.
f E n ea sS ilviu s as oth er m en never slighte d h im I did him .
inj ustice to m ak e yo u his j ud ge P erh ap s yo ur holine ss .
w i ll decide m ore j u stly b etween th ese tw o b oy s —ab out

bl essing the b easts .
Th e Pop e demurred In sp e aking of Plutarch h e had .
b rightened U p for a m om ent an d his eye h ad even fl a s h e d ; ,
b ut his general m anner wa s a s u nl i k e wh at youthful femal es

exp ect in a Pop e as y o u can con ceive I can o nl y des crib e
A high —
.
it in French L e gentilhomm e b la sé
. b red and .
,
highl y cultivate d gentl em an who ha d do ne an d said an d , , ,
s een an d known every t hin g an d who s e b o dy was n early

, ,
worn ou t But doubl e l a n g uo r se em e d to seiz e him at th e

.
father s p rop o s al
’
.
My p o or Fran ces co sai d h e b ethink th ee th at I , ,
have h ad a l ife of controversy an d a m sick o n t ; sick a s ,

’
d eath Plut a rch drew m e to th is cal m r etr eat ; n ot d i vi n i t y

. .
“
Nay b ut your h oliness fo r m o deratin g o f stri fe
, , ,
b etwee n two hot youn g blo o ds ,
‘
Ma xa pz oc oi ec
pnvmr owL .
An d kn ow yo u nature s o 1 1 1 as to think either of these

high —
,
m ettle d yo uths wil l re ek what a p o o r ol d P op e saith ?

”
Oh l your holiness brok e in Gerard blu shin g an d , ,
gasp in g sure here i s on e who w i ll treasure your wor ds

, ,
all h i s life a s word s from H eaven .
In that case sai d th e Pop e I a m fairly cau ght

, , .
A s Francesco h ere woul d s a y

mp
‘ ’
w 5ar
’
ovx s a r ek evfi epos .
‘
ts ea r a
I cam e to tast e that el o qu ent h eath en dear to m e e en as ,

’
to thee tho u p aynim m o nk ; an d I mu st talk divinity or

, ,
som eth i n g n ext do o r to i t But th e youth b ath a go o d .
an d a w innin g face an d writeth Greek l ik e an angel Well

, .
th en my chil dren to compreh en d th e ways of th e Church

, ,
we shoul d still ris e a littl e ab ove th e earth sin ce th e Church ,
i s b etwe en heaven an d e arth and interp rets b etwixt them , .
The qu estio n is th en not how vul gar m en fe el b ut , ,
how th e commo n Creato r o f m an an d b east doth feel to ,
ward s th e lower animal s This if we are to o prou d to .

,
s earch f or it in th e l essons of the Church th e n ext b est thing ,

”
is to g o to th e mo st ancient history o f m en and anim al s .
”
C ol on n a Hero dotu s . .
Nay nay ; in this m atter Hero dotu s is but a mu sh

,
ro om Finely were w e sp ed for ancient histo ry if we

.
,
dep ended on yo u r Greeks wh o did b ut writ e on th e la st ,
leaf of that great b o ok Antiquity , .
The friar gro aned Here wa s a Pop e utterin g h eresy .
a gainst h i s demigo ds .
his visio n cloye d with sin s a w nought Th e p o or despised , .
creature s a w al l Nor is this recorde d a s m iracul ous

. .
Po or p ro u d thin gs w e overrate o urselves , Th e angel had .
’
sl ain th e p roph et an d sp ared th e ass b ut for that creature s ,
cl earer Vision of ess ences divine H e s a i d s e methi nk s .

,
.
B ut in so oth I rea d it m any years agone Why did Go d .
sp are rep entant Nin eveh ? B e caus e in that city were sixty
thou sand chil dren b es i d es m u ch ca ttl e ,
.
Profan e history an d vul g a r exp erience add th eir m ite

of witn ess Th e cru el to animal s en d in cruelty to m an ;
.
’
an d stran ge and viol ent d eaths m ark e d with retrib ution s ,
blo o dy fi n g er h ave in all a ges fal l en from he aven on su ch

,
a s w anto nl y h arm inno cent b easts This I myself have .
se en .Al l was d u l y weigh ed an d s e eing that d esp ite thi s , ,
Fran ces co s frien ds th e Sto ics wh o in their v a nity s a y

’
, ,
’
th e creature s all sub sist fo r m an s comfort th ere b e snake s ,
an d s corp ions which kill D ominum terr ae with a nip ’

,
m u s q u i t oes which eat him p i ece m eal an d tigers and shark s -

,
which crack him lik e an al mo nd w e do w el l to b e grateful ,
to th es e tru e faithful p ati ent four -fo ote d fri en ds which

, , , ,
in li eu of p owdering u s p ut forth th eir stren gth to relieve ,
our toil s and d o fee d u s lik e m oth ers from th eir gentl e du gs
, .
M ethink s th en th e Church i s n ever m ore divin e than

i n this b en e diction of our four -fo ote d fri ends whi ch has ,
revolte d yon g reat th eolo gical authority th e captain of ,

’
the P e p e s gu ards ; since h ere sh e in c ul cates humil ity and
gratitu de an d ris es towards th e l evel of th e m ind divine
, ,
an d interp rets Go d to m an Go d th e creato r p ar ent and , , ,
fri en d 0 1 m an an d b ea st .
But al l this yo un g gentl es you will pl eas e to receive

, , ,
n ot a s delivere d b y th e P op e ex cath edra b ut uttered care ,
l essly in a free ho ur b y an age d clergym an

, Ou that
, .
s core yo u will p erh ap s d o well to entertain it with som e

l ittl e co nsideration Fo r ol d a ge mu st surely b r i n g a m an
.
s om ewh at i n return for his digestio n (his dura p u er or u m

,
’
il ia eh Frances co
, , which it carri es away .
S u ch was th e p urp ort of th e Pop e s dis cours e ; b u t th e ’
m anner high bred lan gu id kin dl y and free fr om all to ne

, , ,
of dictatio n H e s eem e d to b e gently p rob in g th e m atter

.
in concert with his h earers n ot pl ayin g S i r Ora cl e At , .
th e b o ttom of all which was doub tl es s a slight tou ch of

'
humb u g b ut th e humb u g that emb ellish es l i fe ; and a ll s ens e

,
of it was lo st in th e sub tl e Ital ian grace of th e thing .
”
I se em to h ear th e o ra cl e of D elphi s ai d Fra Colonna ,
enthu siastically .
I call that go o d s ens e shoute d J a c qu es B onaventura , .
Oh captain go o d s ense !
, s ai d Gerard with a deep
, ,
an d tend er rep ro a ch .
The P op e smil ed o n Gerard Cavil n ot at wo rd s that .
”
wa s an unh eard of concessio n from a rival theolo gian He .
’
th en aske d for all Gerard s wo rk an d to ok it away in h is ,
hand But b efore goin g b e gently pulle d Fra Col on na s

.
,
’
ear an d aske d him wh eth er h e rem emb ere d wh en th ey were

,
scho olfellows to geth er and rob b ed th e V irgin b y th e ro a d

,
sid e of the m oney dropp e d into her b ox You to ok a fl a t .
stick and applied b ird lim e to th e top an d drew th e m on ey

-
,
”
out throu gh th e chink y ou ro gu e said h i s holin ess s everely
, , .
To every sign e r his own honour replied Fra Colonn a , .
It was your holines s s go o d wit invente d th e m an oeuvre

’
.
I wa s b ut th e humbl e instrum ent .
It is well D oub tl es s y ou know twa s sacril ege

.
’
.
Oi th e fi r s t water ; b ut I did it in su ch go o d comp any ,
it troubles m e no t .
H umph l I have no t even that p o or con sol atio n .
What did we sp en d it i n d o st mind ? ,
Can your holin es s ask ? why su gar plum s ,

-
.
’ ‘
Wh at all on t ? ,
”
Every do it .
Th ese are d elightful reminiscence s my Francesco , .
Al a s i I a m gettin g ol d I sh all not b e h ere lon g An d

. .
I a m sorry fo r it f or thy sak e Th ey wil l g o an d burn th e e .
when I a m gon e Art far m ore a h eretic th an Hu ss whom

.
,
”
I saw burned with thes e eyes ; and oh h e die d lik e a m artyr , .
A y yo u r holine ss ; b ut I b elieve in th e Pop e ; an d

,
Hus s did not .
Fox ! They will n ot b urn the e ; wo o d i s to o dear .
A d ieu ol d playmate ; adieu youn g gentlem en ; an ol d

, ,
”
man s bl essin g b e on you
’
.
That afterno o n th e Pop e s secretary b rou ght G erard a ’
littl e b ag : in it were s everal gol d p ieces .
H e adde d th em to his store .
Margaret seem ed nearer an d nearer .
F or som e tim e p a st t oo it app eare d a s if the fairie s

, ,
had watched over him B askets o f choic e p rovision s an d

.
fruits were brou ght to his do or by p orters wh o kn ew not ,
w h o had employed th em or a ff ected igno rance ; and on e ,
d a y cam e a j ewel in a l e t ter b ut no word s ,

.
436 THE C L O ISTER AND THE H EA R TH
C HAPTER LX I
TH E Prin cess Cl ael i a ord ere d a full -

l en gth p ortrait of h erself .
Gerard a dvis ed h er to empl oy his friend Pietro V a n u c ci .
“
B ut sh e d e clin ed Twill b e tim e to p ut a sli ght 0 1 1 .
’
th e Gerardo when his work disco ntents m e , Then Gerard .

,
wh o kn ew h e was an excel l ent drau ghtsman b ut no t so ,
go o d a colo urist b egged h er to stan d to h i m as a R om an ,
statu e H e showed her how clo sely h e co ul d m im ic m arbl e

.
on p ap er Sh e consented at fi r s t ; b ut demurred when

.
thi s enthu siast expl ain ed to h er that s h e mu st wear th e

'
tunic to ga and san dal s of th e ancients

W h y I had as lieve b e p re sented in my sm o ck s aid
, , .
, ,
s h e with m edi aeval frank n ess

, .
Al a ek ! S i gn orina sai d Gerard you h ave surely , ,
n ever noted th e an ci ent hab it ; so free s o am pl e s o simpl e , , ,
yet s o n obl e ; an d m o st b ecomin g your hi ghnes s to whom ,
H eaven h ath gi ven th e Rom an features and ek e a shap ely ,

”
arm an d h and hi d in m o dern guise , .
Wh at can you fl atter lik e th e rest Gerar do ? W ell

, , ,
give m e tim e to think on t Com e 0 S aturday and th en ’

.
’
,
”
I will s a y a y or n ay .
Th e resp ite thu s g aine d was p as sed in m akin g th e tuni c

and to ga etc an d trying th em o n in her chamb er to s ee
, .
, ,
w heth er th ey suite d her styl e of b eauty well enough to -
comp ens ate th eir b ein g a thou sand year s ou t of date .
G erard hurryin g al on g to this intervi ew was su dde nl y

, ,
arrested an d ro oted to earth at a shop w indow

, .
His quick eye had dis cern ed in that wi ndow a copy o f

”
L a c t a n t i u s lying op en That i s fai rly writ a nyway .
, ,
thou ght b e .
H e eye d it a m om ent m ore w ith al l hi s eye s .
It was not written at all It was p ri nted

’
. .
G erard g ro aned .
I a m sp ed ; mine en emy i s at th e do o r Th e pres s is .
”
1 1 1 R om e .
H e went into th e sh op and a f fe cting n onchalance i n , ,
qu ire d h ow l on g the printing -pres s had b een in R om e .
Th e m an sai d h e b elieved there was no su ch t hing in the

city . Oh th e L a ct a n t i u s ; that wa s printed 0 1 1 the top
,
”
of th e Ap ennines .
.
What di d th e printing -press fall d ow n t h er e ou t o

,
‘
’
th e m o on ?
“
Nay m esser said th e trader laughi ng
, it shot
, ,
up th ere ou t o f Germany S ee th e titl e -p age l .

A m on ster ? I doub t Fra C olonna wo ul d fal l down
and adore your highness se eing y ou s o h ab ited ,
.
Nay I care no t to b e ado re d by an ol d man

,
I woul d .
liever b e loved b y a youn g on e : of my ow n cho o sin g .
Gerard to ok out his p encil s arrange d hi s canva s , ,
which h e had covere d wit h stout p ap er an d set to work ; ,
and s o ab sorb ed w a s h e that h e had no m ercy on his '
“
m o del . A t las t after n ear an h our in on e p o sture
, Ger ,
ardo sa id sh e faintly
,
I can stand s o no more even for
, ,
”
thee .
S it down an d rest a wh i l e signora ,

.
”
I thank thee s aid s h e ; an d s inkin g into a chair
,
turne d p al e an d sigh ed .
Gerar d was al arm ed an d s a w al so h e h ad b een i n c on ,
siderate H e to ok water from th e fountain an d was ab out

.
,
to thr ow it in her face ; b ut s h e p ut up a white h an d dep re

c a t i n gl y : Nay hol d it to my b row with thine hand
,
prith e e do no t flin g it at m e !
,
Gerar d tim idly an d hesitatingly applie d his wet h a n d

to her b row .
Ah l sh e sighe d th at is reviving Again , . .
H e applie d it again Sh e thank e d h i m an d aske d him

.
,
to ring a littl e hand b ell on th e t a bl e H e did s e and a

-
.
,
m aid cam e and was s ent to Floretta with o rders to bring

,
a large fan .
Floretta sp ee d i ly cam e with th e fan .

.
Sh e no so oner cam e n ear th e p rincess than that l ady s ,

’
-b r e d n os t r il s su dd enly exp anded lik e a b l ood h or s e s

high ’
‘
W r et ch l said s h e ; an d rising up with a su dden return

to vigour seiz ed Fl o retta with h er l eft hand twist e d it in
, ,
her hair an d with th e right h an d b oxe d h er ears s everely

,
thre e tim es .
Floretta scream ed an d blub b ered ; b ut obtaine d no

m ercy .
T h e antiqu e to ga l eft quite disengage d a b are arm that ,
now seeme d as p owerful as it wa s b eautiful : it ro s e and fell ,
lik e th e p isto n of a mo dern steam engine an d h eavy slap s -

,
resoun ded on e after another o n F l or et t a s shoulders ; the ’
l ast on e drove her sob b ing an d scre a min g throu gh the

curtain and there s h e was heard crying b itterl y fo r som e
, .
tim e after .
S aints of heaven ! crie d Gerard what i s amiss ? ,
what h a s s h e done ?
’
Sh e knows right well Tis not th e fi r s t tim e Th e . .
nasty to ad ! I l l learn h er to com e to m e stinking of the

’
musk cat -
.
Alas ! sign e ra ; twas a sm all fault m eth i n k s ’

, .
”
A small fault ? Nay twas a foul fault Sh e adde d ’
’
, .
THE CLO ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 439
with an amazing su dden descent to humility and sweetness ,
Are y ou wroth with m e for b ea ting her Gerar-do ? ,

‘
S ignora it ill b ecom es m e to scho ol you b ut m ethinks

,
such a s Heaven app o ints to govern o th ers shoul d govern

”
them selves .
That is tru e Gerardo H ow wis e you are to b e s o , .

,
young .Sh e then called th e other m aid and gave h er a ,
littl e purse T ak e that to Floretta and tell her the

.
,
‘
Gerardo h ath interceded for her ; and s o I must needs

”
forgive h er There G erardo .
,
.
Gerard coloured all over at the complim ent ; b ut n o t

knowin g how to turn a phra se equal to th e o ccasio n aske d ,
h er if h e should resume her p icture .
N ot yet ; b e ating that hu ssy hath som ewh at b reath ed

’
me . I ll sit awhil e and you shall talk to m e I know yo u ,
.
can talk an it pleases you a s rarely as you draw

, , .
”
That were easily done .
”
D o it then Gerardo , .
G erard was taken ab ack .
.But S ignora I kn ow n ot what to s a y

, This is su dden,
. .
S ay your real mind S ay you wish you were any .
”
wh ere b ut h ere .
Nay S ignora that would not b e so oth

, I wish on e , .
”
thing thou gh .
A y a n d wh a t is that ?
,
said s h e gently
. .
I wish I coul d have drawn you a s you w ere b eating

that p oor lass You were awful yet lovely . Oh what a , .
,
subj ect for a Py t h on es s t

Alas ! h e thinks b ut of hi s art And why ke ep su ch a .
coil ab out my b eauty Gerardo ? You are far fairer than ,
I am . You are more l ik e Ap ollo than I to V enu s Al so .

,
o u have lovely h air and lovely eyes — bu t you know no t

y ”
what t o do with th em .
Ay do I ,
To draw y ou signora .
, .
Ah yes ; you can s ee my features with them ; but

,
you cannot s ee what any Roman gallant had s een long a go

in your place Yet sure you mu st have note d how wel com e
.
y ou are to m e Gerardo ? ,
I can s ee your highness is always p assing kind to m e ;

”
a p o or stranger like m e .
No I a m not Gerardo
,
I have often b een col d to ,
.
you ; rud e som etim es ; and y ou are s o simpl e you s ee n ot

the cause Alas ! I feared f or my ow n h e a r t
. I feare d to .
b e your slave I who h ave hith erto made sl aves

. Ah ! .
Gerardo I a m unhappy ,
Ever since y ou cam e here I have .
l ived upo n yo ur visi t s The day you are t o com e I a m .
b right The other days I a m listl ess an d wish t hem fl ed

. ,
.
You are not like th e Roman gallant s Yo u m ak e m e h a te .

440 THE CL O ISTER A N D THE H E A R TH
them Yo u are ten tim es b raver t o my eye ; an d y ou a r e
.
wis e an d sch olarly an d n ever fl atter and li e , I s co rn a .
m an that lies —
Gerar do teach m e thy m a gi c ; teach m e
.
,
t o m ake the e as happy b y my sid e a s I a m still b y

thin e .
’
A s sh e p oure d out th ese strange word s th e p rinces s s ,
m ell ow vo ice sunk almo st to a whisp er an d tremb l ed with ,
half suppres sed p assion an d her whit e han d stol e t i midly

-
,
yet e arnestly down Gerard s a r m till it rested lik e a soft ’
b ird up o n hi s wri st an d a s rea dy to fl y away at a ,
wo rd .
D estitute o f vanity an d exp erience wrapp ed up in h i s ,
Margaret an d h i s art Gerard h a d n ot se en this revela ,
tio n coming thou gh it ha d com e b y r e gular an d Vi s i bl e

,
gradation s .
H e b lush ed all o ver H i s inno cent adm iratio n of th e

.
re gal b eauty that b esie ge d h i m di d no t for a m om ent ,
displace th e a b s ent Mar garet s image Yet it w a s reg al ’

.
b eauty an d wo oing with a grace an d tendern ess h e ha d

,
n ever even fi gu r e d in im a gination How to check her .
witho u t wo undin g her ?

H e blush ed an d tremb l e d .
Th e siren s a w an d en coura ge d him , .
Po or Gerar do s h e murmured , fear n ot n o ne shall ,
ever harm the e un der my win g Wil t n ot sp eak to m e . .
Gerar do mio ?
-
S i gn or a l muttere d Gerard deprecatingly .
A t this m om ent his eye l owere d in his confu sion fell , ,
on th e shap ely white arm an d delicate h an d that curle d

ro un d hi s elb ow l ik e a tend er vine an d it fl ash ed acro ss ,
him h ow h e ha d j u st s een that l ovely limb employed o n

Floretta .
H e trembl ed and blu sh ed .
Alas ! s ai d th e princess I s care him Am I then , .
s o very terribl e ? Is it my R om an rob e ? I ll d ofi i t and ’
hab it m e a s when th ou fi r s t e arn est to m e Mindest thou ? .
’
Twas to write a l etter to yo n b arren knight E col e d Or s i ni ’
.
Sh all I tel l th ee ? twas th e si ght o f th ee an d thy p retty

’
ways an d thy wis e words m ad e m e h ate him on th e instant

, , .
I l i ke d th e fo ol well enou gh b efore ; or wist I l i ked h i m .
Te l l m e now how m any tim es ha st thou b een h ere since

then .
Ah ! tho u knowest n ot ; lovest m e n ot I doubt a s , ,
I l ove th ee Ei ghte en tim es Gerardo

. An d each time , .
d earer to m e Th e d ay tho u com est no t tis night n ot d ay

.
’
, ,
to Cl ael i a Ala s ! I sp eak fo r b oth

. Cr u el b oy a m I n o t .
,
worth a word ? Hast every day a p rinces s at thy feet ?

N ay prithee p rithee sp eak to m e Gerar-d o
, , , , .
S 1 gn or a fal t ered Gerard

, what can I s a y that , ,
442 THE C L O ISTER AND T HE HEARTH
the e wh eth er is b ett er th e love of a Ce s a r i n i or h er hate ; fo r
, ,
after al l I h ave sai d an d don e to th ee it mu st b e l ove or ,
hate b etween u s an d to th e de ath : Cho o s e now !

,
H e lo oke d up at h er with wonder and awe a s s h e sto o d ,
towerin g o ver him in h er Rom an to ga o f ferin g this stran ge ,
al ternative .
H e s eem e d to h ave a ti r on t e d a go d d ess of antiquity ; h e

a p o o r p uny m ortal .
H e sigh e d d eeply b ut sp ok e n ot ,
.
P erhap s som ethin g in h i s d eep an d p atient sigh tou ch e d

a t en d er chord in th at un govern e d creature ; o r p erhap s
th e tim e h ad com e for on e p as sio n to eb b an d anoth er to
flow . Th e p rinces s s ank l an guidly into a s e at an d the ,
tears b egan to steal rap i dly do wn h e r ch eek s .
“
Alas ! a l a s l sai d Ger a rd Weep not s w ee t l a d y ; .
,
your tear s they do accu s e m e an d I a m l i k e to weep fo r ,
comp any .My kin d p atron b e yo ur self ; you Wi l l live to

,
”
s e e how mu ch b etter a frien d I wa s to yo u th an I s eem ed .
I s ee it now Gerar do sai d the p rince ss Frien d

‘
.
, ,
i s th e word ! th e onl y word can ever p as s b etwe en u s twain .
I w a s m ad Any other m an h ad ta en a dvanta ge of my

.
’
folly . You mu st teach m e to b e your frien d an d nothin g

m ore .
'
G erard hail e d this p r e p o sitio n with j oy ; an d tol d h er

out of Ci cero h ow go dl ik e a thing wa s friendship an d how ,
mu ch b etter an d rarer an d m ore l astin g than love : to p ro ve

to h er h e w a s cap abl e of i t h e even tol d her ab out D enys
,
and hi m self .
Sh e li sten ed with h er eyes h al f shut watchin g his wo rds ,
to fathom his character an d l earn his weak p o in t , .
A t l ast sh e addresse d him cal ml y thu s :

, L eave m e
now Gerardo an d com e a s u s u al to m orrow
, ,
-
You will .
”
fi n d your l esso n well b estowe d .
Sh e h el d out her han d to h i m : h e kiss ed i t ; an d went

away p o nderin g deeply this stran ge interview an d wo n der ,
ing wh eth er h e ha d don e p ru d ently or n ot .
Th e n ext day h e was receive d with m arke d di stance ,
an d the princes s sto o d b efore h i m literal ly l i k e a statu e ,
and after a ve r y short sittin g ex cus ed h ers elf an d dismisse d ,
him . Gerard felt th e chi llin g differen ce ; b ut s ai d to him

s elf
, S he is wis e S e sh e wa s in h er way
. .
The n ext day h e foun d th e p rin ce ss waitin g fo r h i m -
surround ed b y yo un g nobl es fl atterin g h er to th e skies .
Sh e and th ey treate d h i m l i ke a do g th at co ul d d o o n e littl e

-
trick th ey coul d n ot Th e cavaliers in p articular criticiz ed

.
h i s work with a m ass of i gnorance and insol ence comb ined

th at m ad e his ch eeks burn
Th e p rinces s watche d h i s fa ce demurely with half—
.
clo sed
eyes at each stin g the in s ects gave him ; an d when they ha d

fl ed had h er do ors clo s ed a gainst every on e of them for
,
their p ains .
The next day Gerard foun d her alon e : col d an d s il ent .
After standing to him s o som e tim e s h e said : Yo u ,
treated my comp any with l es s re sp ect than b ecam e you .
D i d I signora ? ,
D id yo u ? y ou fi r e d up at the comm ents th ey did you

th e ho nour to m ak e on your work .
Nay I said nou ght , ob served Gerard , .
Oh high l o oks S p eak a s plain a s high words

, Your .
cheeks were re d a s blo o d .
I was nettled a m om ent at s eein g s o mu ch i gnorance

”
an d 1 1 1 nature to geth er
-
.
Now it is m e th eir h o stes s you affront , , .
Fo rgive m e s ignora and acqu it m e of d esi gn , It , .
woul d ill b ecom e m e to a ff ro nt th e kind est p atro n an d

frien d I have in Rom e— b ut on e
‘
How humbl e we are all of a su dd en In so oth S er .

,
G erardo yo u are a cap ital feigner

, You can insult or .
”
t ru ckl e at will .
Tru ckl e ? to whom ? ‘
To m e fo r on e to on e whom you a tl r on t e d fo r a
, ,
b aseb o rn girl like yourself ; b ut who se p atron age y ou claim

all th e s am e .
G erard ro se an d put his han d to his heart , Thes e ar e .
b iting wo rds signo ra H ave I really de serve d th em ?

, .
Oh wh at are wo rd s to an a dventurer lik e y ou ? col d

,
steel i s all you fe ar ?

I a m n o swashbu ckl er yet I have m et steel with steel ; ,
’
an d m ethinks I had rath er face yo ur kinsm en s sword s
than your cru el ton gu e lady Why d o you u s e m e s e ? , .
G erar do for n o go o d reaso n b ut b ecau s e I a m way

-
, ,
ward and shrewish an d curst an d b ecau s e everyb o dy

, , ,
”
admire s m e b ut y ou .
I admire you to o signora Your friend s m ay fl atter ,

.
y o u m o re ; b ut b elieve m e th ey have not th e eye to s ee h alf

your charm s Th eir b abbl e yesterday showed m e that
. .
No ne admire yo u mo re truly or wish yo u b etter than th e , ,
p o or arti st who m ight no t b e your l over b ut h op ed to b e

, ,
your fri end ; b ut no I s ee that m ay n ot b e b etwe en on e so ,

”
high as you and on e s o l ow as I ,
.
Ay l but it shall Gerardo said th e princes s eagerly , ,

.
‘
I will not b e s o curst Tell m e now where ab ides thy .
Margaret an d I will give the e a p resent fo r her ; and on

that yo u an d I will b e friends .
She is a dau ghter of a physician call ed P eter and th ey ,
b i d e at S evenb ergen ; ah m e shall I e er see it agai n ? ,

’
444 THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
Tis well
’
N o w go An d sh e dismiss e d him some
. .
what ab ruptly .
P o or Gerard H e b egan to wade in deep waters when

.
h e en countere d this It al ian princes s ; callida et cal ida solis

fi lia . H e resolve d to go no m ore when once he ha d fi n i s h e d
her lik en ess In dee d h e now re grette d havin g un d ertak en
.
s o l on g and lab oriou s a ta sk .
Thi s resolutio n wa s shaken for a m om ent b y his n ext

re ception which wa s all gentl eness an d kindnes s
,
.
After stand i n g to him s om e tim e in h er to ga she said ,
s h e was fatigued an d wante d his as sistance in anoth er way :

,
woul d h e t each h er to draw a littl e ? H e s a t down b esid e

h er an d tau ght her to m ak e easy lines
,
H e found h er .
wonderfully apt H e said s e . .
I ha d a te acher b efore t h ee Ger ar do A y an d on e , .

,
a s h a n dsom e a s thyself Sh e th en went to a drawer and .

,
b rou ght out s everal h ead s dra wn with a compl ete i gn orance
of th e art b ut with g reat p atienc e an d n atural tal ent
,
.
Th ey were all head s o f Gerard and full of s pirit ; and really ,
n ot u nl ik e O n e wa s h i s very im age
. There said sh e .
, .
Now tho u seest wh o w a s my teach er .
”
N ot I sign e ra ,
.
Wh at know y ou n ot wh o teache s u s wome n to d o all

,
’
things ? Tis love Ger a r~ do L o ve m ade m e draw b ecau s e
, .
thou d r a w es t Gerar -do L ove prints thine im age in my

, .
b o som My fi n g er s to u ch th e p en and l o ve supplie s th e

.
,
”
want of art an d l o ! thy b el ove d i ea t u r es l ie up o n the p ap er
‘
, .
G erard O p ened hi s eye s with a stonishm ent at this return

to an interdicte d top i c Oh signora you p romised m e .
, ,
to b e friends an d nothin g m ore .
Sh e lau gh e d in his fac e H ow simpl e you are : who .
b elieves a woman p romisin g nons en se imp o ssib ilitie s ? ,

‘
Friend ship fo olish b oy wh o ever b uil t th at templ e on re d

, ,
”
a shes ? Nay Gerardo sh e adde d glo omily
, b etween , ,
”
thee an d m e it mu st b e l ove o r h ate
said Gerard firmly
.
”
Which you will signora But , , .
for m e I will n eith er love n or h at e y ou ; b ut with y our

p ermis sio n I will l eave y ou An d h e ro s e ab ruptly . .
Sh e ro se to o p al e a s d eath an d said Ere thou l e a v es t

, , ,
m e s o know thy fa te ; outside that do or are arm ed m en who

,
wait to slay the e at a wo rd from m e .
B ut you will not sp eak that word signora , .
That word I will sp eak Nay m ore I sh al l n o ise it .

, ,
ab ro ad it was fo r p ro fferin g brut al lo ve to m e thou wert

slain ; an d I will s end a sp ecial m essen ger to S evenb ergen :
a cunnin g m essen ger well tau ght his l esson Thy Margaret , .
shall kn ow the e dead and think th e e faithl ess ; n ow g o to , ,

’
thy grave ; a do g 5 F or a m an thou art n ot .
.
Once cl ear of th e hous e h e darte d hom e thankin g ,
H eaven for h i s e scap e soul an d b o dy , .
”
L an dl ady said h e th ere i s on e woul d p i ck a quarrel
, ,
with m e Wh at i s to b e don e ?
.
Strik e him fi r s t an d at vantage ! Get b ehind him ; ,

”
and th en draw .
Al as I l ack your Italian c oura ge

,
To b e seriou s ti s '
.
,
’
”
a nobl e .
Oh h oly s aints th at i s another m atter

, ,
Change thy .
lo dging awhil e and k eep snu g ; an d alter th e fashio n of thy

,
hab its .
'
She then to ok him to h er own nie ce who l et lo dgin gs ,
at som e littl e distance an d in stalled him there ,

.
H e ha d littl e to do n ow an d no p rinc ess to draw s o he , ,
s e t him s elf res olutely to read that d ee d of Floris B randt ,
from which he h ad hith erto b e en driven b y th e ab ominably

b a d writin g H e m astere d i t a n d s a w at on ce that th e
‘
.
,
l o an on this l and must h ave b e en p ai d o ver and o ver a gain

by the rents an d that Gh y s b r ech t was k e ep in g Peter Brandt
,
o u t of his own .
F ool l no t to have read t h is b efore h e cried

‘
He ,
-
.
hire d a h ors e an d ro d e down to th e n earest p ort A vessel .
was to sai l for Am sterdam in four days .
H e to ok a p assage ; an d p aid a sm all s u m to s e cure i t .
”
Th e lan d is to o full of cut-thro ats fo r m e said h e ; ,
’
and t i s lovely fa i r weather for th e s ea Our D utch .
skipp ers are n ot shipwre cke d lik e th es e b ungling

It al ians .
Wh en he returne d h ome th ere s a t his old landl ady with ,
h er eyes sp ar klin g .
You ar e i n lu ck my youn g m aster said s h e, All , .
th e fi sh run to your n et this d ay m ethinks S e e what a .
l ack ey hath b rou gh t to ou r hou se ! This b ill and this b a g .
Gerard b rok e th e s e al s and fou n d it full of s ilver cro wns , .
Th e l etter co ntaine d a m ere slip of p ap er with this lin e ,
cut ou t o f som e M S La lingu a no n h a o sso m a i a ,

”
romp ere i l d o sso .
F ear m e n ot ! s ai d G erard alou d I ll k eep m ine .

’
b etween my teeth .
What i s that ?
Oh nothin g A m I not happy d am e ? I a m goin g
, .
,
b ack to my sweeth eart with m oney in on e p o ck et and ,
l an d in t h e o th er An d h e fell t o dan cin g roun d h er

.
.
Well s aid s h e I trow nothing could m ak e yo u,
happ i er .
Nothin g except t o b e there

, .
that i s a p ity f or I thou ght to m ak e yo u a littl e

. Well , ,
happ l er W i t h a l etter from Holland

.
.
A l etter ? for m e ? where ? how ? who b ro ught i t ?

O h dam e ! ”
A stranger ; a p ainter with a reddi sh fa ce an d an out ,

”
l a n d i sh nam e ; A n s el m i n I trow , .
Hans Mem l i n g l a friend of m in e G od bl ess him ! .
A y th at is i t : A n s el m i n
, H e coul d scarce sp e a k a .
word b ut a had th e wit to nam e the e ; and a p uts th e letter

,
down an d a no ds an d smil es an d I no ds an d smile s and

, , ,
gives him a p int 0 wine an d it went down him lik e a ’
,
”
sp o onful .
That is Hans ho nest Hans Oh dam e I a m in luck

, .
, ,
to day ; b ut I d eserve i t
-
F or I c a re no t if I tell you I .
, ,
h ave j u st overcom e a great temptation for dear Margaret s ’
sake .
Who is sh e ?
’
Nay I d have my tongu e ou t ou t so o ner than
,
b etray her but oh it wa s a temp tation, G ratitu d e pu sh

, .
ing m e wron g B eauty almo st divin e pullin g m e wron g :

,
curses repro aches and hardest of all to resist gentl e tears

, , ,
from eyes u sed to command S ure som e saint help e d m e ; .
Anth ony b elike But my reward i s com e . .
A y is i t lad ; an d n o farther off than my p o ck et

, , .
Com e out Gerard s reward ,

an d sh e b rou ght a l etter ou t
’
of h er cap aciou s p o ck et .
Gerard threw his arm round h er n eck an d hu gged her .
’
My b est friend said h e my s eco nd m oth er I ll , , ,
read it t o you .
A y do do , , .
Alas ! it i s n ot from Margaret Thi s is not her hand . .
And h e turned i t ab out .
Al ack ; b ut m ayb e h er b ill is within Th e l asses are .
aye f or glidin g in their b ill s under cover of anoth er

’
h an d f
True Who s e han d i s this ? sure I h ave s een i t
. I .
trow tis my dear friend th e demoisell e V an Eyck

’
Oh then .
,
”
M argaret s b ill wi l l b e inside
’
H e tore it op en Nay . .
,
’
ti s all in on e writing Gerard my well b eloved s on ( sh e .
,
n ever calle d m e that b efore th at I mind ) this l etter b rings ,
the e h eavy n ews from on e woul d li ever sen d th e e j oyful

tidin gs Know that Margaret Bran dt died in the s e arms
.
on Thursday s e nnight l ast What d o e s th e do in g l d

’
( t
’
o .
woma n m ean by that ? ) The l ast word on h er lip s was

Gerar d s h e said T ell him I praye d for him at my ,
last hour ; an d b i d him pray for m e Sh e died very com .
f or t a b l e an d I saw her l aid in th e earth f or h er fath er was

, ,
u sel ess as y ou shall know

,
S e no m ore at p resent from h er .
th at i s with sorrowing h eart thy l ovin g frien d an d servant ,
M A R G A RET V A N E Y C K .
’
Ay , that is h er si gn ature sure enou gh N ow what .
d y e thi nk of th at dam e ?
’
cri ed Gerard with a grating
, ,
l au gh . Th ere i s a p retty l etter to sen d to a p o or fell ow

s o far from h om e But it is R ei ch t H ey n e s I bl am e f or
.
_
humourin g th e ol d wom an an d l etting her do i t ; as fo r th e

ol d wom an h ers elf s h e d otes sh e has lo st her h ead sh e i s
, , ,
fours core Oh my h e a rt I m ch oking

.
,
For al l that she,
’
.
ou ght to b e l o cke d u p or h er h ands ti ed S ay this h a d

,
.
com e to a fo ol ; say I w as i diot enou gh to b elieve this ; know

y e what I shoul d do ? run to th e top of th e hi gh est church
tower in Rom e and flin g m ys elf 0 1 1 i t cursin g H eaven ,
.
Wom an ! w oman ! what ar e y ou do in g ? An d h e seiz e d

her r u d e y b y th e shoul der Wh at ar e y e weep in g for ?
‘
h e crie d in a vo i ce all unl ik e hi s own an d l ou d and ho arse ,
as a raven W oul d you s cal d m e to d eath b y your te ars?

'
Sh e b eli eves i t Sh e b eli eves i t

. Ah ! ah I ah ! ah ! ah ! .
ah t — Then there i s no Go d ”
.
Th e p o or wom an sigh e d an d ro ck e d h ers elf .
An d mu st I b e th e on e to b rin g it the e all smil in g

an d smirkin g ? I co ul d kill mys elf i or t D eath sp ares ’
.
”
n o n e s h e sob b e d
, D e ath sp ar es n on e
. .
Gerard staggered against the window s i ll But H e .
i s master o f d eath h e gro an ed Or th ey h ave tau ght

, .
m e a lie I b e gin to fear th ere i s n o Go d an d th e saints

.
, ,
are b ut dead b o nes and h ell is ma ster of th e worl d , My .
p retty M a rgaret ; my swe et my l ovi n g Margaret Th e ,

.
b est dau ghter ! th e tru est l over ! th e p ride of Holl an d !

the d arlin g of the worl d ! It i s a li e Wh ere is this c a i t i fi .
’
Hans ? I ll hunt him round th e to wn I ll cr a m his mur .
’
d ering f a l seh o o d down h i s thro at .
An d h e s eiz e d h i s hat an d ran furiously ab out th e stre ets

fo r ho urs .
Toward s suns et h e cam e b ack white a s a gho st He .
had no t found Memlin g ; but hi s p o o r mind h ad h ad time

’
to realiz e th e wom an s simpl e words that D eath sp ares ,
none .
H e crep t into th e h ou s e b ent an d fe ebl e as an ol d m an , ,
an d refu s ed all fo o d N or woul d h e sp eak b ut sat whi te

.
, , ,
with great starin g eyes mutterin g at interval s ,There is ,

”
no Go d .
Alarm ed b oth on hi s account and o n her own ( fo r he

lo ok e d a d esp erate m aniac ) his lan d la dy ran for her aunt , .
Th e go o d dam e cam e and th e two wom en b raver , ,
to geth er s a t on e on each side of h i m an d tri ed to so oth e

, ,
him with kin d and con soling vo ices But he he e de d th em .
n o m ore than th e chairs they s a t e m Th en th e younger

‘
h el d a cr u ci fi x out b ef ore him to ai d h er Mar i a m oth er , .

,
THE CL O ISTER AND TH E H E AR T H
'
45 0
°
form er ey e1 1 1 g h 1 s youn g frien d with t ears l n his eyes th e latter

°
with b eads in his han d lo oked a s calmly on him a s h e h ad

on the s ea wh en Gerard an d h e en countere d it han d to hand .
A t last ; I think it was ab out th e sixtieth hour of this

‘
stran ge sle ep th e landla dy touch ed Fra Colonna with h er

,
elb o w H e lo oke d
. Gerard ha d Op e ned his eyes a s gently
.
as i f h e ha d b een b ut do zing .
H e stared :
H e drew him s elf up a littl e in b ed .
H e put h i s h and to his h ead an d foun d hi s hair w a s gon e , .
H e n otice d his friend Colonna an d smil e d with pl easure , .
B ut in the m id dl e of smil in g his fa ce stopp ed an d wa s con ,
v u l s e d in a m om ent with an guish un sp eakabl e an d h e ,
uttere d a lou d cry an d turne d his face to th e wal l

, "
.
Hi s go o d lan dl ad y wep t at this Sh e had known what .
it is to awak e b ereaved .
Fra Jerom e recite d canticl es an d p rayers from h i s

“
b reviary .
Gerard roll e d himself in th e b ed cloth e s -

.
Fra Col onn a went to him an d whimp erin g remind ed , ,
h i m that all wa s not lo st The divin e Mu s es were i m .
mortal H e mu st transfer h i s a ff e ction to

. they
woul d n ever b etray him nor fail h im lik e cr eatures of cl ay .
The go o d s i m p l e f a t h er th en hurri ed away ; f or h e was

,
overcom e b y his emotion '
Fra J erom e rem ain e d b ehind Youn g m an said h eg .

,
th e Mu s es exi st b ut in th e brains of p agans and vi sion

aries .Th e Church al on e gives rep o s e t o the he art o n earth ,
and happ iness to th e soul h ereafter Hath earth deceiv ed .
thee hath p a ssio n b rok en thy h eart after tear i n g i t t h e

, ,
Church op ens her arm s : consecrate thy gift s to h er ! The

Church i s p ea ce of mind .
H e sp o k e thes e words solemnly at th e do or and w a s go n e ,
as so o n a s th ey were uttered .
The Church ! cri ed Ger ard ri sin g fu ri o

’
u sly a n d , ,
shakin g his fi s t after th e fria r Mal ediction o n th e .
Church ! But for t h e Church I shoul d not li e broke n h ere ,
and s h e l i e c ol d cold cold in Holland

t
, , Oh my M a rgaret ! , .
,
’
oh , my darling ! my darling ! And I m ust r u n from the e
th e few mo nth s thou h adst to live Cru el ! cru el ! The .
monsters th ey l et h er die
, D eath come s n ot with out s om e .
’
s i gns .
These th e blind s el fi sh wretch es s a w n ot or re eked °
,
‘
not ; but I had se en th em ; I that l ove h er 0 h h a d I b een

'
.
7
th ere I had saved h er ; I h ad saved h er

, Id i o t ! idiot ! to .
l eave h er for a m om ent .

r
H e wep t b itterly a l on g tim e .
Then su ddenl y b urstin g into ra ge again h e crie d

,
,
veh emently
THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH 45 1
The Church ! f or w h o s e sak e I wa s driven from h e r :

my malison b e on the Church ! and the hyp o cri t es tha t
nam e it to my broken heart Accursed b e th e world ! .
Gh y s b r ech t lives ; Margaret dies Thieve s murderers .

, ,
harl ots live fo r ever

, O nly angels die Curse life ! curse
. .
death ! and who so ever m ade them what they are !

The friar did no t hear the se m ad and wicked word ;
but only the yell of ra ge with w hich they were fl un g after
It was as well F or if he had heard th em he would

.
, ,
have had h i s late shipmate burned i n the forum with as

littl e hesitation as he wo u l d have ro a ste d a kid .
His ol d landlady who had acco m p anied Fra Co l onna

,
down th e stair heard the raised vo ice and retu 1 ne d in som e

, ,
anxiety .
S h e f ou n d Gerard p utting on hi s cl othes and cryin g

'
, .
She remonstr a ted .
Wh at avails my lying h ere ? said he glo omily .
I fi n d here th at which I seek ?

S a nts preserve u s ! Is he distrau ght again
i ? What ‘
s eek y e ?
Oblivion .
Oblivion my little h eart ? Oh but y are yo u ng to

, ,
’
talk s o .
Youn g or ol d wha t else have I to live for ?

,
H e put o n his b est clothes .
Th e go o d d a m e remonstrated My pretty Gerard .

,
know that it is Tuesday not Su nday ,

.
Oh Tu esday is i t ? I th ou ght it h ad b een S aturday

,
.
Nay thou hast slept long

,
Thou never w ea r e s t thy .
”
b rave clothes on workin g days Consider . .
Wh at I d i d wh en she lived I did

,
Now I shall d o , .
whatever erst I did not The p ast is the pa st There lie s .
my hair and wi t h it my w a y of life

,
I have s erved on e .
Master a s well a s I coul d Yo u s ee my reward Now I l l

. .
’
”
serve another and give him a fair trial t oo
,
.
Al a s l sighe d t h e woman t u rnin g p al e what m ean , ,
th ese dark words ? an d what n ew m aster i s this w h o se

‘
service t hou wouldst try ?
SATAN .
And with thi s horrib l e declaration on his lip s th e miser

abl e creature walked ou t w i t h h i s cap and feath er set
j au n tily on on e side an d feebl e limb s and a sinist e r face
,
pal e as ash es an d a l l drawn down as i f by age

,
.
45 2 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH '
CHAPTER L X I I I
A A
D RK cl ou d fell on a nobl e mind .
‘
His p ure an d unrivall ed l ove for M argaret h ad b een his

p ol ar star It was qu ench ed an d h e drifted on th e glo omy
. ,
s ea of no h e p e .
Nor was h e a prey to desp ai r alone b ut to ea p er a t i on ,
a t all his sel t denial fortitu de p er i l s V irtu e wasted an d

-
, , , ,
wors e than wasted ; for it k ep t burnin g and stinging him ,
that h ad h e stayed l azily s el fi s hl y at hom e h e shoul d h av e

, , ,
’
save d his Margaret s life .
Thes e two p oisons raging to geth er in his youn g blo o d , ,
maddened an d demoraliz ed h im H e ru sh ed fi er c el y into .
pl easure An d in tho s e days even m or e t h a n now pl easure

. , ,
was vice .
Wine wom en gambl in g whatever coul d p ro cure h i m

, ,
'
an hour 5 excitem ent and a moment s oblivion He

°
plunged into thes e things as m en tired of life h ave r u shed ,
among th e enemy s b u ll ets ’

.
The large sum s h e ha d put by for Margaret gave him

ampl e m eans for d eb au ch ery and h e was so o n th e l eader ,
of tho s e lo o se comp anions h e had hith erto kep t at a

d istance .
His h eart deteriorated al on g with his m o r al s .
H e sulked with hi s ol d landlad y for thrustin g gentl e

advice and warn in g on him ; a n d fi n a l l y removed to another
p art of t h e town to b e clear of remonstrance and r e m i n i
,
W h en h e had carried t his gam e on som e tim e

”
s c en ces .
,
his hand b ecam e less steady and h e coul d no l on ger write ,
to satisfy h i mself Moreover his p atience declined as th e

.
,
habits of pleasure grew on him S o h e gave up that art .

,
an d to ok l ik enes ses in colours .
But this he negle cted whenever th e idl e rakes his com ,
p anions cam e f or him

, .
An d s o h e dive d in foul wa t er s s eek i n g t h a t s orry ' ‘
oyster shell O blivion

,
-
, .
It is n ot my busines s to p aint at full l ength the s c ene s

of co arse vice in which this unhappy youn g man now played
a p art . But it i s my b u sines s to impress t h e b ro ad truth ,
that he was a rake a d eb auchee and a drunkard and one, , ,
of the w i ldest lo o sest and wickedes t yo un g m en in Rome

, , .
They are no l overs of truth n or of m ankind who co n

'
, ,
ceal or slur th e wickedness of the go o d and so by their want ,
of candour rob d esp ond ent sinners of hop e .

454 THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEART H
vote d a public b enefa ctor Su ch was th eir readin g of .
V ir b onu s es t quis ? They got a spl endid g al l ey an d

‘
twelve b u f fal o es An d all th e lib ertines an d their femal e

.
accomplices assembl ed by d e grees at the place of em b ar k a

tion . But no Gerar d .
Th ey waite d for h im som e tim e at fi r s t p atie n tly th en , ,
imp ati ently ._
V a n u c ci excu s ed h im I heard him say h e ha d f or .
gotten to provi de him self with a f a r d i n g al e Comrades . ,
th e go o d l ad is huntin g f or a b eauty fi t to tak e rank amo ng

th es e p eerl e ss dam es Co nsider th e d i ffi cul t y l a di es an d
.
, ,
b e p atient !
A t l ast Gerard was seen at som e dist ance with a fem al e
in his hand .
Sh e i s l o ng enou gh said on e of h er s ex cr i t i c 1 z 1 n g her

, ,
from afar .
Gemini ! what step s s h e t ak es

”
said anoth er O h! , .
it is wi se to hurry into go o d comp any was Pi etro s excu s e ,

’
.
B ut wh en th e p air cam e u p satire was ch ok ed , .
°
‘
Gerard s comp anio n was a p e erl ess b eauty ; s h e ex ’

:
t i n gu i sh e d th e b o at lo ad a s star s th e risin g s u n
-
Tall , .
,
b ut not to o tal l ; an d straight as a dart yet suppl e as a ,

'
youn g p anther H er fa ce a p erfect o val h er forehea d

. .
,
white her ch eeks a rich olive with t h e el oqu ent blo o d

,
m antlin g b elow ; and h er gl ori ou s eyes frin ged wi t h l on g

‘
thick s il ken eyel ashes that s e em e d m ad e to sweep up

'
sensitive h earts b y the h al f doz en S au cy red lip s an d .

,
t eeth of th e whitest ivo ry .
The women w ere visibly d epress ed b y this wretch ed

sight ; the m en in e cstasies ; th ey receive d her with lo u d
shouts an d w a vi n g of cap s and on e e n thu siast even went
’
,
’
d own on his knees up o n th e b o at s gunw al e an d hail ed her ,
of ori gin di vi ne B ut his ch ere am ie pull in g his hair for

.
i t — and th e go ddes s giving him a littl e ki ek— c ot em p or

a n e ou s l y he lay supine ; and th e p eerle ss creature friske d
,
over his b o dy without dei gnin g h i m a lo o k an d to ok her seat ,
at th e p row Pietro V a n u c c i s a t in a sort of co l l ap se

.
,
glaring a t h er and gap ing with his m o uth op en like a

'
dyin g c od fi sh -
.
‘
Th e drover sp ok e to th e buff al o es th e rop e s tightened , ,
and th ey m o ved up stream .
Wh at think y e of this new b eef m esd am es ?

We n e er s a w m onsters s o Vil ely 11 1 —
,
’
fa v our e d ; with
th eir nasty horns that mak e on e a feard and th eir foul ,
n o stril s cast up into th e air Hol es b e they ; n ot n o stril s . .
Si gnorina th e b e eve s ar e a pres ent from Florence the

,
b eauti ful Wo u l d y e lo ok a gift b eef i th e no s e ?

.
’
They are so dull obj e cte d a lively lady I went , .
up Tib er twice as fast last time with b ut fi v e mule s and an

ass
Nay that is so o n m ende d
, cried a gallant and j ump , ,
ing ashore h e d r ew his sword an d desp ite the rem onstrance s ,
of the drivers went down th e doz en b uff al o es go ading th em

, , .
They snorted and whisked th eir tail s and went no fa ster , ,
at which th e b o at lo ad l au ghe d loud and lo ng ; fi n a l l y h e -
go ade d a p atriarch b ull who turne d instantly on th e sword , ,
sent his lon g h orns clean throu gh th e sp ark an d with a ,
furiou s j erk of his pro d i giou s n eck sent him flyin g over his
head into th e air H e describ ed a b old parab ola a n d f el l
‘
sitting an d unco nsciou sly wavin g his glittering blade into

, ,
the yellow Tib er The lau ghing ladies scream e d and wrun g
.
their hands all b u t Gerard s fair , She uttere d somethin g ’

.
very like an o ath and seizing the helm steered th e b o at out

, ,
and th e gallant cam e up sp uttering g rip ed th e gunwal e , ,
and was drawn in drippin g .
H e glared roun d him confusedly I understan d not .
that , said h e a littl e p e evishly ; p uzzl ed an d th erefore

, , ,
it woul d seem dis contented A t which fi n d i n g h e wa s

, .
,
by som e strange accident n ot slain his doublet b ein g ,
p erforated instead of his b o dy they b egan to lau gh a gain

, ,
louder than ever .
Wh at are y e cackling a t ? remo nstrated th e sp ark .
I desire to know how tis that on e mom ent a gentleman ’
-is out yonder a prickin g of African b eef and th e n ext ,
m om ent
Ger ar d s l a d y D isp ortin g in his native stream
’
. .
T ell him not a so ul of y e crie d V a n u c ci L et him

, , .
”
fi n d out s own riddl e
’
.
Confoun d y e al l I might puzzl e my br a ins till do om s .
day I sh oul d n e er fi nd it ou t
,
Also wh ere is my sword ?
’
.
,
Ger a r d s l a d y A s k Tib er ! Your b est way sign e r

’
'
.
, ,
will b e to do it over a gain ; and in a wo rd ke ep p rickin g ot , ,
Afric s b eef till your mind receives light S o s h a l l y ou

’ ’
.
,
comprehend th e matter by d egrees as lawy ers mount ,

’
h eaven an d b u ff alo es Tib er .
Here a Ch eval ier rem arked that t h el ast sp eaker tran

,
s cended th e sons of Adam a s mu ch in wit a s sh e did th e

dau ghters of E v e in b eauty .
A t which and indeed at all their complim ents th e c on

, ,
du ct of Pietro V a n u c ci was p eculiar That s i g ne r ha d l eft .
0 11 staring and g a p i n g b ew i l d er e d ;
,
and now sat co il e d up
snake l i ke on a b ench his m outh m u ffl e d and t w o bri ght
-
, , ,
eyes fi xe d on th e lady and twinklin g and s cintill ati n g mo st ,
comically .
H e did not app ear to interest or amu se h er in return .

H er gl orio u s eye s and eyel ash es swep t him c al mly at time s ,
b ut s carce distin guish ed h i m from th e b enches an d things .
Presently th e un a nimity oi th e p arty suff ere d a mo ment

ary ch e ck .
Mor t i fi e d b y th e attentio n th e cavaliers p aid to Gerard s

’
comp anion th e ladi es b egan to p ick h er t o p i eces s otto

,
voce an d au dibly
,
.
Th e l ovely girl th en sh owed that if rich in b eauty sh e , ,
was p o o r in feminine tact Instead of revengin g h ers elf .
lik e a tru e wom an throu gh th e m en s h e p ermitte d h ers elf ,
to o verh ear an d op enly ret al i ate o n h er d etractors

,
.
’
Th ere i s n ot on e of y o u th at wears Natur e s colo urs .
,
’
sai d sh e Lo ok h ere
. an d sh e p o inte d rudely in o n e s,
face This i s th e b eauty that i s to b e b ou gh t i n every

‘
shop .H ere is cerussa h ere i s stib ium an d h ere p u r p u r i s

, ,
su m . Oh I know the arti cl es : bl ess you I u s e th em every

, ,
day— b ut no t o n my face no th a nk you , .
H ere V a n u cc i s eyes twinkl e d them selves nearly out of

’ “
s i gh t .
W h y yo ur lip s are coloured and th e very veins in

, ,
yo ur foreh ead : n o t a ch arm b ut woul d com e off with a wet

towel And lo ok at your gr eat co a rs e black hair l ik e a
.
hors e s ta i l dru gge d an d stain e d to lo ok l ik e tow

’
, An d .
then your b o dies are a s f a ls e a s yo ur h eads and yo ur cheeks ,
an d yo ur h earts I trow L o ok at your p a dd e d b o som s .

,
and yo ur wo o den h eel ed chop ines to rais e your l ittl e stunte d

limb s up an d d eceive th e wo rl d Skinny dwarfs y ou are .
,
cushio ned and s t i l t i fi e d into gr eat fat giants Aha m es .

,
dam es well is it s aid of yo u grand e— di l e g ni gro ss e

, , .
di straci : ro ss e — di b et t i t : b ian ch e
o — di c al cina .
This dr ew o ut a rej oinder Avaunt vul gar to ad .

, ,
telling th e m en everythin g Your co arse ru ddy che eks .

,
are your ow n and your littl e handful of African hair

, B ut .
who is p adde d more ? NVh y yo u a r e s h a p e d lik e a fi r e

‘
shovel .
Ye lie mal ap ert , .
Oh th e well e ducated youn g p erso n ! Wh ere didst

,
-
p ick her u p S er Gerard ? ,
Hol d thy p eace Marcia said G erard awak ene d b y

, , ,
th e rais ed trebl es from a glo omy r everie B e no t s o .
insol ent ! Th e grave sh all clo s e over thy b eauty as it hath

”
o ver fairer than th ee .
They b egan said Marcia p etulantly ,
Th en h e thou th e fi r s t to l eave off .
”
A t thy request my frien d Sh e then whisp ered
, .
Gerard It was onl y to m ak e yo u lau gh ; you are distraught ;

,
you are s a d Judge wh eth er I care for the quip s of thes e

.
littl e fools or th e admiration of thes e b ig fo ols

, D ear .
which th ey had with a unanimity not often foun d am ong
,
dunces l au gh e d Gerard and h i m to scorn for s aying tha t

, ,
m en were as b eautiful a s wom en in a tru e artis t s eye ’

.
W here are y e now ? This i s my b oy An drea An d you .
h ave al l b een down on your knees to him H a l h a t Bu t .
oh my littl e la dies wh en h e l ectured y ou an d flun g your

, ,
stib ium yo u r ceru ssa and yo ur p u r p u r i s s u m b ack in y our

, ,
faces tis then I was l ik e to b urst ; a grind s my colours

,
’ 1
.
Ha l h a t h e ! h e l h e ! h o !
Th e littl e imp o stor ! D u ck him !
”
Wh at for sig nors ? cried Andrea i n di sm ay an d
'
, , ,
lo st h i s rich c a rnation .
B ut th e fem al es colle cted roun d h i m and vowe d nob o dy ,
shoul d harm a hai r of h i s h ead .
Th e dear chil d ! How well his p retty littl e sau cy way s

”
b ecom e h im .
Oh wh at eyes an d teet h !
,
An d what eyeb rows an d hair !

An d what lashes !
And w h at a no s e !
”
Th e sweetest littl e ear in th e w or l d l f
An d wh at h eal th ! T ou ch b ut his che ek with a p in
th e blo o d sho ul d s qu i rt .
Who woul d b e s o cru el .
H e is a ro seb u d wash e d in d ew
An d th ey reve nge d th ems elves fo r their b eaux adm ira
.
tio n of her b y lavishi n g al l their tendern ess on him .
But one there was who w a s still amon g these b utterflies ,
b ut n o lon ger of them .
The sight of the Prin ces s Cl ael i a had to rn op en his wound .
S carce three m o nths a go h e had declined th e l ove of

th at p eerl es s creature ; a lo ve ill icit an d in sane ; but at
l east r efi n e d How mu ch lower h ad h e fallen n ow
. .
How happy he mu st h ave b e en wh en th e blandi shments ,
of Cl ael i a that mi gh t have m elte d an anchorite co ul d not

, ,
temp t him from th e p ath of loy al ty !

Now what was b e ? H e ha d blushe d at h er s e eing him
in such comp any Yet it was his dail y comp any
. .
H e hun g o ver th e b o at in mo o dy sil en ce .
An d from th at hour anoth er phase of his mis ery b egan ;

and gr ew up on h i m .
S ome wret ch ed fo ol s try to drown care in drink .
Th e fum es of intoxi cation vanish ; th e inevitabl e car e

remai ns an d mu st b e face d at l ast— with an a chin g h ea d
, ,
disordere d stom ach and spirits a r t i fi ci a l l y depresse d

, .
’
Gerard s co nduct ha d b een of a p iece wit h thes e man i acs ’
.
To survive his terribl e blow he n ee de d all hi s force s ; h i s

vi rtu e his health his hab its of lab our and the calm sleep
, , ,
’
that is lab our s satellite ; ab ove a l l hi s p iety , .
Y et all th ese b alm s to wounded h ear ts h e flung away ,
and truste d to m oral intoxicati on .
I t s brief fumes fl e d ; th e b ereave d h eart lay st i ll heavy

a s l ead within his b o som ; but now th e dar k vulture Remorse
sat up on it rending i t .
Broken health ; m eans wasted ; inno cence fl e d ; Mar

garet p arte d from him by another gulf wi der th an th e
grave l
The hot fi t of desp air p asse d away .
The col d fi t of desp air cam e on .
Th en this miserabl e youn g man sp urned his gay com

p anions an d all th e world .
H e wandere d al one H e drank win e al on e to stup efy

.
himself ; and p aralyz e a mom ent th e dark fo es to m an that

preyed up on his soul H e wandered al one amidst th e temples
.
of ol d Rom e and lay sto ny- eyed wo eb egon e amo ng their

, , ,
ruins wors e wrecke d than th ey

, .
Last of al l cam e th e climax to which solitu de that , ,
glo omy yet fascinating t oe of minds dis eased pu sh es the ,
hop el ess .
H e wandered alon e at night by dark stream s an d eyed ,
them and eyed th em with de creasing rep ugnance

, , There .
glided p eace ; p erhap s annihil ation .
What els e was left him ?
These dark sp ells have b een b roken by kin d wo rds b y ,
lovin g an d ch e erful voices .
The humbl est friend th e a ffl i ct e d one p o ssesses m ay

S p eak or lo ok or smil e a sunb eam b etween him and that
, , ,
worst m adness G erard now bro o ded .
Where was Teresa ? Where hi s hearty kin d ol d land ,
lad3
Th ey w ould se e w ith the i r homely b ut swif t intelligence ;
they woul d s ee and save .
No ; they kne w not where h e was or whith er he was ,
gliding .
And is there no m ortal eye up o n th e p o or wretch and ,
th e dark ro ad h e is going ?
Yes ; on e eye there is up on him ; watching his every
movem ent ; following him ab ro a d ; trac k in g him hom e .
And that eye i s the eye of an enemy .
A n enem y to the death ,

CHAPTER L X IV
IN an ap artm ent richly fur ni shed th e fl o or covered w ith ,
strip ed an d sp otted skins o f ani mals a lady s a t with her ,
arm s extended b efore her an d h er hands h al f cl ench ed ,

.
The a gitatio n of h er face corresp onded with this attitu de ;

s h e was p al e an d red b y turns ; and her fo ot restless .
Presently the curtain was drawn b y a domestic .
’
Th e l ady s b row flu sh ed .
Th e m ai d s aid in an awe stru ck whisp er

,
-
,
”
Al tezza th e man i s h ere
, .
Th e l a dy b ade h er admit him an d snatche d up a littl e ,
black m ask an d p ut it o n and in a mom ent h er colour

was go ne an d th e contrast b etween her black m ask an d
,
h er m arbl e cheeks wa s stran ge and fearful .
A man entere d b owing and s crap ing It wa s su ch a fi gu r e .
a s crowd s s eem m ad e oi ; short hair roundish h ead pl ain , , ,
b ut decent cloth es ; features neith er comely n or fo rb iddin g .
Nothin g to remar k in him b ut a sin gularly restles s eye .
After a p rofusio n o f b ows h e sto o d opp o site th e l ady ,
and awaited her pl easure .
They have tol d yo u for what you a r e wante d ?

Yes signora
, .
D id th o s e wh o sp ok e to yo u a gre e as to wh at you are

to receive ?
Yes si gn ora
, Tis the f u ll p rice ; an d p urcha ses th e
.
’
greater vendetta : u nl ess of yo ur b enevol en t e yo u cho o s e

to co ntent yourself with the l esser .
I understand yo u not said the lady , .
Ah ; this is th e signora s f irst The l esser v en detta ’

.
,
lady is th e death of th e b o dy o nly

, We watch ou r m an .
com e ou t of a church ; o r t ake h i m in an i nno cent ho u r ;

and s o de al with him In th e greater vendetta we watch
.
h i m an d catch him hot from som e unp re ce dente d sin an d

, ,
s o sl ay his so ul as well as his b o dy But this vendetta is .
”
not s o run up o n n ow as it was a few years a go
°
.
Man sil ence m e his ton gu e and let his treasonabl e

, ,
h eart b eat no m ore But his so ul I h ave n o feu d with

.
H e wh o S p ok e to me kn ew not t h e
.
S e b e i t signora
, .
man nor hi s name nor his ab o de

, , From whom shal l I .
l earn thes e ?
From myself .
A t this th e m an wit h th e fi r s t sym ptom s of anxiety h e

,
had shown entreate d h er to b e cautio u s an d p ar ticular in

, , ,
this part of the b usin e ss .

Ah I forgot ; th y reven g e is b ou ght Here is m ore
’
.
,
t h an hal f an d s h e p ush ed a b ag a cro ss th e tabl e to h i m :

,
Wh en th e blow is struck com e for th e rest , .
You will so o n s ee m e again signora '
, .
And he retired b owing an d s crapin g .
The p rincess b urnin g with j e a lou sy m or t i fi ed pri de an d

, , ,
dread of exp o sure (for t il l sh e kn ew Gerard n o p ubli c stain -
had f al l en o n her ) sat where h e l eft h er masked with h er

, ,
'
,
arm s straight ou t b efore h er and th e na i l s e t h er cl ench ed ,
hand nipp in g th e tabl e .
S o sat th e fabl ed sphynx : s o sits a ti gress .
Yet th ere crep t a chill up o n her now t h a t t h e a s s as s i n

‘
‘
was gone And m o o dy mis givings h eave d withi n h er

.
,
p recu r sors o f vain remors e Gerard a n d Margaret were :
b efore their a ge Th i s was yo ur tru e m edi aeval

. Prou d .
,
amorous vindictive generou s fo olish cunning i rnp u l s i ve

, , , , , ,
unp rincipl e d : and i gnorant as d irt .
P ower is th e curs e of such a creature .
Force d to do h er o wn crimes th e weakness of her nerve s ,

’
wou l d h ave b al anced th e Viol ence of h er p assion s an d h er ,
b ar k b een wors e than her b ite

.
But p ower gi ves a feebl e .
,
furiou s woman mal e instrum ents , An d th e e ffect i s a s .
t erribl e as th e comb inatio n i s unnatur al .
I n this instance it wh ette d an assassin s dagger f or a

’
’
p o or forlorn wretch j ust m editating suicide .
C HAPTER LX V
IT happ ened two days after t h e s cene I h ave endeav oured

,
to des crib e th at Gerard wand ering through on e of th e

, ,
mean est streets in Rom e was overtak en b y a thunderstorm , ,
an d entere d a low ho stelr y H e call e d for wi ne an d th e

'
.
,
rain continuing so on drank h im self into a h al f stup i d con

,
=
dition and doz e d with his head on his hands and his h and s
,
up o n th e tabl e .
In cours e of tim e the ro om b egan to fi l l and th e noi se of

th e ru de g uests to wak e him .
Then it was he b ecam e co nsciou s of two fi gu r e s near him

co nversing in a l ow voice .
O ne was a p ardoner Th e other by his dress clean but

.
,
mo dest might have p ass ed for a decent t radesm an ; b ut

,
th e way h e had slou ch e d his hat over his b rows s o a s to ,
hide all his face exce p t his b eard showed h e wa s one of tho se ,
wh o shun the eye of honest men and of the law ’ The , .
p a l t were driving a b argain in th e s i n m arket And by an .

T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEART H
arrangem ent not uncommon at that date t h e crim e to b e ,
forgiven was yet t o —

b e committe d under the celestial
contract .
H e of th e slouch ed hat was complainin g o f th e price -
pardons had reach ed I f they g o u p any high er w e p o o r

.
fellows shall b e shut ou t of heaven alto gether .
Th e p ardoner denied the charge fl atly Indul gences

were n ever ch eap er to go o d husb andm en .
The other inquired Who were they ? ,
W h y s u ch as s i n by th e mark et like reaso n abl e crea

,
.
,
~
tures But if y ou will b e so p ervers e as g o an d p ick ou t a

.
crime th e Pop e h ath s et his face a gainst blame y ourself not , ,
met
Th en to p rove that crim e of o ne sor t or anoth er was
,
within th e m eans of all but th e very s cum of so ciety h e , ,
r ea d out th e s ea l e f r om a written p archm en t .
It was a curiou s list ; but not one that co u l d b e printed

in this b o ok And to mutilate it woul d h e t o misrepresen t
.
it. I t is t o b e found in any great lib rary S u ffi c e i t t o s a y .
that murder of a layman wa s mu ch cheap er than m any

crim es my l ay readers woul d deem light by comp a rison .
This told ; and by a littl e t r i fl i n g co ncession on ea ch .
side th e b argain wa s clo sed th e money handed over a n d

, , ,
the asp irant to heaven s favour forgiven b eforehan d for ’
removin g on e layman Th e p rice for d isp o sin g o f a cl erk

.
"
b ore no prop ortion .
Th e word assassination wa s never once uttered by either

m erc h ant .
All this buzzed i n G erard s ear But he n ever lifte d ’

.
his head fro m th e tabl e ; only listened stup idly .
However when t h e p arties ro s e and sep arated he halt

, ‘ ,
raised his h ead an d eyed wi t h a scowl th e re t i r in g fi gu r e

,
of th e purchaser .
I i Margaret was alive mu t ter ed h e I d t ake the e

’
, ,
by the thro at and I t h r ot t l e thee thou cowardly stab b er , .
But sh e is dead ; dead ; dead D ie all t h e w or l d y ti s .

i ’
nou ght to m e : s o that I die among t h e fi r s t .
When h e got hom e th ere wa s a m an in a slou che d hat

walkin g b riskly to an d fro on th e opp o site si d e of t h e way .
Why there is that ou r a gain t hou ght G erar d

, , .
But in this state of min d the circum st a n ce mad e n o ,
i m pression whate ver on him .

CHAPTER LX V I
T wo nights after this Pi etro V a n u c ci and Andrea s a t wait

ing supp er for Gerard .
’
Th e form er gre w p eevish It w a s p ast nine o clo ck . .
A t last h e sent Andrea to Gerard s m om on the desp erate

’
ch a nce of h i s having com e in unob served An drea .
shru gge d h i s shoul ders and went .
H e returne d With out G erard b ut with a slip of p ap er ,

.
An dr ea coul d not read as s chol ars in his d ay an d charity

°
,
b oys 1 n ours understand th e art ; b ut h e had a quick eye an d ,
had l earned how th e word s Pi etro V a n u c ci l o oke d on p ap er .
”
T hat i s for you I trow said h e p rou d of h i s i n t el l i
, , ,
gen ce .
Pi etro snatch ed i t and r ea d i t to Andrea with h i s

, ,
satiric al comm ents .
’
D ear Pietro
,
d ear An drea , life i s t o o great a b u rden .
S o ti s , m y l a d b u t th a t i s n o r ea s on b i b d
’
f or e n g a r oa
”
a k s u p p er t i m e
-
S u p p er i s n ot a b u r d en
. .
Wear my hab its !

S a i d th e p op l ar to th e j u n i p er b u s h
‘
And thou Andrea mine am ethyst ring ;

, , and m e i n
b oth your hearts a m o nth or two .
’
Wh y , A n d r ea
For my b o dy ere this y e read it will l ie in Tib er
'
, , .
Troubl e not to l o ok for i t T i s no t worth the p ains Oh .

’
.
unhappy day that it was b orn oh happy night th at rid s m e

of i t —
.Adieu 1 adieu !
_
Th e b rok en h earte d Gerard -

.
’
Here is a sorry j est oi the p eevi sh ro gue said Pietro , .
B ut his pal e ch eek an d chatterin g te eth b elied h i s words -

.
Andrea fi ll e d th e hous e with his cri es .
O miserabl e day !
, 0 cal am ity of cal amities ! Gerard , ,
my friend my swe et p a t r on l H elp ! help t H e is kil ling

,
himself ! Oh go o d p eople help m e save him !

, A n d a f t er ,
'
al arming all th e hou se h e ran into th e street b areheaded , ,
i mploring al l go o d Christians to help him save his friend .
A numb er o f p ersons so on coll c ct ed .
But p o or Andrea co u l d not animate their slug gishness .
G o down t o the river ? No It was not their bu siness . .
Wh at p art of the river ? It was a wild go o se chase -

.
It was not lu cky to go down to th e river after sunset .
To o m any gh o sts w alk ed th o se b ank s al l night .

CLO I S T E R A N D
'
4 66 THE T H E HEARTH
a way from th e river an d to ok them t o the gate of a large ,
gl o omy b u il ding It was a m onastery . .
They sto o d irresolute b efore i t an d gaze d at th e dark ,
p il e . It seem ed to th em to hide som e horribl e mystery .
But p resently An drea gave a shout Here h e th e .
”
d rop s a gain crie d l i e An d this ro ad l eadeth to th e
, .
r 1 y er .
They resu med th e chas e ; an d so o n: it b ecam e cl ear th e

drop s were now l eadin g them hom e Th e track b ecam e .
’
wetter and wetter an d to ok th em to the Tib er s e dge ,
.
An d th e r e on the b ank a b u ck etful app e ar e d to h av e b e en

disch arged fro m th e stream
’
.
.
A t fi r s t th ey shouted an d thou ght th ey ha d ma de a , '
discovery ; b ut r efl ect i on sh owed them it am ounted to

nothin g Certainly a m an h ad b een in th e water an d h ad
.
,
got ou t of it in s afety ; b ut that m an wa s n ot Gerard O ne .
said h e kn ew a fi sh erm an hard b y th at ha d n ets arid dra gs .
They foun d th e fi s h er and p aid him lib er al ly to sink n ets ,
in th e river b elow th e p l ace an d t odra g it a b ove an d b elow : ,
an d p romi s ed him gol d shoul d h e fi n d th e b o dy Then th ey .
ran vai nl y up and down th e river which fl e we d s o calm ,
an d vo icel ess hol di ng this an d a thou sand m ore stran ge

,
s ecrets S u ddenly Andrea with a cry of hop e ran b ack to

.
, ,
th e house .
H e return ed l n l es s t h a n h a l f an h our
'
°
No h e gro aned an d wrun g his h an d s

,
°
, .
What 1 5 the hour ? a sk ed th e l a ck eV .
Four hours p ast m i dni ght .
My pretty lad said th e l ack ey sol emnly ,say a m ass ,
fo r thy friend s soul : f or h e is n ot am o n g livin g m en

’
.
’
W orn out wi t h fati gue An drea

'
T h e m or n i n g b roke '
.
,
and Pietro went hom e h eart sick , .
Th e d a y s roll e d on mute a s the Tib er as to G erard s

’
,
fate .
CHAPT ER L X V I I
' ’
I r woul d indee d hav e b een s t r a n g e i f with su ch b arren

'
d ata a S t h ey p o ssessed tho s e m en coul d have read the han d

’
'
4
,
writi ng on the river 5 b ank ’

.
F or there on that sp ot an event ha d j us t o ccurred ,
which t ak e it alto gether was p erhap s with ou t a p arall el

, ,
th e history of mankind an d may remain so to th e en d of

1 }
1 ,
1 me .
But it shall b e t ol d in a very few words p artly by m e , ,
p a rtly by an a ctor in the scen e .

‘
Gerard th en after writin g his b ri ef a dieu t o Pietro and

, ,
Andrea had stol en down to the river at nightfall

, .
H e had taken his m ea sures with a do gged resolutio n

no t uncomm o n in tho se who are b ent o n self —d estru ction .
H e fi l l e d his p o cke t s with all th e silver an d copp er h e p os

sessed that he m ight sink th e surer ; an d so provided
, ,
hurried to a p art of th e stream that h e ha d seen wa s littl e

frequ ented .
There are som e esp ecially wom en who l o ok ab ou t to , ,
make sure there is som eb o dy at h and .
But this resolute wretch lo ok ed ab out him to m ak e sure

th ere was nob o dy .
An d to his annoyan ce h e ob served a singl e fi gu r e lean ,
in g against th e co rner of an all ey S e b e a ff ected to stroll .
careles sly away ; b ut returned t o t h e sp ot .
Lo ! the s am e fi gu r e em erged from a side street an d

lo itered ab out .
Can he b e watching m e " Can h e know what I a m

”
h ere for ? thou ght Gerard Imp o ssibl e . .
H e went b riskly off walked along a street o r two m ade , ,
a detour an d cam e b ack .
Th e man had vanish ed B ut 1 0 ! on G erard lo oking al l .
round to make sure th ere h e wa s a few yard s b ehind

, , ,
app are ntly fastenin g his sho e .
Gerard saw he was watch e d and at this m om ent ob ,
served in the mo onlight a steel gauntlet in his sentinel s

°
hand .
Then he knew it was an a ssassin .
Strange to s a y it n ever o ccurre d to him that his wa s th e

,
life aimed a t To b e sure h e was n ot aware h e h ad an

.
enemy in the worl d .
H e turned and walked up to t h e b ravo My go o d .
friend said h e eagerly

,
sell m e thine arm ! a s i ngle ,
stroke ! S ee h ere is all I have ;

,
an d h e forced his mon ey
i nto the bravo s hands Oh prithee ! prithee ! do on e
’
.
,
”
go o d de ed an d rid m e of my hateful life !
,
and even
w h il e sp eaking h e undid his doubl et and b ared his
b o som .
The man stared in his face .
Why do y e hesitate ? shriek ed Gerard Have y e .
no b owel s ? Is it so mu ch p ains to l i ft your arm and fall i t ?

it b ecau se I m p o or and gol d Useles s ’
t i ?
’
Is a c a n g v e y e ,
wretch ca n st only strike a m an b ehind ; n ot l o ok on e in t h e

,
face There th en do but turn thy head and hol d thy

.
, ,
to ngue l
And with a snarl of co n te m pt h e ran fro m h i m an d fl un g ,
hims elf into the w ater .
Margaret !
th e heavy p lunge of his b o dy in th e stream th e b ravo
At
seem ed to recover from a stup or H e ran t o th e b a n k . ,
and with a strange cry th e as sassin plunge d in after th e s elf

destroyer .
What foll owe d will b e relate d by th e assassin .
CH APTER L X V I I I
A W O M A N has h er own tro ubl es as a m an has h is ,

.
And w e m al e writers sel dom d o more than indicate th e

griefs of the other s ex Th e intell igenc e of the femal e
.
reader mu st com e to our aid and fi ll up ou r col d o utlines ,

.
S o h ave I indicated rath er than describ ed what Marg a ret

, ,
Brandt went through up to that eventful day when s h e ,

’
entered Eli s hous e an enemy rea d her sweetheart s letter
’
, ,
and remained a friend .
And now a woman s greatest trial drew near an d Gerard

’
f a r away .
Sh e avail e d hers elf b ut littl e of Eli s su dd en favour ; ’
for this reserve sh e had al ways a plausible reaso n ready

and n ever hinted at the tru e o ne which wa s this ; there ,
were two m en in that ho u s e at sight of whom s h e shuddered

with instinctive antip athy and dread She had rea d .
wick ednes s and hatred in th e i r fa ces an d mysteriou s signal s ,
of secret intelligence Sh e p referre d to receive Cath erine

.
and h er dau ghter at h ome Th e form er went to s ee h er .
every day and was wrapp ed up in th e exp ected event

, .
Catherin e was on e of tho s e fem al es who s e o th ee i s to

multiply an d rear th e mul tiplied : who when at last th ey
,
°
,
consent t o l eav e 0 11 p elting on e ou t of every ro om in th e

hou s e with b ab ies hover ab out th e fair s courges that are
,
still in full swing and do so clu ck they s eem to mul tiply

, ,
b y proxy I t was in this sp irit s h e en t reated Eli to l et h er

.
s t ay at R otterdam wh il e h e went b ack to T er gou

, .
Th e p o or l ass h ath not a soul ab out her that knows ,
anything ab out anythin g What ava il a p a i r 0 sol diers ? .

’
Wh y that sort 0 cattl e shoul d b e p utten ou t 0 do ors th e

,
’ ’
”
fi r s t at su ch an a t im e
, .
N eed I s a y that this w a s a great comfort to Margaret .
Po or soul sh e was full of anxiety a s the tim e dr ew near

, .
Sh e sh oul d die ; and Gerard away .
B ut things b alance them selves Her p overty and her .

,
’
f a t her s help l es sness w hich had co st h e such a struggle
,
r
,
sto o d her in go o d stead now .

TH E C L O ISTER A ND T H E HEARTH
CHAPTER L X IX
th e gu est ch amb er of a D omini can co nven t l ay a singl e

'
IN
stranger exhau ste d b y su ccessive and viol ent fi t s of nau s ea
, ,
which had at l ast sub si ded le a vi ng hi m almo st a s we a k a s ,
Marg a ret l ay that night in H oll an d .
A hu g e wo o d fi r e burned on th e h e a rth an d b eside it ,

’
hung th e p atient s clothe s .
A gi ganti c fri ar s a t by h i s b edsid e readin g p i ou s coll ects ,
al o u d from his b reviary .
Th e p atient a t tim es eye d h i m an d s eem e d to listen ,
at others clo s e d hi s eye s an d m o a n ed .
Th e mo nk kne el ed down with hi s face tou chin g th e

groun d an d praye d for him : th en ro s e and b ad e h im f a re
well . D ay b re ak s ”
s ai d h e ;
, I mu st p rep ar e for
m atin s .
Go o d Father J erom e b efo re y ou go how cam e I , ,
hither ?
’
B y th e h a n d of H e aven You flun g away Go d s gift . .
H e b estowe d it on yo u a gain Think o n i t ! H a s t t r i e d th e

' ’
worl d an d found i t s gal l Now try t h e Church ! Th e .
Church is p eace Pax vob iscum

. .
H e wa s go ne G erard l ay b ack m e ditating and wo nd er

.
,
in g til l we a k an d w e a ri ed h e f en in to a do se
,
-
.
Wh en h e awok e a gai n h e foun d a n ew nur s e seate d b esid e

him .I t was a l aym an w ith an eye as sm all an d restless as
,
Friar J erom e s wa s c al m and maj esti c

’
.
The m a n inqui re d earnestly how h e felt .
V ery very weak Wh ere h ave I seen y ou b efore

‘
, .
,
m ess er ?
No ne th e wors e for my gauntlet ? inquire d t h e ot h er
I was f a i n t o str ike y ou” with al
,
with considerab l e anxiety ;

or b oth yo u an d I sho ul d b e at t h e b ot t om of Ti b er
'
,
‘
Gerard star e d at h i m What twa s you save d m e ?

.
,
’
How ?
Well S ignor I was b y the b ank s o f T ib e r on— on— a n
, ,
errand no m atter what

, You cam e to m e an d b e gge d h ar d
.
fo r a dagger stroke B ut ere I coul d obli ge you a y even a s

.
y ou sp oke to m e I kn ew y ou for th e S i gno r that save d my

, ,
,
”
w i fe an d chi l d up on th e s ea .
’
It is Teresa s husb an d An d an as sassin ? .
A t your s ervice Well S er Gerard th e n ext thing

.
, _ ,
”
was you flun g yourself i nto T ib er an d b ade m e hold al o of
,
I rem emb er that

, .
”
.
Had it b een any b ut y ou b elieve m e I ha d ob eyed you , ,

T H E CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 471
and not wa gged a fi n g er Men are my fo es Th ey m ay all

. .
hang o n on e rop e o r drown in on e river for m e

, But wh en .
thou sinking in Tib er didst cry Margaret !

, ,
Ah !
My heart it cried Teresa ! H ow coul d I g o hom e
and lo ok h er in th e face did I l et thee die and by th e very, ,
death thou s a v e d s t her from ? S o in I went ; and lu ck i ly for

u s b o th I swim lik e a du ck You s eein g m e near an d b eing .
, ,
b ent on destruction trie d to gr ip m e and so end u s b oth

, , .
But I swam round the e and ( receive my excu ses ) so b u ff eted

,
the e on th e nap e of th e n eck with my steel glove ; that thou

lo st s ens e and I with mu ch a do th e stream b ei ng strong
, , ,
did draw thy b o dy to l and b ut insensibl e and full of water , .
Then I to ok thee on my b ack and made fo r my own h om e .
Teresa will nurse him and b e pleased with m e thou ght I , ,

’
.
But hard b y thi s m onastery a holy friar th e b iggest e er I , ,

’
saw m et u s and a ske d th e m atter

, S o I tol d him He .
lo oke d hard at the e I know th e face qu oth h e

. Tis ,
’
.
’
on e Gerard a fair youth from Holl and The sam e qu o I ’ ’
, .
, .
Th en said his reverence H e hath friend s am ong ou r ,
b rethren L eave him with u s ! Charity it is our of fi c e

.
,
.
’
Also h e tol d m e th ey of the co nvent ha d b etter m ean s

to ten d th ee than I had An d that was tru e enow So I
. .
j ust b argained to b e l et in to see th ee o nce a cl ay and here ,
thou art .
An d th e mis creant cast a strange lo ok of a ff ection an d

interest up o n Gerard .
G erard di d n ot resp ond to i t H e felt a s if a snak e were

in the ro om H e clo s ed his eyes
. .
Ah thou woul dst sl eep

,
said th e miscreant eagerly ,
.
I go And h e retire d on tip to e w ith a promise to com e

”
.
-
every day .
G erard lay with his eyes clo s ed : n ot asl eep b ut d eeply ,
p ondering .
S aved from death b y an assassin !

Was not this th e fi n g er of H eaven ?
Oi that Heaven h e had insulted curs ed and d efi e d , , .
H e shu ddered at his bl asphemies H e tri ed to p ray . .
H e foun d h e could utter prayers But h e could not p ray . .
I a m do om ed etern al ly h e crie d do om ed do omed

”
, , ,
.
The organ of th e co nvent church burst on h is ear in rich

and sol emn harmony .
Th en ro s e th e vo ices of the choir chanti n g a full s ervice .
Among them was on e that seem ed to hover ab ove th e

’
others an d tower towards h eaven ; a sweet b oy s voice
, ,
f u ll pure angelic
, , .
H e clo s ed his eye s and listened The days of h is ow n .
b oyho o d fl ow e d b ack up on him in tho se sweet p iou s ,

4 72 THE CL O ISTER AND TH E HEARTH
harm onies N o earthly dro s s th ere n o foul fi er c e p assion s
.
, , ,
rend i ng an d co rruptin g th e so ul .
P eac e p eace ; swe et b almy p ea ce

, , .
”
Ay h e sigh ed
,
th e Church is p eace o f m ind Til l , .
I l eft her b o som I n e er kn ew sorrow nor sin ’
, .
An d th e p o or to rn wo rn creature wep t , .
An d even as h e wep t th ere b eam e d on him th e swe et ,
an d reveren d face of on e h e had n ever thou ght to s ee again .
It was th e face of Fath er An s elm .
Th e go o d father had onl y re ached the convent th e night

b efore l ast Gerar d reco gn is ed h im in a m om ent an d crie d
.
,
to him O h Fath er Ans elm you cure d my woun de d b o dy

, , ,
in Jul iers : n ow cure my hurt soul in Rom e ! Al as y ou ,

”
cann ot .
Anselm s a t down b y th e b edside and p uttin g a gentl e ,
han d o n his h ead fi r s t calm e d h i m with a so othin g w or d o r

,
two .
H e th en ( for h e ha d l earne d h ow Gerard cam e th ere )

sp ok e to him kindly b ut sol em nl y and m ade him feel his ,
crime an d urge d h i m to rep entance an d gratitu de to th at

, .
,
D ivin e Power which had thwarte d his will to save his s oul .
Com e my s on sai d h e fi r s t p urge thy b o som o f i t s

, , ,
Ah father sai d Gerard

, in J uliers I coul d ; th en I
, ,
was inno cent ; b ut n ow imp iou s m onster that I a m I dare , ,

”
not confess to you .
W h y not my s on ? Think est thou I h ave not sinn ed

,
a gainst Heaven in my tim e an d d eeply ? oh how d eep ly ! , ,
Com e p o o r laden soul p our forth thy grief p our forth thy
, , ,
faults hol d b ack nou ght ! Lie no t opp ressed an d crush ed

,
”
by h i dden sins .
And so on Gerard was at Fath er An s elm s knee s confes sing ’
his every s i n with sighs an d gro an s of p enitence .
”
Thy sins are great sai d Ans elm Thy temptatio n , .
al so was great
”
terribly great I must consult our go o d
, .
p r i or .
Th e go o d An s elm kiss ed his b row an d left him to co nsult , ,
th e sup erior as to his p enance .
An d 1 0 ! Gerard coul d pray now .
An d h e prayed with a l l his he art .
The phas e throu gh whi ch this remarkabl e min d n ow

,
p assed m ay b e summ ed in a word P eniten ce—

, .
H e turn ed with terror and aversion fro m the Worl d an d ,
b egged p assionately to remain in th e co nvent To him .

,
convent nurtured it was l ik e a b ird returnin g wou nded , ,
wearied to its gentl e nest

, .
H e p asse d his n ovitiate in prayer an d m or t i fi c a t i on , ,
an d p iou s readin g an d m e d ita t ion .

H e found it miserably dull work - at fi r st ; an d s ai d so .
B ut m ethi n k s this dull lif e of plo dding l ab our was b etter

for h i m than th e b rief excitem ent of b eing he w n in p iece s
,
’
by the Prin c ess Cl ael i a s my r midon s His exi l e s ave d th e .
un consciou s p enitent f r om th at fate ; an d th e p rincess .

,
b alk ed of h er reven ge to ok to b ro o din g an d f el l i n t o a p r o

, ,
fo und m el ancholy ; dismiss ed h er co nf ess or and to ok a n ew ,
on e with a great reputatio n for p iety to whom s h e c on fi d e d ,
wh at sh e cal le d h er gri efs The n ew confess or was n o other .
th an Fra Jerom e She c oul d no t have f a ll en i n t o b et t er

.
‘
h a n ds .
H e heard h er grimly ou t Th en to ok h er an d sho ok th e .
d elusion s out of h er as rou gh l y a s if s h e h ad b een a kitch en

m aid .For to do this h ar d m o n k j u stice on th e p ath of
, ,
duty h e fe ar ed th e an ger o f princes a s littl e as h e di d th e s ea .
H e show ed h er in a few words a ll thun der an d li ghtnin g

'
, ,
that sh e was th e cri m in al of criminal s .
Tho u art th e d evil that with thy m on ey h ath tempte d ,
on e m an to slay his fell ow an d th en blin de d with s elf l OV e , , ,
instea d of blamin g an d punishi ng thys elf art th i rsting for ,

°
”
m o re blo o d of guilty m en b ut not so guilty as thou , .
A t fi r s t s h e resisted an d tol d him sh e was n ot u s e d ,
to b e tak en to task b y h er co nfess ors But h e overp owered . .

‘
her an d so threaten e d h er with th e Church s curs e h ere and

,
’
h ereafter an d so to re th e scal es off h er eyes an d thundere d

, ,
at h er an d cru sh e d h er that s h e sank do w n and grove l l ed

, ,
with rem ors e and terro r at th e feet o f th e gigantic B o an erges .
Oh holy fath er have p ity on a p o o r we ak wom an an d

, , ,
h elp m e s ave my g u ilty s ou l l I wa s b eni ghted for want of ‘
gho stly co unsel lik e thin e go o d father

”
I wak en a s from a , .
dream .
D o f f thy j ewel s said Fra J er om e sternly

I will I will
.
. .
D o f f thy s i lk and velvet ; an d i n humbl er garb th an

'
”
wears thy m eanest s ervant w en d t h ou instant to L orett o
'
I will said th e p ri n ces s faintly

.
”
,
N o sho es ; b ut a b ar e sand al .
N o fath er , .
Wash th e fe et of p il gr im s b oth go ing and comin g ;

and to su ch of th em as b e holy friars tell thy sin and ab ide ,
their a dmonitio n .
Oh holy fath er l et m e wear my m ask

, , .
Humph !
Oh m ercy ! B ethink th ee l My features ar e known
,
”
throu gh Ital y .
Ay B eauty i s a curs e to m o st of y e Well thou

.
.
,
”
m a y s t m a s k thin e eyes ! no m o re .
On this conce ssio n sh e s eiz ed his hand and was ab out to ,
kis s i t ; but h e snatch ed it ru dely from h er .
What woul d y e do ? That hand handl ed the eu ch arist

but an hour a gon e : i s it fi t for su ch as thou t o tou ch i t ?
Ah no, But oh g o n o t with out giving your p enitent
.
,
d aughter your bl essin g .
Tim e enow to ask it wh en y ou com e b ack from Loretto .
Thu s that m arvellou s o ccurrence by Tib er s b anks l eft ’
i t s m ark on all th e actors a s p ro digies are said to do The

, .
assassin softened b y savin g th e life he was p aid to tak e

, ,
turn ed from the stiletto to th e p orter s kn o t The princess ’

.
went b a refo ot to Loretto w eep in g h er crime an d washin g ,
th e feet of b as e b orn m en -
.
And Gerard carried fro m th e Tib er into that convent

,
a sui cid e n ow p assed for a youn g s aint within its wall s

, .
Lovin g b ut exp erien ced eyes were on him .
Up on a shorter p rob atio n than u sual h e was admitted

to priest s orders
’
.
An d so o n after to ok the m onastic vows and b ecam e a ,
friar of S t D ominic . .
D yin g to th e worl d th e m onk p arted wi t h th e very nam e

,
by which h e h ad lived in i t an d so b rok e th e last link of ,
asso ciation with earthly feel in gs .
Here Gerard ended and Broth er Cl em ent b e gan , .
CHAPTER LXX I
A s is th e race of l eaves so is that of m en An d a great .
m an b u dded unnoticed in a tail or s hou se at R ot t erd a m ’
this year and a l arge m an dropp ed to earth with great ecl a t

, ,
.
Philip D uk e of Burgundy E arl of Holl and etc etc

, , , .
, .
,
l y
a sick at Bru ges N ow p aup ers g o
. t sick an d g ot well
as Nature pl eas ed ; b ut wo e b etided th e rich in an age wh en ,
for on e Mr Malady kill e d three fell b y D r Rem edy

. . .
Th e D uk e s complaint nam el ess then is n ow diphth eria

’
, , .
It is and was a very weak ening m al ady and the D uke wa s

, , ,
ol d ; s o alto geth er D r Rem edy bl ed him . .
Th e D uk e turned very col d : wonderful !

Then D r R emedy had recours e to the arcana of s cien ce
.
.
H ol This i s grave Flay m e an ap e incontinent .

,
and clap him to th e D uk e s breast !

’
Of fi c er s of state ran s e p t ei n v i ou s seekin g an ap e to , ,
counteract the blo o dthirsty tomfo ol ery of the hum an

S p ecies
.
P erdition ! Th e duk e was ou t o f a p es There w ere .
b uffalo e s lizards Turks ; l eop ard s ; , any u nreasonab l e

b east b ut the right on e .
Why there u se d to b e an ap e ab out sai d on e

, ,
.
stan d h ere I s a w him ”

.
S o th ere u se d ; b ut th e m asti ti h ad m angl e d th e sp rightly

creature for steal in g his supp er ; an d so f u l fi ll ed th e human
p recept ,
S oye z d e votre s i ecl e l
In thi s em ergency the s enes ch al cast his desp airin g eyes
aroun d ; an d not i n vain A hop eful light sho t into them
. .
”
H ere is th i s said h e s otto vo ce
,
S urely th i s will
, .
”
s erve : t i s alto geth er ap elik e doubl et and ho s e ap art
’
,
.
”
Nay ,
s ai d th e chancell or p eevishly th e Prin ces s ,
”
M ari e woul d h an g u s Sh e d ot et h o n th i s. .
Now th i s was our friend Gil es struttin g all unco nscious , , ,
in cloth of gold
Th en D r R em edy grew imp at i ent an d b ad e flay a do g
.
.
.
,
A d og I S next b est to an ap e ; only it mu st b e a do g all

of on e colour .
S o they fl a y e d a liver col oured do g an d clapp e d i t yet -

, ,
p alp itatin g to th eir s overei g n s breast ; an d h e died

,
’
.
Philip th e Go o d thu s s ci en t i fi c a ll y disp o se d of l eft

, ,
thirty on e chil dren : of wh om on e som ehow or anoth er

-
, ,
was l egitim ate ; an d rei gn e d in h i s stead .
Th e go o d duk e p rovid ed for ninete en out o f th e other

thirty ; th e rest sh i fted for th ems elves .
Accordi ng to th e Fl emish chronicl e th e decease d prince

was d es cen de d from th e kings of Troy throu gh Thierry of
Aquitaine an d Ch il p er i c Pharam ond et c th e ol d kings o f
, , , .
,
Franconia .
But this in reality was n o di stin ction N ot a p rince of .
h i s d ay h ave I b een abl e t o dis cover wh o di d n ot com e down

”
from Troy . Priam w as m edi aev al for Adam .
Th e go o d duk e s b o dy was carri e d into Burgundy an d

’
l aid in a nobl e m au sol eum of bl ack m arbl e at D ij on .
Holl an d ran g with his de at h ; an d littl e dream ed that

anythin g as famou s w a s b orn in h er t er r i t or y t h a t y ear .
That j u d gment h as b e en l on g reversed Men gaz e a t th e .
tail or s h ou se where th e great b irth of th e fi f t e en t h century

’
to ok pl ace In what hou se th e go o d duke die d no on e

’
”
knows an d no o n e cares a s th e s on g says , .
An d why ?
D ukes Philip th e Go o d com e and go an d l eave m ankind ,
n ot a h alfp enny wis er n or b ett er no r oth er than th ey foun d

, ,
it. But when on ce in thre e hundred years such a chil d i s

, ,
b orn to the worl d a s Margaret s s on l o ! a hum an to rch ’

,
lighted by fi r e from h e aven ; an d F IAT L UX thunders

from p ol e to p ol e .
478 THE CL O ISTER AND T HE HEARTH
app all in g an d th e stench lo athsom e p estil enti al ; an d m en
, ,
lo okin g l i k e wil d b easts lay co i l ed i n ra gs and fi l t h an d d e

sp air It tried his b o dy hard ; b ut th e soul coll ecte d al l its
.
p owers to comfort su ch p o or wretch es there as were not p ast

comfort An d Clem ent shon e in that trial
. J erom e r e .
p orte d that Clem ent s sp irit was w ill ing b ut his fl es h was
’
weak .
Go o d ! sai d Ans elm ; h i s fl e sh i s weak b ut h i s S p irit ,
i s w i ll i n g .
B ut there was a greater t r i al i n store

'
I wi ll des crib e it as it was s een by others .
O ne mornin g a prin cip al stre et in Rom e wa s crowde d ,
an d even th e avenue s blo cke d up with h ea ds It wa s an

’
,
.
exe cutio n N o comm on cr i m e h ad b een do ne an d on no

.
,
vu l gar Victim .
Th e govern or of R om e ha d b een foun d in hi s b e d at

d ayb re ak s l a u gh ter ed , H i s hand rais ed p rob ably in se l f
.
,
.
d efence l ay b y his sid e s evered at th e wrist ; his thro at wa s

,
cut an d his temple s b rui s ed with som e blunt in strum ent

, ,
.
Th e murder h ad b een trace d to h i s servant and was to b e ,
exp iate d in k in d this very m orning .
Itali an exe cutions were n ot cru el in genera l But this .

“
murder was thou ght to cal l for exact an d blo o dy retr i butio n .
Th e cr i m in al was b rou ght to th e ho us e o f th e murd ered

m an an d fasten ed fo r h al f an hour to i t s wal l Aft er th i s
'
, .
foreta ste of l ega l ven gean ce h i s left hand was stru ck ofi

‘
-
,
'
lik e h i s vi ctim s ; A new k ill e d fowl w aS cu t op en and

’ '
-
'
fa stened roun d th e b l ee ding stump ; with what Vi ew I

re al ly d o n t know ; b ut b y th e lo ok of i t som e m are s nest
’
,
’
of th e p o or de ar do cto r s ; an d the murderer thu s mutil ate d

’
an d b andage d wa s hurrie d to the s caff ol d ; an d th ere a

,
young friar was m o st earn est and a f fe ction at e in p raying

wi th h i m an d for him an d h ol ding th e cr u cifi x cl o s e to his
, ,
eye s .
Pres ently th e execution er p ull ed th e friar rou ghly on on e

side an d in a m om ent fell ed th e cu l prit with a heavy
,
m all et an d fal l in g on him ou t his thro at from ear to ear

, , .
Th ere was a cry of horror fro m th e crowd .
Th e youn g friar swo on e d away .
A gi ganti c m o nk stro d e forward an d ca r r i e d h i m off ,

'
lik e a ch il d .
Broth er Cl em ent w ent b ack to th e convent sa dl y d i s

c ou r a g e d H e co nfes sed to th e prior with tears of re gret
.
, .
”
Coura ge s on Clem ent sai d the prior ,
~A D ominican
, .
i s not m ade in a day Th ou shalt have another trial

. An d
I forb id the e to g o to it f a s t i n g
.
Cl en1 en t b owe d his hea d .
in tok en of ob edience H e had not lon g to wait . A robb er .
was b rought t o the sca ff old ; a m o nster of vill ainy and

cruelty who had kill ed m en in pure wantonness after

, ,
robb ing them Clem ent p assed his la st night in priso n wit h
.
-
him accompani ed him to the s caff ol d and then p raye d

, ,
with him an d f or him so earnestly that th e hardene d r u ffi a n

sh ed tears an d emb raced him Cl em ent emb ra ced him t oo .
,
though his fl esh quivered with repu gnance ; an d h el d th e

c r u c i fi x earnestly b efore his eye s Th e m an was garotted .
,
an d Clem ent lo s t sigh t of the crowd an d prayed lo u d and ,
earnestly while that dark sp irit was p assin g from earth .
H e was no so oner d ead than th e hangma n rais ed his hatch et

and q u a r t er e d t h e b o dy on th e sp ot And oh mysterio u s .
, ,
heart of m an ! th e p eopl e who had seen th e living b o dy

robb ed of life with indiff erence almo st with satisfaction , ,
uttered a p iteou s cry at each stroke of the axe up on his

corp s e that coul d feel nou ght Cl em ent to o shu ddered th en .
,
but sto o d fi r m like on e of tho s e ro cks that vibrate bu t

,
cannot b e throw n down But su dd enly Jerom e s vo ic e .

’
sounde d in his ear .
Broth er Clem ent get th e e on that cart an d p reach to ,
th e p eopl e N ay quickly ! strike with all thy fo rce on all

.
,
this iron wh i l e yet tis h ot an d soul s are to b e saved

,
’
, .
Cl em ent s col our cam e and went ; and h e b reathed h ard

’
.
But h e ob eyed and with ill as sured step m ounted th e cart

,
-
,
and p reach ed his fi r s t s ermo n to th e fi r s t crowd he ha d ever

faced . Oh that s ea of heads ! His thro at s eem ed p arche d
, ,
his heart thump ed his vo ice trembl ed ,

.
B y and b y th e greatness of th e o ccasion th e sig ht of the

- -
,
eager upturned faces an d his own h eart full of z eal fi r e d t h e, ,

’
pale monk H e tol d them this robb er s histo ry warm from
.
,
his own lip s in the prison and sh owe d his h earers by th at ,
exampl e th e gradations of folly an d crim e an d warned th em ,
s ol emnly n ot to put fo o t on th e fi r s t ro un d of that fatal

l adder . An d as alternately h e thu n d ere d a gainst th e
shedders of blo o d and m ove d th e crowd to charity an d p ity ,
his trem ors left h i m and h e felt all strung u p l ike a lute and
’
, ,
gifted with an un su sp ected force ; he was m aster of th at

listenin g crowd coul d feel th eir very puls e co u l d play
, ,
sacre d m el o dies o n th em as o n his p sal t ery S ob s an d .
gro ans atteste d his p ower over th e m ob already excited by

th e tragedy b efore th em J erom e stared lik e o ne who go e s .
to light a stick ; and fi r es a ro ck et After a whil e Clem ent .
ca u ght his l o ok of asto nishment an d seeing no approb atio n ,
in i t broke su ddenly off and j o ine d h im ,

.
It was my fi r s t endeavour said h e ap olo getically ,

.
Your b ehest cam e o n m e like a thunderb olt Was I ? .
D id I ? — Oh correct m e and aid m e with your exp erience

, , ,
”
Brother Jerome .
Humph ! said Jerom e doubtfully H e added rather .

,
sull e nl y after long refl ection Give th e glo ry to God ,
Brother Clem ent ; my O p inion i s thou art an orator b orn .
H e rep o rte d th e sam e at headqu arters half relu ctantly , .
For h e was an honest f r i a r thou gh a disa gr eeabl e on e .
O ne Jul io Antonell i was accu sed o f sacr i l ege ; thre e

wi tnesses swore th ey s a w him com e out of th e church
w hence th e can d l esticks were s tol en and at th e very t i m e , .
Oth er witnesses p ro v ed an al ib i for him as p o sitively .
N either te st i mo ny co ul d b e shak en In this doub t Antonell i .
was p ermitte d th e trial b y water hot or col d B y the hot , .
trial he must p ut his b ar e ar m i nto b o i li ng water fourteen ,
inches deep and t ak e ou t a p ebbl e ; by th e col d trial his

,
b o dy must b e l et down into eight feet of water Th e cl ergy .

,
w h o thou ght h i m inno cent re comm ended the hot water ,
trial which to t h os e w h om th ey favoured was not s o

‘
, , ,
terribl e as it soun ded But th e p o or wretch had not the.
nerve and cho se th e col d o rdeal

,
An d this gave Jerom e .
anoth er opp ortuni ty of steeling Cl em ent Antonell i to ok .
th e sacram ent an d then was stripp e d naked on the b ank s

, '
of th e T i b er an d tie d h an d and ,
prevent tho s e
stru ggl es b y wh ich a m an thr owin g his ar m s out of th e ,
water s i nk s hi s b o dy
,
.
H e was th en l et do wn gently into th e stream an d ,
fl oa t e d a mom ent with j ust his h a i r ab ove water , A .
s imultaneou s ro ar fro m th e crowd o n each b ank p ro claimed

him g uilty B ut th e n ext m om ent th e rop es which
.
,
happ ened to b e n ew g ot w et and h e s ettl ed down , Another , .
ro ar pro cl aim e d h i s m n oc en c e They left him at the b ottom .
of th e r i ver th e app o int e d tim e rath er m ore than half a ,
m inute then drew h i m u p gurgl in g and gasp ing an d

, , ,
scream in g for m ercy ; an d after th e app o inted p rayers ,
di sm i ssed h i m cl eared of th e charge , .
D u rin g the exp erim ent Cl em ent prayed earn es tly on the
b ank .Wh en it w a s over h e thanke d G od in a lou d but
sli ghtly qu aver i n g vo ice .
B y and y h e aske d J erom e wh ether th e m an o u ght no t

- -b ‘
to b e comp ensated .
For what ?
For the p ain th e dread th e s u ff o cati on : Po or s oul
, , ,
he li veth b ut hath taste d all th e b ittern es s of death

, Yet .
”
he h ad don e no i ll .
H e i s reward ed enou gh in that h e i s cl ea r ed of his

'
fault .
But b ein g inno cent of that fault yet h ath h e dr unk ,

’
D eath s CU P thou gh not to the dregs ; and h s a ccusers
,
i
,
less in no cent than h e d o su f f er nou ght , .
Jerom e replied som ewhat ster n ly

Th exp eri ence of a ges proves th ey do sai d Colonna
e , .
As to the last virtu e you h ave nam e d , there sits a living

pro of . Thi s Gerard— I b e g p ardon Broth er T h i n g em y ,
comes from th e north wh ere m en d rink li k e fi s h es ; y et was ,
h e ever m o st ab stemiou s An d why ? Carried an am ethyst .

,
th e cl earest an d full est coloured e er I saw o n any b ut nobl e ’
fi n ger W h ere i n Heav en s nam e ; is thine am ethyst ?

.
,
’ '
Show it thi s u n b el i ev er l
An d twas th at am ethyst m ad e the b oy temp erate ?
’
aske d Jerom e ironic al ly .
Certainly W h y wh at i s th e d erivatio n an d m eaning

'
.
,
of am ethyst ? n egative and u eeva to tippl e a G o to , _ ,

.
,
nam es ar e b ut th e si gns of thi ngs A sto ne is not cal l ed .
a y eeva r os for two thou s an d ye ars ou t of m ere sp ort an d ,

~
ab u s e of lan g u age .
H e then went throu gh th e prim e j ewel s ill ustrating ,
th eir m oral prop erti es esp e cial ly of th e rub y th e sapph ire , , ,
th e em eral d an d th e op al b y an ecdotes ou t of grave

, ,
historian s .
Th es e b e ol d wives fabl e s s aid Jerom e c on t em p t u ’
ou sl y .Was ever such credulity as thin e ?

Now credul ity is a rep ro ach s cep tics h ave often th e ill
luck to incur ; b ut it m or t i fi es them non e th e le ss for t h at .
Th e b eliever in stones wr ith e d un der i t and dropp ed t h e ,
subj ect Th en Jerom e mista kin g h i s sil ence exhorte d hi m

.
,
to g o a step f a rther an d g ive up fro m thi s day h i s vai n p agan

,
l ore an d stu dy th e live s of th e saints

, Blot ou t th es e .
h eath en sup erstitio ns from thy mind brother as Chr istia n ity , ,
”
hath blotte d them from th e ear th .
And in this strai n h e pro ceede d rep eatin g incautiou sly , , ,
som e current but l o o se theolo gi cal statem ents Then th e .

~
sm artin g Pol i fi l o revenge d h i m s el f H e fl ew ou t and hurle d .

,
a mo untai n of crude m is cell aneou s lore up o n J erom e of , ,
whi ch p artly for want of tim e p a rtly f or l ack of l earning

,
—
, ,
I can repro duce b ut a few fra gm ents .
Th e h eath en bl otte d ou t ? Why th ey hold four ,
fi j t h s of th e worl d An d wh at have we Chr istian s invente d

.
without th eir aid ? p aintin g ? s cul pture ? these are h eathen

arts an d we but pi gm ies at them
, Wh at mo dern mind can .
conceive and grave s o go d like form s as did th e chief -
Athenian sculptors an d th e Lib yan Li ca s an d D i n ocr a t es , ,
of Macedon an d S cop as Tim oth eu s L eoch a r es an d B r i a xi s

, ; , , ,
Chares Lysippu s a n d th e imm ortal thre e of Rho des

, , ,
that w rou ght Lao co on fro m a sin gl e blo ck ? Wh at p rince

b ath the gen i u s to turn m ountai ns i nto statu es as was don e ,
at B a gi s t a n and proj ected at Atho s ? Wh at town th e soul

,
to plant a colo ssu s of b ra ss in the s e a for the t al l est ship s ,
to sai l i n an d out b etween his l egs ? Is it ar chi tecture we

have invented ? Why here to o we are b ut chil dren ,Can .
we match for p u r e d es i gn th e Parthenon with its clu sters

‘
of do uble and singl e D oric columns ? ( I do adore the D oric

when the scal e i s large ) and for grand eur and fi n i sh th e , ,
theatres of Greece and R ome or th e pro digiou s temples of ,
E gypt up to who se p ortal s m en w al ked awe stru ck throu gh

,
-
avenu es a mil e l on g of sphinxes each as b ig as a V enetian ,
p al ace An d all these pro digies of p o r phyry cut an d

.
p olished like crystal not rou gh h ewn as in our puny ,
structures Even n ow their p olished column s and p ilasters

.
lie o er t h r ow n an d broken o er gr own with acanthu s an d

’
,
’
myrtle but sp arkling still an d fl outing th e slovenly art of

, ,
mo dern workm en I s it s ewers aque ducts viaducts ?

.
, ,
Why we have lo st the art of m aking a ro ad— lo st it

,
with the worl d s greatest -m o del s under our very eye

’
Is it .
sepulchres of th e dead ? Why no Christian nation has ever ,
erected a tomb the sight of which do es n ot set a scholar

,
laughin g D o b ut think of the Mau sol eum an d the

.
,
Pyra mid s an d the m onstrou s sepulchres of th e Indus and

,
Gan ges which o utside are m ountains and within are mines
, ,
of preciou s stone s Ah you h ave not seen th e E ast J erome

.
, , ,
or you could not decry the heathen .
Jerom e ob serve d that these were m ere m aterial things .
True greatness wa s in th e soul .
Well then replie d Colonna

, in th e worl d of mind
, , ,
what h ave we discovered ? I s it geom etry ? Is it lo gic ?

Nay we are all p up ils of Eu clid and Aristotle
,
I s it written .
characters an inventio n almo st divin e ? We no m ore

,
invented it than Cadmu s did Is it p o etry ? Homer .
hath never b een appro ache d by u s n or hath V irgil nor , ,
Horace I s it tragedy or com edy ?

. W h y p o ets actors , , ,
theatre s al l fell t o du st at our touch

,
Have we su cceede d .
in reviving them ? Woul d y ou comp a re ou r little miser

able mysteries and m oral ities all frigid p er s on i fi c a t i on and , ,
d og Latin with the glories of a Greek play ( on th e decoration

,
of which a hundre d thou sand crowns had b e e n sp ent )

p erformed inside a m arbl e miracle the audience a se ated ,
city an d th e p o et a S opho cl es ?
,
“
Wh at then have we invented ? Is it monotheism ?
Why the l earned and phil o sophical am on g the Greeks and
,
Romans hel d i t ; even th eir m ore enl ightene d p o ets were

monotheists in their sl eeves .
Z eus € 0 T LV ov a V os, Z eus T6 7 3 Z eus T OI.

'
7
p
sai t h th e Greek and Lucan echo es him :,
J u p i t er ides m over i s ’
d
‘
es t qu o cu n q u e v qu o cu n qu e .
Their vulgar were p olytheists ; and what are ours ?

4 84 THE CL O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH
We have not invente d invo cation of the s aints O ur C
.
’
s ancti answers to th eir D aem ones an d D ivi an d th e heathen ,
u sed to p ray their D ivi or d ei fi e d m ortal s to interced e with

th e high er divinity ; b ut th e ru der minds among them ,
incap abl e of nice di stinctions worshipp e d tho s e l esser go ds ,
th ey sh oul d have but invoked An d s o do th e m ob of .
Christians in ou r day following th e h eathen vul gar by u n ,
b roken tradition F or in holy writ i s no p olytheism of any

.
sort or kind .
We have n ot invente d so mu ch as a form or variety

of p olytheism Th e p ag an vu l gar worshi pp ed a l l sorts of
.
d ei fi e d m ort al s an d each h ad his favourite to whom he

, ,
p rayed ten tim es for o n ce to th e Omnip oten t Our vul gar .
worship canonized mortal s and each has his favourite to , ,
whom he prays ten times for o nce to Go d Call you that .
invention ? Invention is c on fi n e d to the E a st Am o ng the .
ancient vul gar o nl y th e m ar iners were m onotheists ; they

worshipp e d V enu s ; cal l ed h er Stell a m ari s and Regina
C &l or u m Amon g ou r v ul gar o n ly the m ariners are
’
.
m onotheist s ; they worship the V irgin M ary and c al l her ,
th e Star of th e S ea and the Q u e en of Heaven ’

Call you ’
'
, .
theirs a n ew reli gion ? A n ol d doubl et with a new b utton .
Our vul gar m ak e im ages and adore them which is ab surd ; , ,
for adoration i s th e homage due from a creature to its

cre ator ; now h ere m an is the creator ; s o the statu es ou ght
to worship him and woul d if they had brain s enou gh to
, ,
j ustify a rat in worshipp ing th em But even this ab use .

,
though chil dish enou gh to b e m o dern is ancient The , .
p agan vul gar in these p arts made their images then knelt ,
b efore them adorned them with fl ow er s o ffered incense

, ,
to them lighte d tap ers b efore them carried them i n p ro

, ,
cession and m ade p il grimages to them j u st to the sm allest

,
tittl e as we their imitators do .
Jerom e here b roke in imp atie ntly and rem in ded him that ,
th e images the m o st revered in Ch ristendom were m ade by no

m ortal hand but had d r opp ed from heaven
, .
Ay cried Co l onna
, such are the tutel ary images of ,
m o st great It al ian towns I h ave ex a m i n e d n i n et een of .
them and made drafts of them

, If they cam e from the s k y .
,
ou r worst sculptors are ou r angel s But my mind is easy on .
that score Ungainl y statu e or Villainou s daub fell never

.
yet from heaven to smu ggle the b read ou t o f cap abl e work
’
m en s m ouths Al l this is Pagan an d aro se thu s
. Th e ,
Tro j ans had Oriental ima ginations and fe i gn ed that their

.
Palladium a wo o den statue three cubits lo ng fe l l d own

, ,
from heaven The Greeks took this fi b h om e among the

.
sp oil s of Troy and so on it rained statu es on all the Grecian

,
cities a nd their Latin ap es

, And on e of these Palladia .
4 86 THE CL O ISTER A ND T H I J H E A RT H
G reek s of the E g yp tians th e R omans of the Greek s -afi d we

of th e Romans who se Pon t i f ex Ma xi m u s had h i s t oé
, , _
kissed
'
,
'
’
und er the Emp ire The D ruids kissed the High Priest s to e
’
a thou sand years Th e Muss u lmans who lik e you , , ,
profess to abhor Heathenism k i s s t h e st one of th e Caab a : ,

'
a Pa gan practice .
The Priests of B a al kissed their idols s o .
Tull y t ell s u s of a fair im age of H er cu l e s a t A gr i g en t u m

'
wh os e ch i n was wor n b y kissin g The lower p arts of the .
statu e we cal l Peter ar e Jup iter T h e to e is sore worn but .

,
n ot a l l b y Christian m o uths The h eathen vul gar laid the i r

’
lip s there fi r s t for m a n y ja year a n d ou r s hav e but foll owed

‘
, ,
them as monkeys the i r m asters An d th at is why down

’
,
.
,
with the p o or heathen ! Per ea n t qui ante n os no stra f ec er i n t .
Our infant b aptism is P ersian ; with th e font and the ‘
sign ing of the chil d s brow Our th rowing three h andful s of

’
.
earth on th e c offi n an d saying dust to dust is E gyp ti a n

, , .
Our incense is Orient al R oman Pagan ; an d th e early , ,
Fathers of the Church regarded it with sup erstitious horror ,
and died for refusing t o handl e i t Our Holy water is .
Pagan and all its u ses

, S ee h ere is a Pa gan asp ersorium .
, .
Coul d y ou tell it from on e of ours ? I t stoo d in the same ,
p art of their temples an d Wa s u sed in ordi n a ry worship as,
ours and in extraordi na r y p u r i fi c a t i on s

, They cal le d it .
Aqu a l u s t r a l i s Their vulgar like ours thou ght drop s of

.
, ,
it fal ling 0 1 1 the b o dy woul d wash ou t sin ; a n d t h ei r men

of sense like ours sm iled or sighed at su ch credulit y
, , What .
saith Ovid oi -this folly which hath outli ve d him ? ,
A h n i m i u m f a c il es , qu i t r i s t ia c ri m i n a c oed i s
' '
F l u n nn ea t ol h p oss e p u t e t i s a qu a ’
.
Thou seest th e heathen were n ot a ll fo ols . No m ore are

we . N ot all .
Fra Colonna uttered al l this with s uch volub i lity ; that

his hearers coul d not edge in a word of r em on s t r a nc e ; and z
not b ein g interrupted in praising his favourites h e r e ,
covered his goo d humour without any diminution of h i s ,
volub ility ;
We cel ebrate th e mir aculou s Conception of t h e V irgin
'
'
on th e 2 n d of Feb ruary The ol d R omans celebrated the .
Mira cul ou s Co nception of Juno on th e 2 n d of Febru ary .
Our feast of All S aints i s on the 2 n d Novemb er The .

‘
F e s t u m D ei Mortis was on t h e 2 n d Novemb er E Ou r .
Can dl emas is al so an ol d Roman feast ; neither th e dat e nor

the ceremony al tered on e tittle
.
Th e p atrician ladies .
'
c a r r l e d can dles ab out th e city that night as ou signora s

r
do n ow A t t h e gate of S an Cro ce ou r cou r t es a ns k e e
‘
a
'
'
p
.
fea st o n i the 2 ot h Au gust Ask them why ! The littl e

.
.
TH E CL O IST ER AND TH E HEARTH 4 87
no odl es canno t tell y ou On that very sp ot sto o d th e

.
Temple of V enu s Her bu ilding i s gone ; but her rite r e

.
mains D id we d iscover Purgatory ? On t h e contrary

.
,
all we reall y know ab out it is from two treatise s of Plato

the Gorgias and the Ph aedo and the sixth b o ok of V irgil s
,
’
[ Enei d
I tak e it from a holier source : S t Gre gory said .
,
Jerom e sternl y .
L i ke enough replied Colonn a drily

, But S t .
Gregory was not s o nice ; h e to ok i t f r om V irgil

.
S om e '
souls saith Gregory are purge d b y fi r e others by water

, , , ,
othe r s by air .
S ays V i rgil
A l i ae p a u d u n t u r i n a n es
‘
,
S u s p en s ae a d v e n t os a l i i s s u b g u r g i t e v as t o
,
I n f e c t u m el u i s c e l u s , a u t e xu r i t u r i gni ’
tur .
But p eradven t ure you think Pop e Gregory I live d b efore

,
V irgil an d V irgil v er s i fi e d him

.
, .
But the do ctrine is Eastern an d a s mu ch ol der than ,
Pl ato as Plato than Grego r y Our p rayers for the dead came .
from Asia with ZE n ea s Ovi d tells that wh en h e prayed

.
,
for the soul of A n chises th e cu stom wa s strange in Italy , .
B u b c m or e m f E n aea s , p i e t a t i s id on e a s a u c t or
A t t u h t l n t er r a s , j u s t e La t m e , t u a s ’
.
Th e B i b l i c ae S ortes which I have seen cons u lte d o n th e

,
’
altar a r e a p aro dy on th e
, S orte s V i r gi l i a n ae Our .
’
numerou s al tars in on e church are heathen : the Jews ,
who are mo notheists have but on e al tar in a church , But .
the Pagans had m any b eing p olytheists In the templ e

,
.
of Pa t h i a n V enu s were a hundred of them Centum qu e .
S a b eeo thure cal ent ar ae Our altars and our hundred lights ’
.
aroun d S t Peter s tomb are Pagan

.
’
Centum aras p os u i t .
V i gil em qu e s a cr a v er a t i gn em We invent nothing no t

' ’
. .
even numerically Our very D evi l is the g od Pa n horn s

.
,
an d ho ofs an d all ; b ut blackened F or we cannot draw ; .
we can b ut daub th e fi g u r e s of Antiquity with a little sorry

p aint or so ot O ur Mo ses h ath stolen the horns of Amm on ;
.
our Wolfgang th e ho o f of S aturn ; and Janu s b ore the keys

of he aven b efore S t Peter A l l ou r real l y old Italian .
bronze s of th e V irgin and Chil d are V enu ses and Cup ids
.
S o is th e wo o den statue that stand s hard by this hou se , .
of Pop e Jo an an d the ch i l d she is said to h ave brou ght forth

there in the middl e of a pro cession I d i ot s l are new b orn
’
-
. .
chil dren thirteen years ol d ? A n d that b oy is n ot a day

younger Cupid ! Cup id ! Cupid ! And since y ou accu se
.
m e of credulity know that t o my mind that Pap es s is fu l l as

, ,
4 88 THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEA R TH
mythol o gi cal b orn of froth and every way unreal as th e
, , ,
go ddess who p asses for h er in the n ext street or a s th e ,
saints y ou cal l S t B a c ch o and S t Quirina : or S t Or a c t e

. . .
,
whi ch is a dunce like corruption of Mount S or a c t e or S t

-
, .
A m p h i b ol u s an En glish saint which i s a dunce like corrup

, ,
-
tion of th e clo ak worn b y their S t Alb an or a s the Sp anish .

,
saint S t V iar : which words on his tomb stone written

,
.
‘
thu s S V iar p rove him no saint b ut a go o d ol d nam e

, .
,
’
,
less heathen an d pr aefe ctu s V i a r u m or over s e er of ro ad s ’ ‘
, ,
( woul d he were b ack to earth an d p aganizing of our Christian ,
r oa d s l ) or as our S t V eronica of B en a s c o which V ero nica

,
.
,
is a dunce -
l ik e corruption of th e V era icon which this ,
’
saint b rou ght into th e church I wish it m ay n ot b e as u h .
re al as th e donor or a s th e el even thou san d virgins of ,
C olo gne who were b ut a couple

,
”
.
Clement interru p ted him to inquire what he m eant .
I h ave sp oken with th o se have s een their b ones .
Wh at of el even thou san d Virgin s al l coll ect e d in o ne

,
pl ace and at o ne tim e ? D o b ut b ethink thee l em en t , .
N ot on e of th e great Eastern cities of antiquity coul d coll ect

el even t hou sand Pagan Virgins at on e tim e far l ess a puny ,
Western city El even thou san d Ch r i s t i a n vi r g i n s in a littl e

.
,
we e Paynim city !
,
Q u od c u n qu e os t en d i s m i h i s i c i n c r ed u l u s od i .
’
The simpl e s o oth is this The mar tyrs were two : th e .
Breton princess h erself fal s ely call ed British and h er maid , , ,
On e s i m ill a which is a Greek nam e O nesima diminish ed

, , , .
Th is som e fo ol did mis p ro nounce u n d e c i m m ill e eleven -

'
,
tho usand : lo o s e ton gu e found c r e d u l ou s e a r s and s o on e ,
fo ol made many ; el even thous an d of th em an you will , .
And y ou charge m e with credulity Jerom e ? an d b id m e ,
read the Lives of th e S aints Wel l I h ave read th em and .

, ,
m any a dear ol d P agan acquaintance I found there Th e ,

.
b es t fi ct i on s in th e b o ok are Oriental an d are known to ,
h ave b een current in P ersia an d Arab ia eight hundred

years an d m ore b efore th e dates the Chur ch as signs to t hem
as facts As for th e tru e Western fi gm en t s th ey l ack the
.
,
Oriental plausib i lity Think you I a m credulous enou gh to .
b elieve that S t Ida j oined a decap itate d head to its b o dy ?

.
’
that Cuthb ert s carcass directed his b earers where to g o ,
and where to s t 0 p ; that a city wa s eaten up of rat s t o punish

on e Hatto for comp aring th e p o or to mice ; that an gel s
have a littl e hor n in their foreheads and that this wa s seen ,
and recorded at the time by S t V eronica o f B en a s co who .

,
never existed an d hath l eft u s this inf ormatio n an d a

,
miraculou s handk ercher ? F or my p art I think t h e holiest ‘
woman the worl d ere s a w must h ave an exis tence ere s h e ca n

B ut n ot invent i t Jerome The Brahmins wore it a
’
, .
few th ou san ds year s ere that From them it cam e throu gh .
th e A ssy rians t o the pri ests of Isis in E gy pt an d af terwards ,
of S erap is at Athens T h e l ate Pop e ( the saints b e go o d to.
h i m ) o nce told m e th e tonsure was forb idden b y G od to th e

L evites in th e P entateu ch I f s o this was b ecau se of th e .
,
E gyptian p riests wearin g i t I trust to his holiness I am . .
no b iblical s chol a r Th e L atin of thy namesak e J erom e is .
a b arrier I cannot overl eap D ixit a d m e D ominu s D eu s . .
’
D ixi a d D ominum D eum No thank you holy Jerom e ; .
, ,
I can stand a go o d de al b ut I cannot stan d thy L atin N ay ; ,

’
.
give m e th e New Testam ent ! Tis not th e Gr eek of - ‘
X enopho n ; b ut tis Gre ek An d th ere b e heathen sayings

’
.
in it to o For S t Pa ul was n ot s o Sp i t ef ul a g a i n s t th em a s
'
. .
thou . Wh en the heathen said a go o d thi ng that suited h i s

m atter by Jup iter he j ust to ok i t and mixe d it to all
, ,
”
eternity with th e insp ire d text .
Com e forth Cl em ent com e forth ! , sai d J erom e , ,
r i sm g ; and th ou p rofan e m onk know that b ut for t h e

'
, ,
p owerful hou s e that uphol ds thee thy accurse d heresy ,
shoul d g o n o farther for I woul d have t h ee b u r n ed at th e ,
stak e . An d h e stro de out white with indignatio n .
C ol on n a s reception of this th reat d i d é

'
’
'
r e d i t to him a s an
enthusiast H e ran and h al l o o e d j oy f ul l y after J erom e
. And .
th a t is Paga n Burning of m e n s b o dies for th e o pinions

.
’
of their soul s is a —
p urel y Pa gan custom as Pa gan as incense ,
holy w a t er a hun d re d al tars in on e church th e to nsure th e

‘
c a rdinal s or fl a men s hat the word F o r m th e

, ,
’ ’
, , ,
H ere J erom e sl amm ed t h e do o r .
But er e t h ey coul d ge t clear of th e hou se a j a l os y was

‘
-
flun g o pen and th e Paynim m onk cam e out head an d

'
shoul ders an d overhung the street shoutin g

,
A ff ect i ppl i c i i s Oh r i s i t i a n i , g en u s h om i n u m
su
~
N ovae s u er s t i t i on i s a c m a l e fi cae
p
’
.
An d h a vi n g d el i v er e d this p arting bl ow h e felt a gr eat ,
triumphant j oy and stro de exultant to an d fro ; a n d not

,
attendi ng wi th his u su al care to the fair way ( for his ro om

'
co ul d o nly b e threaded by littl e p aths wrigglin g among the

a nti q uities ) tripp e d over th e b eak of an E gyptian stork
,
,
and roll e d up on a re giment of Ar m en i a n g od s which h e '
foun d tou gh in ar g u m ent t hou gh small in stature .

1
You will go no more to t hat heretical m onk said ,
Jerom e t o Clement '
Clement sigh ed Shall we leave him a nd n ot try to.
correct him ? Make al lowance for heat of d i s cou r s e ! he

’ ‘
was n ettled H i s words a r e w or s e than his acts Oh l

' '
.
.
’
tis a pure and charitable so ul .
THE C L O IST E R AND TH E H E AR T H
S o ar e all arch heretics S atan do es not tempt them

-
.
like other m en Rather h e makes them m ore moral to

.
,
gi ve their teaching weight Fra Colonna cannot b e c or .
r e c t ed ; h i s family is all p owerful in Rome

'
Pray we th e
-
.
saints h e blasphem es to e nlighten him Twill not b e the .

’
fi r s t time they have returned go o d for evil Meantime thou .
art forb idden to consort with him From this day g o alone .
through t h e city ! Confess an d ab solve sinners ! exorcise

d em on s l com fort the sick ! t errify the imp enitent i preach
'
wherever m en are gath ered and o ccasion serves ! an d hold '
no converse with the Fra Colonna !

Clement b ow e d l 1 i s head ~
.
Then the prior at Jerom e s request had th e youn g

,
’
,
'
friar watched And on e day t h e sp y returned with the

.
’
news that Brother Cl ement had p a s sed by th e F r a Col on n a s
lodging and had s t opp ed a littl e whil e in the street and then
, ,
gone ou but with his hand to his eyes and sl owly

, .
This report Jerom e to ok to the prior Th e prior asked .
h i s Op i n i on and also Anselm s who was then taking leave

’
‘
, ,
of him on his return to Juliers .
J er om e Hump h ! H e ob eyed but with re gret a y

.
, , ,
w i t h childish repining .
A n s el m H e sh ed a natural tear at t u rnin g his b ack

.
on a friend an d a b enefactor But h e ob eyed . .
Now Anselm was on e of your gentle irresistible s H e had .
at time s a mild ascendant even over J erom e .
Worthy Brother An selm said Jerome Clement i s , ,
weak to th e very b one H e will disapp oint thee .H e wil l .
do nothing gr ea t either for the Church or for ou r holy order

,
.
Yet he is an orator an d hath drunken of the S pirit of S t

,
.
”
D ominic Fly him then with a string
“
. .
, ,
~
That sam e day it was announced to Clem ent that h e
was to go to Engl and imme d ia t ely with Brother J erome .
Clement folded his han d s on his breast and b owed his ,
head in calm submission .
C HAPTER L XX I I I
E be 1 b ea r t b
A C A T H E R I N E is n ot a n unmixed goo d in a strange house

- .
The governin g power is strong in her Sh e has scarce .
cro ssed the threshol d ere th e ute n sils seem to brighten ;

the hearth t osweep its elf the windows to l et in more li ght ;
an d the soul of an enormou s cricket to animate th e dwelling
place .
But t h is cricket i s a Bu sy Bo dy
- An d that is a .
4 92 THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
trem endou s character It h as no discrimination It sets . .
everything to rights a n d ev er y b od y Now m any thi ngs

'
.
,
are the b etter f or b eing set to rights But everything i s not . .
Everything is the on e thing that won t stand b eing s et to ’
rights ; except in that c al m and co ol retreat th e grave , .
Cath erine al tere d the p o sition of every chair and tabl e

in M a rgaret s hous e ; and p erhap s for the b etter
’
.
But she mu st g o further and up set the live furniture , .
Wh en Margar et s time wa s clo se at hand Catherine ’
treach erou sly in vited the ai d of D enys and Martin ; and on

the p oo r simple minded fel lows asking her e arnestly what
,
-
“
s ervice th ey coul d b e s h e tol d th em they might m ake them ,
s elves comp aratively useful by going for a little w al k .
S o far s o go o d But s h e intim ate d further that shoul d the

.
promenade extend i nto th e mid dl e of next week al l the

b etter This was not in gratiating
. .
The sub s equ ent condu ct of the strong un der the yoke
of the weak might have prop itiated a s h e b ear with three -
cub s on e sickly
, Th ey general ly slipp ed out of the hous e
.
at daybreak and stole in l i ke thieves at night and if by any

chance they were at hom e they went ab out lik e cats on a ,
wall tipp ed with b roken glass an d wearing awe stru ck ,

-
visages and a gener al air of subj u gation an d depression

, .
But al l w oul d not do Their very p resence was i ll .
timed ; and j ar red up on Catherine s nerves ’

.
D id instinct whisp er a p ai r of dep opul ators ha d no ,
b usines s in a h ouse with mul tipliers twain ?

The breastplate is no armour ag ai nst a femal e ton gu e ;
a n d Catherine ran i n fi n i t e pins and n eedles of sp eech into
‘
them In a word wh en Mar gar et came down stairs s h e

.
-
, ,
found th e kitch en swept of hero es .
M a rtin ol d and stiff had retreated no farther than the

, ,
street an d with th e honours of war : for h e had carried off

,
his b aggage a sto ol ; and s a t on it in th e ai r

, .
Margaret saw he w a s out in the s u n ; but was not -
aware h e was a fi xt u r e i n that luminary She asked f or .
D enys Go o d kind D enys ; h e wi l l b e right pleased to

.
”
s e e m e ab out a gain .
Catherine w i ping a b owl Wi t h now s u p er fl u ou s vigour

, ,
told h er D enys was gone to his friends I n Burgundy And .
’
high time Hasn t b een anigh them this three ye a rs by
.
,
al l accounts .
What gone without b idding m e farewell ?

, said
M argaret op ening t w o tender eyes lik e full blown viole t s
'
-
, .
Catherine reddened For this new view of the m atter

.
.
s et her consc i en ce pricking her .
But s h e gave a little to ss and said Oh y ou were asleep , ,
at the tim e : and I wo ul d not have y ou wakened .

C atherine lo oked down from her dizzy height and
moral i zed f .
—
She dif ere d from other bu sy b o di es in this ,
that she now and then r efl ect ed : n ot deeply ; or of course

I shoul d t a k e car e ”not to print i t .
It i s stran ge sai d she how th i ngs co me rou nd an d

, ,
ab out L i fe i s b ut a W hi rligig
. L eastways w e p o or .
,
'
wom en ou r lives are all cut up on on e p attern

,
Wasn t I .
’
f or washi n g out my Gerard s m ol e in his young days ? Oh ’
,
’
fi e ! here s a fo ul blot qu o I ; and scrub b ed away at it I did
’ ’
til l I made the p o or W ight cr y ; s o then I thou ght twas tim e ’
to give over An d n ow s a y s you to m e Mother says y ou

.
, ,
’
,
do try and wash y on o ut 0 my Gerar d s fi n ger says you ’ ’
,
’
.
Think on t l ’
Wash it out ? crie d Margar et ; I woul dn t for al l the ’
worl d W h y it 1 5 the swe etest b it m his littl e darl ing b o dy

.
,
.
I ll kiss it m om an d night till h e that owne d it fi r s t co m es

’
b ack to u s three Oh bless you my j ewel of gol d an d

.
, ,
silver f or b eing m arke d lik e yo ur own d addy t o comfort

, ,
me .
And s h e kissed littl e Gerard s littl e m ol e ; b ut she coul d ’
not stop there ; she presently h ad him sprawling o n her lap ,
an d kisse d hi s b ack all o ver agai n and again an d seem ed ,
to wo rry h i m as wolf a l amb ; Cath erine lo okin g ou and -
smiling She had seen a go o d m any of thes e savage

.
o nslau ght s in her day .
An d thi s littl e sketch in di cates the tenor of Margar et s ’
lif e for s ever al m o nths On e or two small things o ccurred .
t o her during that tim e which m u s t b e tol d ; b ut I reserve

‘
th em since on e string will serve for m any glass b eads

, .
’
B ut wh i l e her b oy s father was p assing throu gh t ho se fear ful
temp ests of th e soul ending in the dea d m onastic cal m her , ,
l i fe might fairly b e summ e d in o n e great blissful word

Maternity .
You who know what lies in that w or d enl ar g e my littl e

, , ,
sketch and s ee th e youn g m other nursing an d Wash i ng an d

, ,
dressing an d un d ressin g a n d cro win g an d g am b oll in g wi th ,
f
h er irst b orn ; th en swifter than lightnin g dart your eye
-
into Italy an d s ee th e col d cloister ; an d th e m o nks p assing

,
lik e gho sts eyes down h ands m eekly cro ssed over b o soms
, ,
dea d to e ar thly feelings .
One of these cowled gho sts i s h e who s e return full of , ,
love and youth and j oy that radiant young mother awaits

, , , .
In th e vall ey of Grindelwal d the travell er has on one side

th e p erp endicul ar Alp s all ro ck ; i ce and everlasting snow , , ,
towering ab ove th e clouds and p iercin g to th e s k y ; on ,
his other hand l ittl e every day slop es b ut green as emer al ds -

, ,
an d studded with cows and pretty cots and lif e ; whereas ,

'
THE CL O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
t h o se lofty nei ghb ours stan d l e a fl es s lif el ess inhuman , , ,
sub lime Elsewhere sweet commonplaces of nature are

.
apt to p ass unnoticed ; b ut fro n ti n g th e grim Alp s th ey , ,
so oth e and even gently strike th e m i n d by contrast with

, ,
their trem end ous opp o sites Su ch in their way are th e .

, ,
two halves of this story rightly lo oked a t ; on the Italian ,
side rugge d adventure strong p a s s i on b l a s p h em y vi ce , , , ,
p enitence pure ice holy snow so aring direct at heaven

, , , .
On the D utch side all on a humble scal e and womanish b ut , ,
ever green And as a p athway p arts th e ice towers of

.
’
Grindelwal d aspirin g t o the sky from i t s littl e sunny braes

, ,
s o here is but a p age b etwe en th e Cloister and the H earth .
CHAPTER L XX I V
( I b e C l oi s ter
TH E ne w p op e favoure d th e D ominican order The co nvent

‘
received a m essage from the V atican requirin g a cap able ,
friar to teach at th e University of Basl e N ow Cl ement wa s .
the very m onk for this : well versed in lan guages and in his ,
worl dly days had attende d th e l ectures of Guarini the

'
younger His Visit to England was therefo re p o stp one d

.
thou gh not resigned ; an d m eantim e he was s ent to B asle ;

b ut not b eing wanted there for thre e month s he wa s to ,
preach on the ro ad .
H e p asse d out of th e northern gate with his eyes lowere d ,
and th e whol e m an wrapp e d in piou s contemplation .
Oh if we coul d p aint a mind and its story What a walki n g

, ,
fresco was this b arefo oted friar !

Hop eful happy love b ereavement , desp air impiety Vice
, , , , ,
suicide remors e religiou s d esp ondency p enitence death to

, , , ,
the worl d resignation

'
, .
And all in twelve short months .
And now the traveller was on fo ot again B ut all w a s .
change d : no p erilou s a dventures n ow The very thieves .
and rob b ers b owe d to th e gr ound b efore him and instead of ,
robb in g him force d stolen money on him and b egged his ,
prayers .
This j ourney therefore furnish ed few picturesqu e inci

d ents . I have however som e read ers to think oi who c a e
, , ,
r
littl e for melo dram a and exp ect a quiet p eep at what passe s ,
inside a m an To su ch students things un dramatic are often

.
Vo cal denotin g th e pro gress of a mind

,
.
The fi r s t Sunday of Cl ement s j ourney was marke d b y ’
this . H e prayed for the soul of Mar g a ret H e had never .

don e so b efore N ot tha t h er eternal welfare wa s not de arer
.
to him than anything on e arth It was his humil ity The . .
terr i bl e impieties th at burst from him on the news of her

death h or r i fi e d my well disp o se d readers ; but n ot as on -
r efl e c t i on th ey h or r ifi e d him wh o had uttered th em For a .
l ong tim e during his novitiate he was oppressed with r el i g i

ou s desp air H e thou ght h e mu st h ave committe d t hat sin
.
against the Holy Spirit which do om s th e soul for ever By .
de gr ees that dark clou d cleare d away Anselmo j u v a n t e ;

b ut deep s elf—
.
,
ab as em ent remained H e felt his own sal va .
tion in secure an d m oreover tho u ght it woul d b e mo cking

,
Heaven shoul d h e the deeply stained pray f or a soul so

, , ,
inno cent comp aratively as Margaret s

, S o he u sed t o ,
’
.
co ax go o d Anselm an d an other kindly m onk t o pray for her .
They did n ot refuse n or d o it by h al ves In gener al th e

, .
go o d ol d m onks ( and th ere were go o d b ad an d indi ff erent , ,
in every convent ) had a pure and tender a f fection for th eir

younger b rethren which in truth was not of this , , ,
worl d .
Cl em ent th en h aving preach ed o n Sun day mornin g in a

, ,
sm all Italian to wn an d b eing might i ly carrie d o nward was

, ,
’
g reatly encouraged ; an d that day a b al my sense of Go d s

forgiven ess and love des cen de d on him And h e praye d for .
’
th e welfare of M a rgaret s soul An d from that hour this .
b ecam e his daily h ab it an d th e o ne p u r i fi ed ti e that by , ,
m emory connected his h eart with earth .
For hi s family were t o him as if they had never b een .
The Chur ch woul d not share with earth N or coul d even .
the Church cure th e great love without annihil ating th e

sm al ler ones .
D urin g m o st of this j ourney Cl em ent rar ely felt any

spring of life within him but when he was in th e pulpit , .
The other exceptions were when h e happ en ed to relieve som e ,
fellow -creature .
A youn g m an was tarantul a b itten or p erhap s like , ,
many m ore fancied i t , F ancy or reality he h a d b e en for

.
,
two days without sleep and in mo st extraordinary c on vu l ,
sions l eapin g twi sting an d b eating th e walls

, , T h e Village
, .
musicians had only excited him worse with their mu sic .
Exh au stion and d eath foll owed the disease when it gained ,
su ch a head Clem ent p assed b y an d learned wh at wa s the

.
m atter .H e sent for a p s al tery an d tried th e p atient with ,
so othing m elo dies ; but i f th e o ther tunes m addened him ,

’
Cl em ent s seem ed to crush him H e gro aned and m oaned .
under them and grovell ed on the fl oor

, A t last the friar .
ob served that at interval s his lip s kep t goin g H e applied .
his e ar an d foun d the p a tient was whisp ering a tune ; and

,
a very singular on e that had no existence H e learned this

, .
4 98 THE CL O ISTER AND TH E '
H E AR T H
The m an an d the hou se a r e b oth at

'
my pl ace B et s h a n g er .
your s er y me Com e over an d stay till do om sday W e sit .
down forty to dinner every day at B et s h a ng er O ne m ore .
or on e l ess at th e b o ard will not b e seen You shal l end .
yo ur days w ith m e and m y heirs if you wi ll C ome now !

’
Wh at an Englishm an says he m eans An d h e gave h i m a .
g reat hearty g rip of th e han d to c on fi r m i t .
I will Visit th e e som e d ay my ”

son said Cl em ent ;
,
'
, ,
b ut not to wear y thy ho spital ity .
Th e Englishm an th en b egged Clem ent to shrive him .
I kno w not what will b ecom e of my soul said h e I ,

.
live lik e a heathen since I left En glan d .
Cl em ent co nsented gladl y an d so on the isla nder was o n

,
h i sknees to him b y th e ro adside co nfessin g t h e last m onth s

’
sins
Fin din g him so p iou s a son of t he Church Cl em ent l et
.
him know h e was re a ll y com i ng to England H e then ask ed .
him wh ether it was tru e that country was o verrun W 1 t h

Loll ards an d W i ck l i ffi t es .
T h e ot h er coloured up a littl e Th ere b e bl ack sheep .
in every l an d said h e Then after som e r efl e ct i on h e said

, .
'
g ravely ,
Holy father h ear th e truth
, ab out these h eretics .
None are b etter di sp o s ed tow ard s Hol y Church than we

English .B ut we are ourselves an d b y ourselv es , We love .
ou r ow n ways an d ab ove al l ou r own ton g ue :

, , The Norm an
’
coul d conquer our b ill -ho oks b ut not our ton g u es ; and hard
,
th ey trie d it for m any a l on g year b y l aw an d pr o cl am atio n -

.
Our good forei g n p ri ests utter G od to pl ain English t olk i n

'
Latin or in so m e Fren ch or It al ian lingo lik e the bleating of

, ,
a sh eep Then com e the fox W i ck l i fi e and h i s crew an d rea d

.
,
him o u t of his o w n b o ok in pl ain En glish that al l m en 5 ,

’
hearts warm to Wh o can withstan d thi s ? Go d forgi ve

.
m e I b elieve the English woul d turn deaf ears to S t Peter

,
himself sp ok e h e not to th em in t h étong ue the i r m others

’
sowed in the i r e ars and their he a rts al ong with mothers ’
”
kisses . H e a dde d hastil y I say not this f or my self ; I
,
a m Cambrid ge b red ; an d go o d words com e not a m iss to m e

in Latin ; but for th e p eopl e in gener al
”
C lavis a d corda .
A n gl or u m est lingu a m aterna .
” '
My son said Cl ement

, blesse d b e the hour I m et
,
th ee ; f or thy words ar e sob er an d w is e B ut al a sl h ow ‘
sh all I l earn your English ton gu e ? No b o ok h ave I j

.
’
.
I woul d give you my b o ok of hours father j T i s in , .

’
Engl ish an d Latin cheek b y j owl But th en what woul d

'
, .
,
b ecom e of my p o or soul wanting my hou rs i n a s trange

,
’
l and ? Stay you ar e a hol y man an d I a m an honest one ;

l et u s make a b argai n; y ou to pray f or m e every day for
, ,
two months and I to give y ou my b o ok of hours

, Here it .
is .What say y ou to that ? And his eye s sp arkled and ,
he was all on fi r e with m ercantility .
Clement smil ed gently at this trait ; and quietly detache d

a MS fr om his girdle and sh owed him that it was in L atin
.
,
and Ital ian .
See my s on said h e
, He aven hath foreseen our
, ,
sever al n eeds and given u s the means to satisfy th em : l et

,
u s change b o oks ; and my dear s on I w i ll give thee my , ,
p o or prayers an d welcom e not sell them thee I love n ot , .
religiou s b argains .
Th e islander was d elighted 8 0 sh al l I learn th e It a lian .
ton gue without risk to my eternal weal Near is my p urse .

,
”
but nearer is my soul ;
H e forced m oney on Clement In vain th e friar told .
him it was contrary to his v ow to carry more of that than

was b arely necessary .
Lay it ou t for the go o d of th e Church and of my soul ,
said th e islander I ask you not to keep i t but tak e it y ou

.
,
mu st and sh all And b e grasp ed Cl ement s hand warmly

.
’
again ; an d Clement kisse d him on th e b row and blesse d ,
him and th ey went each his way

, .
Ab out a mile from where they p arted Clement foun d ,
two tire d wayf arers lying in th e deep shad e of a great

chestnut tree on e of a thick grove th e ro ad skirted
-
, Near .
the men was a littl e cart and in it a printing press ru d e and , ,
clum sy as a Vine press A j aded mule was harnessed to t h e

-
.
cart .
And so Clement sto o d face to face with h i s ol d

enemy .
An d as he eyed i t and th e h onest blue — eyed face s of the

, ,
wearied craftsm en h e lo oke d b ack as on a dream at t h e

,
b itterness he ha d once felt towards this machine He .
lo oked kindly down on t h em and said softly ,
S w ey n h ei m l
Th e m en started to their feet .
Pa n n a r t z !
They scuttle d into the wo o d an d were seen no more , .
Clement was amazed and sto o d puzzlin g him self ,

.
Presently a face p eep e d from b ehind a tree .
Clement addressed i t W hat fear y e ? .
A quavering voice replied

S ay rather by what magic you a stranger can call u s
’
, , , ,
by ou r names ! I never clapt eye s on you till n ow .
O sup erstition !
,
I know y e as all goo d workmen are ,
known— b y your works Come hither an d I will tell y e ”

. .
They advanced gingerly from diff erent side s ; each

’
regulating his advance by the other s .
My children said Clement I saw a La ct a n t i u s in

, ,
R om e printed b y S w ey n h ei m and Pa n n ar t z d isciples of
, ,
”
Fust .
D ye h ear that Pa n n a r t z ? our work has gotten to

’
,
”
Rom e al r ea dy .
B y your blu e eyes and fl a x en h ai r I wist y e were

Germans ; an d th e pri nting press sp oke for itself Wh o -
.
th en should y e b e b ut Fust s disciples Pa n n ar t z and ’
S w ey n h ei m ?
The honest Germans were now astonish ed that they ha d
susp ecte d magi c in s o simple a m atter .
Th e go o d father h ath his wits ab out him that is all , ,
said Pa n n a r t z .
”
Ay s ai d S w ey n h ei m
,
an d with tho se wi ts wo ul d ,
he coul d tell u s how to g et this tir ed b east to th e next

”
town .
Yes said S w ey n h ei m ,
and where to fi n d mo ney to ,
p ay for his m eat and ours when we get there .
I w i ll try s ai d Clement Fre e th e mul e of the cart

”
, .
,
an d of a ll h arness b ut th e b are h a lter .
This was done and th e animal imm edi ately lay do w n a nd ,
roll e d on hi s b ack in th e dust like a kitten Wh il st h e was .
thu s employe d Cl em ent assure d th em h e woul d rise up a ,
new mul e His Creator hath tau ght h i m this ar t to refresh

.
himself which th e nobl er hors e knoweth not

,
N ow with .
,
regard to m on ey know th at a wo rthy En glishm an h ath ,
entrusted m e with a cert ai n s u m to b esto w in charity To .
wh o m can I b et t er gi v e a stran ger s m oney than to stran gers ? ’
Tak e i t then an d b e kin d to som e Englishman or other

, ,
stranger in his nee d ; an d m ay all natio ns l earn to l ove on e

”
another one day .
’
Th e tears sto o d in the honest workm en s eyes They .
to ok the m oney with heartfelt thanks .
It is your nation we a r e b ound to th a n k and bless go o d ,

”
father if we b ut knew i t
, .
My nation is th e Church .
Clement was th en for b iddi ng th em f a rewell but th e ,
honest fellows implore d him to wait a littl e ; they had no

silver n or gol d b ut they had something they could give t heir
'
b enefactor They to ok the press ou t of the cart and whil e

.
,
Clement fe d th e mule they h ustled ab out now on th e white , ,
hot ro ad n ow in th e deep cool shade now h al f in an d h a lf

, ,
out and p resently printe d a quarto sheet of eight p ages

, ,
which was al ready s et u p Th ey had not typ e enou gh to .
print two sheets at a time Wh e n after the slower pre .

,
l i m i n a r i es the printed sheet was pull ed al l i n a mom ent

, ,
Clement was amaz ed in turn .
Wh at are al l thes e words really fa st upon the p ap er ?

,
sai d h e I S it ver i ly certai n they will not g o a s swiftly as

.
5 02 THE CL O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
offere d to thee rep enting trul y , Tak e courage then and .
, ,
pur ge thy cons cience of its lo ad .
On this the l ady in a tremblin g whi sp er a n d hurri e dl y

, , ,
an d crin gin g a little as if s h e feared th e Ch urch would stri ke

,
her b o dily for what sh e had do ne m ade th i s conf ession ,

.
He was a stra n ger an d b ase -

b orn but b eautiful as , ,
Spr i n g an d wi s e b eyond h i s years

,
I love d him I had not .
'
th e p ru den ce to conce al my love N obl es courted m e I . .
ne er thou ght on e of humbl e b irth co ul d r ej ect m e

’
I showed .
h i m my hear t ; oh sh a m e of m y s ex ! H e dr ew b ack ; yet b e

‘
, .
admired m e ; b ut inno cently H e l ov e d a n ot h er ; an d h e ;

'
wa s constant I resorte d to a wom an s wil es

. They avail ed ’
.
not . I b orrowe d th e wi cke dn ess of m en an d threatene d his t
life and to tell h i s tru e lover h e di e d fal s e to her

,
Ah ! you .
shrink ! yo ur fo ot trembl es Am I not ; a m onster ? Th en .

'
h e we t a nd praye d to m e for mercy ; then my go o d an gel

help e m e ; I b ad e him l eave R ome Ger a rd Gerard why
'
.
, ,
di d y ou not ob ey m e ? I th ought he was gone

.
But two .
m onth s after this I m et h i m N ever sh al l I forget i t I . .
was descen ding th e Tib er in my g al l ey when h e cam e up it ,
with a gay comp any and at his sid e a wom an b eauti f ul a s an

,
angel b ut b ol d an d b ad ; That wo m an claim ed m e al oud

,
.
for her r i v al T r a 1 t or and h yp o crite he had exp o sed m e to

.
,
her a n d to al l the lo o se ton g u es i n R om e I n terror a nd

'
'
.
,
reven ge I hire d— a W h en he was go ne on his blo o dy

r
erran d ; I wave re d t oo late The dagger I had hi red struck ; .

'
H e n ever cam e b ac k to his lo dgi n gs H e was dead Al as ! . .
p erhap s he was n ot so much to b l a m e z non e have ever cas t

h i s nam e in my teeth His p o or b o dy is not fo un d : or I
.
shoul d kiss its wounds ; an d slay mys elf up on i t All .

.
around his very nam e s eem s sil ent a s the grave to which ,
thi s murderou s hand hath sent h im ( Cl em ent s eye w a s .

’
dr a w n b y h er m ovem ent H e reco gn iz e d h er shap ely arm .

,
a n d soft whi te h and ) A n d oh ! he W EI S S O youn g to die

.
‘
A p o or thou ghtles s b oy that ha d fall en a victim to that b a d

'
, .
woman s a rts a nd s h e had m ade h i m tel l her ever ythi n g

’
, .
Monster of cru elty what p enan ce can avail m e ? Oh holy

,
'
father what shal l I do ?

,
’
Clement s lip s m ove d in prayer but he was sil ent He , .
co u l d not s ee h i s duty cle ar .
Th en s h e to ok h i s feet and b e gan to dry them Sh e .
rested his fo ot up on her s oft ar m an d pre ss ed i t l w i t h t h e

‘
towel s o gently s h e se em ed in cap abl e of hu r t i n g a fl y Yet

'
her lip s ha d j ust tol d another story and a tru e one

.
, .
Wh i l e Clem ent wa s still praying for wisdom a tear fel l ,

'
”
up on his fo ot It decide d h im
. My daughter said h e
I myself have b e en a g eat sinner
.
, ,
.
You father ? ,
'
quite as great a sinner as thou ; thou gh not in the

I ;
same way The devil h as gins an d snares as w ell as trap s
.
, .
But p enitence softened my imp ious heart and th en gratitu de ,
remoulded i t Therefore seeing y ou p enitent I h 0 p e yo u

.
, ,
can b e grateful to Him who ha s b een m ore m erciful t o yo u ,
than y ou have to your fellow creature D au ghter the -

.
,
Church sends you comfort .
Comfort to m e ? ah ! n ever ! unless it c a n rais e my

victim fro m the dead .
Take th is cr u ci fi x in thy hand fi x thine eye s on i t and , ,

” '
listen to m e was a l l t h e reply

, .
Yes father ; but l et m e thoroughly dry yo u r fe et f i rst ;

,
’
tis ill sitting in wet feet and y ou are the holiest m an of all
who se feet I have washed I know it by your voice
'
. .
f ‘
Woman I a m not A s f or my fe et th ey can wa 1 t their
, ,
t u rn. Ob ey thou m e .
Yes father ,
said the lady humbly ,
But with a .
wom an s evasive p ertinacity she wreathed on e towel swiftly

’
round the fo ot s h e was dryin g an d placed his other fo ot o n ,
th e dry napkin ; then ob eyed h i s command .
And a s s h e b owed o ver th e c r u ci fi x the low sol emn tones , ,
of the friar fell up on her ear and his words so on made her ,
whol e b o dy quiver with variou s em otions in quick succe ssion , .
My dau ghter b e y ou murdered— i n intent— was on e

,
Gerard a Hollander H e loved a creature as m en shoul d

,
.
,
love none but their R edeem er and His Church Heaven .
chastised him A letter cam e to Rom e

. Sh e was .
’
d ea d fi
Po or Gerard ! Po or Margaret ! m o aned the p enitent .
Clement s vo ice faltered at this a m om ent

’
But so on by .
,
a strong e ff ort h e recovere d all his c al mness

,
.
His feebl e nature yielded b o dy and soul to the blow , , .
H e was stricken down with fever H e revived only t o reb el .
against Heaven H e said There is no G od

. .
’
Po or p o or G erard !
,
Po or Gerard ? thou feeble fo olish woman ! Nay , ,
wicked impiou s G erard

,
H e p l u n g e d into Vice and soiled
.
'
his eternal j ewel : thos e you m et h i m with were his daily

comp anions ; b ut know rash creature that th e seeming , ,
wom an you to ok to b e his leman was but a b oy dressed in ,
woman s hab its to fl out th e others a fair b oy called Andrea

’
,
.
What that Andrea said to th ee l k n ow n ot ; but b e sure -
neither h e n or a n y l a y m a n kn ows thy folly

,
This Gerard ,
.
,
reb el against Heaven was no traitor to t hee unworthy , ,
The lady mo aned like on e in b o dily agony and the ,
cr u cifi x b e gan t o trembl e in her tr embling h a n d s .
Courage ! said Cl em ent Comfort is at hand . .
From crime h e fell into d e sp air and b ent on d es troyi ng ,

his soul h e sto o d on e night b y Tib er resolve d on suicide
, ,
.
”
H e saw on e watching h im It wa s a b ravo . .
Holy saints !
H e b e gged th e b ravo to desp atch him ; h e off ere d h 1 m
all his money to slay him b o dy and soul , The b ravo woul d .
not . Th en this desp erate sinner n ot softene d even by that ,

”
refusal flun g h im self into Tib er
,
.
Ah !
An d th e assassin s ave d his life Thou hadst cho s en fo r .
the task Lo dovico hu sb an d of Teresa whom this Gerard had

, , _
saved at s ea h er and h er infant chil d

,
- .
H e lives ! h e lives ! h e lives ! I a m faint .
The friar to ok th e cr u c i fi x from her hands fearing it might ,
fall . A shower of tears relieved her Th e friar gave her .
time ; th en continued calmly A y h e l ives ; thank s to , ,
thee an d thy wickedness guided to his eternal go o d b y an ,
almighty and all -m erciful hand Thou art h i s greatest .
”
ear thly b enefactor .
Wh ere is h e ? where ? where ?

What is that to thee ?
Only to s ee h im alive T o b eg him on my knees forgive
.
me . I swe a r to y ou I will never presum e again to

How coul d 1 ? H e knows al l Oh shame Fathe r d oes .
, .
,
he know ?
All .
Then never will I m eet his eye ; I shoul d sink into the
earth .But I woul d rep air my crim e I woul d watch hi s .
life uns een H e sh all rise in th e world whenc e I so nearly

.
,
t hru st him p o or soul ; the C aesare my fam ily are al l -p ower

, ,
ful in Rom e ; and I a m ne ar their head

,
”
.
”
My d au ghter s ai d Clement col dl y , b e y ou call ,
Gerard needs nothing m an can do for him S aved by a .
miracl e from doubl e death h e has left th e world and taken , ,
refu ge from s i n and folly in the b o som o f t h e Church .
A priest ?
A priest and a friar , .
A friar ? Then y ou are not his confesso r ? Yet you ‘
know al l Th at gentl e voice !

.
She raise d her hea d slowly and p eere d at h im throu gh ,
h er m ask .
Th e n ext mom ent s h e uttered a faint shriek an d lay with ,
h er brow up on his b are feet .

5 06 THE CL O IS TER AND THE HEARTH
Thou .
H e th en desire d her to rise and g o ab out the go o d work he

had set h er .
She ro se to her k n ee s a n d removing her m ask cast an j ,
elo qu ent lo ok up on h i m then lowere d her eyes m eekly ,

.
I wil l ob ey you as I w ould an angel How happy I a m .

,
yet unhappy ; for oh my heart t ell s m e I shall never lo ok on

,
'
you again I will not g o till I have dried your feet

. .
It needs not
”
I have excus ed thee this b o otl es s
.
'
p enance .
’
Tis no p enance to m e Ah ! y ou do not f or gi ve m e if
‘
.
,
y o u will not l et m e dry yo u r p o or feet .
S o b e it then sai d Clem ent resignedl y ; and thou ght

,
”
to hi mself ,
L evi u s q u id f (E m i n a .
But these weak creatures that gravitate towards th e ,
sm all as heave nl y b o dies towards th e great have y et their

, ,
own flashes of an gelic intelligence .
Wh en th e prin cess ha d dr ie d th e friar 3 feet sh e lo ok ed at ’
him with t ears i n her b eautiful eyes and murmured with ,
sin g u lar tenderness and go o dness

-
I will have m asses said for her soul

. May I ? sh e .
added timi dl y .
’
Th i s brou ght a faint blush into the m o nk s cheek and
‘
moistene d his col d blu e eye It cam e so su ddenly from .
o ne he was j u st rating s o low .
It is a gr aciou s thou ght he s aid D o a s tho u wil t : , .
often such acts fal l b ack on the do er lik e blesse d d ew I .
a m thy confesso r not hers ; thine i s the soul I must now

,
do my all to save or wo e b e to my own

.
, My dau ghte r my .
,
dear dau ghter I s e e g ood and ill angels fi gh t i n g f or thy soul

'
this day a y this mo m ent ; oh fi gh t thou 0 1 1 thine own side

, , , .
D o st thou rem emb er all I b ade thee ?

R ememb er ! said the princes s Sweet saint each .
,
syll abl e of thi n e is gra y e d in my heart .
But on e wo rd mor e th en Pray m uch to Ch rist and

, .
,
”
littl e to his saints .
”
I w ill .
An d that is t h eb est word I have light to s a y t o th ee .
S o p art we o n i t Thou to th e place b ecom es the e b est thy

.
I
,
’
father s house to my holy mother s work
.
’
.
”
A di eu f al tere d th e princess
, Adieu thou that I .
,
h ave lo ve d t oo well hated to o ill kno w n an d revered to o

, ,
l ate ; forgiving an gel adieu— f é r ever , .
T h e mo nk caught her words th ou gh b ut faltere d in a

si gh
,
F or ever ? h e cried al oud with sudden ardour ;

'
,
"
Christians live for ever a nd love f or b ut th ey,
’
’
never p art for ever Th ey p a rt a s p art the ear th and s u n
.
, ,
THE CL O ISTER AND THE HEARTH .
5 07
to me et m ore brightly in a little while You and I p art here .
f or life A n d wh a t is ou r life ?
. O ne lin e in the great story
of the Church w h o se s on and dau gh ter we are ; on e handful
,
i n the san d of tim e on e drop i n th e o cean of F or ever

’
, .
—
Adieu f or the little m o m ent called a l ife ! We p art in
tro ubl e we shall m eet in p eace : we p art creatures of clay
, ,
we shall m eet immortal S pirit s : we p art in a worl d o f s i n

and sorrow We shall m eet where all is purity and love
,
divine ; where n o ill p assions are but Christ is a n d His saints , ,
aroun d Him cl ad in white There in the turning of an hour .

,
glass in th e breaking of a b ubble in the p assin g of a cloud

, , ,
s h e ; and thou and I shall m e et a gain ; an d s i t at th e feet

, ,
of angel s and archangel s ap o s t les and saints and b eam like , ,
them with j oy unsp eakab l e in t h e light of th e shadow of ,
Go d up on His throne F OR E V ER AND E V ER A N D

— —,
E V ER ”
.
And s o th ey p arte d Th e m onk erect his eyes turne d .

,
heavenwards and glowing with the sacred fi r e of z eal ; th e

princess slowly retiring and turnin g more than once to cast
a lin gering glance oi awe and tender regret on that insp i re d
'
fi gu r e .
She went hom e sub du ed and p u r i fi e d Clement in d u e , .

,
course re ach ed Ba sl e and entered on his duties teaching in

, , ,
t h e University and preachin g in the town and n ei ghb our

,
ho o d . H e led a life that can b e comprised in two words ;

M y reader has a lready a
'
deep stu dy a n d m or t i fi c a t i on
,
.
p eep into his soul A t B asl e he advanced in holy zeal a n d

.
knowl edge .
Th e b rethren of his order b egan to see in him a descen d

ant of th e saints and martyrs .
CHAPTER LXXV I
II b e 1 b ea r t b
W H E N littl e G erard was nearly three months old a m essenger ,
cam e h ot from T er g ou f or Cath erine .
”
and tell them I can t
’
N ow j ust you g o b ack said sh e , ,
com e an d I won t : they have got Kate

”
’
S o h e dep arted .
,
t here chil d I m u s t
,
and Cath erin e continue d her sentence ; , ,
g o z they are all at sixes and sevens : this is th e th ird time of
a sking ; and to morrow my m an would com e himself and

-
” ’
take me hom e b y the c a r with a flea in t She t hen r e ,
.
capitulate d h er exp eriences of infants and instructed ,
Margaret what t o do in each coming emergency and pressed ,

m oney up on her M argaret decline d it w ith tha n ks . .
Cath erin e insisted an d t urne d an gry M argaret m ade

, .
excu ses a l l s o reasonabl e that Cath er i ne rej ected them with

calm contemp t to h er mi n d th ey lacked femininity Come .
,
”
ou t with your h eart sai d s h e ; and y ou and m e p arting ; ,
”
and m ayh ap shal l n ever s ee on e a nother s fac e a gain ’
.
”
Oh ! mother say not s o , .
Alack girl I h ave seen it s o often ; twill com e i nto my

, ,
’
min d now at each p artin g Wh en I was your age ; I n ever .
h ad such a thought N a y we were all to live for ever then : .

,
wi i t
’
s o ou t .
“
Well th en m othe r — I woul d rather not have tol d y ou
, ,
— your Cornelis mu st s ay to me S o you are com e to sh a re

,
wi th u s eh mistress ? tho s e were his words

, , I tol d hi m I .
wo ul d b e very so rry .
B eshrew h i s ill ton gu e ! Wh at s i gn i fi es i t ? H e will

”
never know .
Mo st likely h e woul d so oner or l ater But whether or .
no I will tak e no grudge d b ounty from any fam i ly ; u nl ess I

,
s a w my chil d starving and He aven only knows what I

— ,
might do Nay mother gi ve m e b ut thy love— I do prize

.
, ,
that ab ove silver an d they gru dge m e not th at by all I can

, ,
fi n d — for n ot a stiver of m oney wi ll I tak e ou t of your

”
hou se .
’
You are a fo olish l ass Why were it m e I d take it .
, ,
j u st to sp ite him .
N 0 y ou woul d n ot
, You an d I are apples oil one tree . .
Catherine yielde d with a go o d grace ; and when the ac t u al

p arting cam e emb races an d t ears b urst forth o n b oth
,
sides .
When s h e was gon e the chil d cried a go o d deal ; and all

attempts to p acify him failin g Margaret susp e cte d a p in , ,
and searching b etw een his clothes and his skin found a gol d ,
angel incommo ding his b ackb one .
”
There n ow Gerard said sh e to th e b ab e ;
, , I th oug h t ,
granny gave in rather s u d d en .
Sh e to ok the coin and wrapp e d it in a p iece of linen and ,
laid it at the b ottom of her b ox b iddin g the infant ob serve ,
s h e co ul d b e at times as resolute as granny herself .
’
Catherine tol d Eli of Margaret s fo olish p ride and how
s h e had b a ffl e d i t Eli said Margaret was right a n d s h e '
.
,
was wrong Catherine to ssed her head

. Eli p ondere d . .
Margaret was n o t without domestic anxi eties She had .
st i ll two men to fe ed and coul d n ot work s o hard as s h e ha d ,
d one .
She had enou gh to do to keep the house and the ,
chil d and co ok for them al l

, But she had a little m oney laid .
b y an d s h e u sed to tell her child h i s father would b e home to

,
help them b efore it was sp ent And w ith these bright hop es .
,
51 0 THE C L O ISTER AND TH E HEARTH
'
Margaret woul d n ot al low anyb o dy to s i t i n this chair

’
now . Yet whenever she l et her eye dwell to o long on it ’
vacant it was sure to co st her a tear

,
«
And now th ere was n ob o dy to carr y her linen hom e To .
do it h erself s h e must leave little Gerar d in ch arge of a

neighb o ur But sh e dare d n ot tru st su ch a treasure to
.
m ortal ; an d b esides s h e coul d n ot h ear him ou t of her sight

for hours an d hours S o s h e s et inquiries on fo ot for a b oy.
to carry her b asket on S aturday and Mo nday .
A plump fresh coloure d y outh called Luk e Peterson

, , ,
who lo oke d fi f t e en b ut was eighte en cam e i n and blushing

‘
, , , ,
and twid dl ing his b onn et asked her if a m an woul d not ,
s e rve her turn as well as a b oy

-
.
B efore he sp oke s h e was saying to he r self This b oy wil l ,

”
j ust do .
But s h e to ok the cu e and sai d Nay ; but a m an will ,
m ayb e seek m ore than I can well p ay .
”
Not I said Luke warmly , W h y Mistre ss M argaret .
, ,
I a m your neighb our and I d o very well at the co op erin g I ,

.
can carry y our b asket for you b efore or after my d a y fs work '
and welcom e You have no nee d to p ay m e anythi n g

. .
”
’
Tisn t as if we were stran gers y e know
’
, .
Why Master Luk e I know your face for that matter ;

, , ,
b ut I cannot call to min d that ever a word p assed b etwe en

us
Oh y es you did Mistress Margaret , Wh at h ave you , .
,
forgotten ? One day ou we r e tryin g t o carry your b aby an d

y
eke your p itch er full 0 water ; and quo I Give m e the b aby ’ ’
,
’
to c arry N ay says you
. I ll g i ve you th e p itcher an d
,
’
,
’
ke ep th e b airn my self ; an d I c arried the p itcher hom e an d ,
y ou to ok it from m e at th i s do or and you sai d to m e I am , ,
mu ckl e obli ged to you youn g m an with such a sweet vo ice ; , ,

’
not lik e th e folk in this street sp eak to a b o dy .
I do mind now Master L uk e ; an d m ethinks it was the

’
,
”
l east I could s a y .
Well Mistress Ma r garet i f you w i ll s a y a s mu ch every

, ,
tim e I carry your b aske t I care not how o ften I b ear i t nor , ,
”
h ow far .
Nay nay sai d Margare t colourin g faintly

, ,
-
I ,
.
.
woul d not put up on go o d nature Y ou are young Master . .
Luke and kin dl y

, S ay I give y ou your supp er on S aturday
.
night when you brin g th e linen hom e and your dawn mete
, ,
’
0 Monday ; woul d that make u s anyways even ?
As y ou pl eas e ; o nly s a y not I sought a coupl e 0 d iets ’
I for such a t r ifl e as yon

With chubby faced Luk e s t imely assistance and the
, .
— ’
health and stren gth which Heaven gave this p o or youn g

woman to b alance her many ill s the house went pretty
, ,
smo othly awhil e But th e h eart b ecam e more an d m ore

.
’
troubl ed by G erard s lon g a n d now m o st mysteriou s silence , .
An d t h en that m ental torturer Su sp ense b egan t o tear , ,
her heavy heart with hi s h ot p incers till she crie d o ften an d ,
vehe m ently Oh that I coul d know the worst

, , .
Whilst sh e was in this state on e day sh e heard a heavy ,
step mount th e stair Sh e starte d and trembl ed That . .
is no step that I know 1 1 1 tidings ? .
The do o r O p ened an d an unexp ecte d Visito r Eli cam e i n

, , , ,
looking grave an d kind .
Margaret eye d h i m in sil ence and with increasing ,
agita t ion .
Girl said h e
, th e skipp er is com e b ack , .
One word gasp ed Margaret ; , is he alive ?

S urely I h op e s o N o on e ha s seen him dead
, . .
”
Then th ey mu st h ave seen him alive .
No girl ; neith er dead nor alive hath h e b een seen thi s

,
m any month s in Rome My dau ghter Kate thinks h e is .
gone to some other city Sh e b ade m e tell you h er thou ght

-
. .
Ay like enou gh
, s a id Margaret glo omily ; like , ,
enou gh . My p o or b ab e l
The ol d man in a faintish voice asked h er for a m orsel to -
eat : h e had com e fasting .
The p o or thin g p itie d him wi t h th e surface of her agitated

mind and cook ed a m eal for him tremblin g and scar c e
, , ,
knowin g what sh e w a s ab out .
Ere he went h e l aid hi s han d up on h er head an d sai d , ,
B e he alive or b e b e dead I lo ok on th ee as my d a u ghter

, ,
.
Can I d o nou ght for the e this day ? b ethink the e now .
A y ol d m an
,
Pray f or him ; and for m e !
.
Eli sighed and went sa d ly and heavily d own th e stairs

,
.
She listened h alf stupi dly to his retirin g fo otstep s t i ll

they ceased Then sh e sank mo aning down by th e cradle
.
,
and drew li t tle G erard tight t o her b o som Oh my p o or .

,
f ath erless b oy ; my fatherless b oy l
CH APTER LXXV I I
N or lon g aft er this a s the littl e fa m il at T er gou s at at , y
dinner Luk e Peterson b urst in on th em covered with dust
, ,
.
Go o d p eopl e Mistress Catherine i s wanted i n stantly at

,
”
Rotterdam .
My nam e is Cath erine yo u ng man K ate 1 t W 1 1 1 b e ,

.
,
”
Margar et .
Ay dam e s h e said t o m e
,
Goo d Luke h i e thee to
, , ,
51 2 THE CLO ISTER AND TH E HEARTH
T er gou , and ask for Eli the ho sier an d p ray his ife Cath erine ,
’
w
to co m e to m e f or Go d His love , I di dn t wait for day .
’
li gh t .
Holy s aints ! H e h as com e hom e K ate Nay s h e , .

,
woul d sure h ave said s o Wh at on earth can it b e ? An d .
s h e h eap e d conj ecture on conj ecture

"
Mayhap th e you ng m an can tell u s hazarde d Kate ,
timi dl y .
That I can said Luke Wh y h er b ab e is a dyin g

, .
,
-
.
An d s h e was s o wrapp e d up in i t !
Catherin e starte d u p : What is his trouble ?
Nay I know not
,
But it has b een p eaking and p i ning .
”
wors e an d wors e this whil e .
A furtive gl ance of satisfactio n p assed between C ornelis

and S y b r a n d t L u ckily for them Cath erine did not s ee i t
. .
”
H er face was turned towards her husb and Now Eli .
, ,
cri e d sh e fu riously if you s a y a word a gainst i t y ou and

, ,
”
I sh al l qu arrel after al l these years , .
W h o gains a ys the e fo olish wom an ? Quarrel with ,

”
your ow n shadow whil e I g o b orrow P e t er s mule f or y e
,
’
.
Bl ess thee my go o d m an ! Bless thee ! D idst never

,
yet fail m e at a p inch Now eat your di nners who can whi l e
.
,
I g o and m ake ready .
She to ok Luk e b ack with h er m the cart and on th e way ,
qu estione d an d cro ss que stioned him s everely a n d sedu o

t i v el y by turn s till she had turn ed his min d inside out what
, ,
th ere was of i t .
Margaret m et her at th e do or p al e an d a gitate d and threw , ,
h er arm s roun d her ne ck and lo oke d impl orin gly 1 n her face , .
Com e he is aliv e thank Go d

, said Catherine after , , ,
scanning h er eagerly .
Sh e lo oke d at th e fai ling child and then at th e p o or ,
holl ow eye d m o th er alt e rnat ely

-
Lucky you sent for
, .
” ”
m e s ai d s h e
,
Th e chil d i s p oisoned
. .
Poisoned ! by whom ?
B y you You have b een fr etting
. .
Nay indee d mother

, How can I help fretting ?
, .
’
D on t tell m e Margaret A nursin g m other has no
, .
b usin ess to fret She mu st turn her mind away fro m her
.
grief to the comfort that lies in her lap Know you not that .
the chil d pines i f the mothe r vexes herself ? Thi s comes of '
your reading and writin g Thos e i dl e crafts b efi t a m an ; .
but they keep all u s eful knowledge out of a woman The .
ch il d mu st b e weane d .
Oh you cruel woman

, cried Margaret vehemently ; ,
I a m sorry I s ent f or y ou Woul d y ou rob m e of the only .
h it of comfort I h ave in th e worl d ? A nursin g my Gerard -

,
I forget I a m the m o st unhappy creature b eneath the s u n .

51 4 THE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
M argaret lo oke d her f u ll in th e face ; and down went
h er eyes .
I know I ou ght to b e very grateful to y ou sobb e d ,
M a rgaret to the nur s e : then turned her head and l eaned

away o ver th e ch a i r not to witness th e i ntolerabl e sight of
,
another nursing her Gerard an d Gerar d dra wing n o dis ,
tinction b etween this new m other and h er the b anished on e .
The nurs e replied You are very welcom e my p o or , ,
woman An d s o are you Mistres s Catherine which are my

.
, ,
”
town swom an an d know it not , .
‘
Wh at are y e fro m T er g ou ? a l l the b etter
, B ut I .
”
cannot cal l your face to mind .
Oh you know not m e : my hu sb and and m e we are

, ,
very humbl e folk b y y ou But tru e E li an d his wif e are .
known of all th e to w n ; an d resp ected S o I a m at your .

,
c all dam e ; and at yours wife ; an d yours my pretty

, , ,
p opp et night or d ay
, .
Th ere s a wom a n of th e right ol d s ort sai d Catherine

’
, , ,
as th e do or clo se d up o n h er .
I HATE her I HATE her I HATE her

. .
,
M argaret with wonderful fervour

, .
Cath erine only l au gh e d at this o utb urst .
That is right s aid s h e ; b etter s a y i t as s et s l y

, .
,
and think i t It is very natural af ter al l

. Com e h ere is .
,
’
your b un dl e o comfort Tak e and h ate th at i f y e can .
,
an d she p ut th e chil d in her lap .
”
No no s aid Margaret turni n g her h ead h al f away
, , ,
from him ; s h e coul d not for her l i fe turn th e o ther half .
H e is not my chil d now ; h e is h ers I know not why s h e .
l eft him here for my p art , It was very go o d of h er not to .
take him to h er house cra dl e and all ; oh ! oh ! oh ! oh l oh !,
oh ! oh ! oh l
Ah ! well o ne co mfort h e is n ot dead

, This gives m e , .
light : som e other wom an has g ot h i m away from m e ; l i ke

fath er l i k e s on ; oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! o h !
,
Cath erine wa s so rry for her an d l et her c r y in p eace , .
And after that when sh e wanted J oa n s aid s h e u se d to tak e

,
’
,
Gerar d ou t to give him a little fresh air

, M a rgar et n ever .
obj ected ; n or exp ress ed th e l east incredulity ; b ut on their

return wa s al ways in tears .
This connivance was shortlive d She was now alto gether .
as eager to wean littl e Gerar d It was done ; a n d he .
recovere d heal th an d vigour ; and ano ther troubl e fe l l up on

—
him dire ctly teethin g But here Catherine s exp erience .
’
was inval uabl e ; and now in the midst of her grief and ,
anxie t y ab out the father Margaret ha d moments of bliss , ,
watching th e son s tiny teeth com e throu gh ’

Teeth .
,
mother ? I call them not teeth b ut p earl s of p earls An d , .
each p earl that p eep ed and sp arkl ed on his red gums was ,
to h er the greatest feat Nature had ever achieved .
Her comp anion p artook the illusion An d had we tol d .
them a fi el d of standin g corn was equ ally admirable ,
Margaret woul d have chan ged to a repro achful gazelle an d ,
Catherine turned u s out of do ors ; s o each p earl s arriv a l ’
was announced with a shriek of triumph by whichever of

them was th e fortunate discoverer .
Catherine go ssip ed W ith Jo an and learne d that sh e w a s ,
th e wife of Jorian K etel of T er g ou who had b een servant to ,
G h y s b r ec h t V an S wi et en b ut fall en out of favour and com e

, ,
b ack to Rotterdam his native place His friends had go t

, .
him th e place of sexton to the p arish and what wit h that and ,
carp enterin g h e did pretty well

, .
Catherine tol d J oa n in return who se chil d it was sh e h a d

nurse d and al l ab out Margaret and Gerard and th e deep
, ,
”
anxiety his silence had plunged them i n Ay sai d Jo an .
, ,
th e world i s full of trouble ”

O ne day she said to Catherine
.
,
It s my b elief my m an knows m ore ab out your Gerard

’
than anyb o dy in these p arts but he has got to b e clo ser than
ever of late D rop in som e day j ust afore sunset an d s et
.
,
’
him talking And for our Lady s sake s a y n ot I s et you on
. .
The only hiding h e ever gave m e wa s for b abblin g his

bu siness ; and I do not want anoth er Gram ercy ! I marrie d .
a man for the comfort of th e thing not to b e hided , .
Catherine dropp ed i n Jorian was ready enou gh to tell

.
her how h e had b efriended her son and p erhap s save d his life .
But this was no n ews to Catherine ; and the m om ent s h e

b egan to cro ss question him as to whether he coul d g uess why
-
her lo st b oy neither cam e nor wrote h e cast a grim lo ok at ,
his wife who received it with a calm air of stolid candour and
,
inno cent unconsciou sness ; and his an swers b ecam e short

and sullen . What should he know m ore than another ?
and so on H e added after a p au se
. Think you th e
, ,
burgomaster takes such as m e into his secrets ?

Oh th en th e burg om aster knows somethin g ?
,
said
Catherin e sharply .
Likely Who else should ?

.
”
I l l ask him
’
.
’
I would .
An d tell him y ou say h e knows .
That is right dame G o make him mine enemy

, . That .
is what a p oo r fellow always gets if he says a word to y o u

women . An d Jorian from that moment shrunk in an d
b ecam e imp enetrable as a hedgeho g and almo st a s prickly ,
.
His conduct caused b oth the p o or women a gonie s of

51 6 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HE A R TH
mi nd al arm and irritated curio sity
, , G h y s b r ec h t was for .
’
s om e caus e G er a rd s mortal enemy ; h a d stopp ed his
m a rr iage impriso ned h i m hunted h im
, An d here was his , .
late servant wh o wh en o ff his gu ard had hinte d that this

,
enemy ha d th e clue to Ger a rd s sil ence Aft er sifting ’

.
J or i a n s every word and lo ok al l rem a i ned dar k an d m y s

’
t er i ou s .Then C ath erine tol d Mar garet to g o h erself to him .
Yo u ar e young yo u ar e fai r You w ill m ayb e get m ore

, .
”
ou t of h im th an I coul d .
Th e co nj ecture was a reasonabl e on e .
M ar g a ret went with h er chi l d in her ar m s an d tapp e d

ti midly at J or i a n s do or j ust b efore sunset ’
Com e i n .
,
said a s turdy voice Sh e entered an d there s a t Jorian b y

.
,
th e fi reside A t si ght of her h e ro s e snorted and b urst ou t

.
, ,
of th e hous e Is th at for m e wife ? i nquired Margar et

.
, ,
turn i ng very re d .
Yo u mu st excu se h i m replie d J o an rather col d ly ; , ,
h e lays it to yo ur do or that h e i s a p o or m an instea d of a

ri ch on e It is s om ethin g ab out a p iece of p archm ent
. .
Th ere was o ne ami ssing an d h e got n ou ght from th e b urgo ,

”
m aster all al on g of th at on e .
”
Alas ! Gerard to ok i t .
Lik ely B ut my m a n says yo u sho ul d not h ave l et

.
h i m : yo u were pled ge d to h im to keep th em all safe An d - .
’
s o oth to s a y I b lam e not my Joria n for b eing wr oth
, Ti s .
har d for a p o or m an t o b e s o n ear fortune an d l o s e it by tho s e

h e has b efrien de d However I tell h i m another story
.
,
.
S ays I , Folk that are ou t o troubl e li ke you an d m e d idn t ’ ’
o u ght to b e to o h ar d on folk that are in tro ubl e ; an d sh e h a s

’
pl enty . Going al ready ? Wh at i s a ll yo ur hurry ,
mistress ?
O”h it i s not for m e to drive th e go o dman ou t of his own
,
ho use .
Well l et m e kiss th e b ai rn af ore y e go H e is not in

, .
”
fa ul t any way p o o r inno cent , .
Up o n this cruel reb uff M argaret cam e to a resolution ,
which sh e di d no t c on fi d e even to Catherine .
’
Af ter s i x weeks stay that go o d wom an returned hom e .
Ou the ch il d s b irth day whi ch o ccurre d s o o n after

’
, ,
M argar et di d n o work ; b ut p ut on h er Su nday clothes and ,
to ok h er b oy in her arm s an d went to the church and prayed

there l ong an d fervently for Gerard s safe return ’
.
That s am e day an d hour Father Clem ent celebrated a

m ass an d p raye d for Margaret s d ep arte d soul i n th e minster ’
chur ch at B asle .
THE C L O ISTE R ~
AND THE HE ARTH
m a d e him dis gorge An d with him Avarice was an in grai ned
.
hab it Penitence only a s enti m ent

, .
Matters were t h u s wh en on e day retur nin g fro m th e to wn

fi
, ,
hall to hi s own house h e foun d a woman waiting for h i m in ,
th e vestib ule with a ch il d in her arm s

,
She was veile d an d .
,
so,
conclu din g s h e h ad s om ethin g to b e ashame d of h e '
On t h i s s h e l et down her veil

’
addressed h er m a gi steri a lly .

‘
and lo oke d him full in t h e face .
It wa s M a rgaret Bran dt .
Her su dd en app ear ance an d m ann er st artle d him an d h e ,
coul d not conce al his confusion .
Wh ere is my Gerard ? crie d s h e h er b o so m heavin g ,

.
Is h e al ive ?
For au ght I kn ow stamm ere d Gh y sb r ech t I h0 p e , .
so,
for your s a ke Prithe e com e into this ro om . The .
servants !
N ot a step sai d Margar et an d s h e to ok him by th e
, ,
shoulder an d hel d him with all th e ener g y of an excite d

,
wom an You know th e s ecret of that which i s b reakin g my

.
heart W h y do es n ot my Gerard com e n or sen d a l i ri e this

.
,
‘
m any months ? An swer m e or a l l t h e t own i s li k e to hear ,

'
m e let al one thy s ervants

, My mis ery i s to o great to b e .
sp orte d with .
In vain h e p ersisted h e knew nothi n g ab out G erard Sh e .
tol d him tho s e wh o had sent her t o hi m tol d her another t ale
‘
.
You do know why b e n either com es nor sends ”

said s h e ,
fi rmly .
At
'
this Gh y sb r ech t turn ed p al er an d p al er ; b ut b e

summ oned a ll his di gnity an d said Woul d y ou b elieve , ,
tho se two knaves against a man of worship ?

Wh at two knaves said sh e k ee nly .
a
H e st mm ered e —
S ai d y not I There I a m a p o o r ol d
,
‘
,
b rok en m an who s e m emory i s shak en

, And you com e here .
,
and confus e m e s o I know not what I s a y . .
A y sir your m emo ry i s sh ak en or sure yo u w oul d not

, , ,
b e my enemy My father s ave d you from the plague when

.
"
non e other woul d com e a nigh you an d was ever y our fr ie nd

‘
My gr andfath er Flori s help ed you in your early poverty '

,
and loved y ou m an an d b oy Three generations of u s y ou

,
‘
have seen ; an d h ere i s th e fourth of u s ; this is your ol d

‘
'
friend Peter s gran dchil d and your ol d fri en d Fl oris hi s

’
, ,
great gran dch i l d Lo ok down on his in no cent face an d ' “ '

-
.
,
thi nk of their s !
”
Woman you torture m e sighe d Gh y s b r e ch t and s ank
, , ,
up on a b en ch But sh e s a w h er a d y a n t a ge a nd kn eeled
.
‘
b efore him and p u t t h e b oy on his kne es This fatherl es s

‘
, .
b ab e is p o or Margaret Brandt s that n ever di d you i ll and ’

,
‘
,
-
com es of a race that l oved you N a y l ook at his face

'
. .
,
f
T wi ll melt thee m or e t h a n any word of mine
.
S aints of ‘
.
heaven what can a p o or desol ate g i rl an d her b ab e have done

,
to wip e ou t all m emo ry of thine own youn g days when tho u ,
wert guiltless as he is that now lo oks up i n thy fa ce and ,
i mplores thee to give him b ack his father ?

And with her arm s under th e chil d s h e held him up
h ighe r and high er smil ing under the ol d m an 5 eyes ,
’
.
H e ca st a wil d lo ok of anguish on th e child and anoth er ,

“
on th e kneeling mother and st a rted up shrieking Avaunt , , ,
”
y e p air of ad d ers .
The stun g so ul gav e the ol d limb s a m om entary vigour ,
and h e walked rapidly wringing his han ds and clutching at

.
,
h i s W hite hair Forget tho se days ? I forget all else

. .
Oh woman woman sl eep ing or waking I s ee b ut th e faces of

, , ,
the dead I b ear b ut th e voices of the dead an d I shall so on

,
'
b e am ong the dead There there what is do ne is d one . I , , .
a m in h ell I a m i n hell
. .
An d un n atural force ended in pro stration .
H e sta ggere d an d b ut for Margaret woul d h ave fall en

, .
With her on e disengaged arm s h e supp orted him as well a s

,
s h e could and cried for help

, .
A couple of servants cam e run nin g ; and carried him away

in a state b ordering on syncop e Th e last Margaret saw of .
him wa s h i s ol d furrowed face white and helpless a s his hair ,

’
that hung down over the servant s elb ow .
H eaven forgive m e s h e said I d oubt I have killed , .
”
.th e p o or ol d m an .
Then this attempt to p en etrate th e t or t u r i n g mystery l eft

i t as dark or darker than b efore, For when s h e cam e t o .
.
p onder every word her su spicion wa s c on fi r m e d that ,
G h y s b r e ch t did know s om ething ab out Gerard An d w h o ,

.
were th e two knave s he thou ght had done a go o d d eed and ,
tol d m e ? Oh my G erard my p o or d eserted b ab e you and

, , ,
”
I are wad i ng in deep waters ,
.
Th e visit to T er g ou to ok m ore m oney than sh e coul d well

a f ford ; and a customer ran away in her debt She w a s o n ce .
’
more comp e l led to unfol d Catherine s an gel But strange to .
s ay as s h e cam e down sta i rs with it in her hand s h e found

,
som e lo o se silver on the table with a wr itten lin e ,
"
Jf or (Ber a r o b i s dnl g f e .
She fell with a cry of surprise on the writing ; and so o n it

rose into a cry of j oy .
H e is al ive H e sends m e this by some friendly hand

. .
She kissed the writin g a gain and a gain and put it in her ,
b o som .
Time rolled on and no news of G erard , .
And ab out every two months a sm a ll s u m in s i lver found

5 20 TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HE A RTH
its way into th e hou se S om etim es it l ay on th e table . .
O nce it was fl u n g in throu gh the b e dro om windo w in a purse .
’
O nce it was at th e b ottom of Luke s b asket H e h ad stopp e d .
at the public hou se to t al k to a fr iend

-
Th e giver o r h i s .
agent was never detected C atheri ne disowned i t Mar . .
garet V an Eyck swore sh e had no h an d in i t So d i d E li . .
And Mar gar et whenever it cam e u se d to s a y to littl e Gerar d

, , ,
Oh my p o or deserte d ch il d you and I are wadin g in dee p

, ,
”
waters .
Sh e applied at l east half thi s m o dest b ut u sefu l supply t o , ,
dres sin g th e littl e Gerard b eyo nd h i s station in life If it .
”
d o es com e fr om Gerard h e sh all s ee h i s b oy neat Al l th e
, .
m others in th e street b egan to sneer esp ecial ly su ch a s h ad ,
b rats ou t at el b ows .
The m o nth s roll ed on a n d dead sicknes s of heart s u c ,
c e e d ed to thes e keen er torm ents Sh e retur ne d to her fi r s t .
thou ght : Ger ar d mu st b e d ead Sh e sho u l d never s e e her .
”
b oy s father a gain nor h er marriage lin es
’
, This last gri ef .
,
whi ch had b een som ewhat al laye d by Eli an d Catherin e

reco gnizing her b etrothal n ow revived in full force ; oth ers ,
wo ul d not lo ok s o favour a bly on her story An d often sh e .
mo ane d over her b oy s il l e gitim acy ’

I s it n ot eno ugh for
‘
u s to b e b ereaved ? Mu st w e b e di sh onoure d to o ? O h th at ,
” ’
we ha d n e er b een b o rn .
A change to ok place in P eter Brandt H i s m in d cl ou de d .

,
for near ly two ye ars se em e d now to b e cle ar ing ; h e ha d

,
interval s of intelligen ce ; and then h e an d Margaret u sed to

talk of Gerard till h e wandered again , But on e day r e .
,
t urn i ng af ter an ab s ence of som e hours Margaret foun d him ,
conversin g with Catherine in a way he had n ever d on e since ,

"
his p ar al ytic stroke Eh girl why mu st yo u b e ou t ? said

.
, ,
sh e . But indee d I have tol d him al l and w e h ave b een

a cryin g to gether over thy troubles
-
.
Margar et stoo d sil ent lo oking j oyf u lly fr om one to th e ,
other .
P eter sm il ed on her an d sai d C om e l et m e bless thee

, , , .
Sh e kneeled at his feet an d h e bl essed h er mo st elo ,
qu ently H e tol d her sh e had b een al l her l i fe th e l ovi n g es t

.
,
tru est an d m o st ob e dient d au ghter Heaven ever sent to a

,
p oor ol d widowe d m an May thy s on h e to thee what .
thou hast b een to m e !

After thi s he dozed Th en th e femal es whisp ered .
A l l our t al k e en now was of

’
to geth er ; and Catherine said
Gerard It lies heavy on h i s mind
. His p o or hea d must .
often have listened to u s when it seem ed quite dark .
Margaret h e is a very understan ding man ; h e thou ght of

,
m an y things : H e m ay b e in priso n s ays h e or forced to ,

’
g o fi gh t i n g f or som e kin g or sent to Constantinople to c op y ,

5 22 THE CL O ISTER AN D T HE HEARTH
'
’
head an d not ou t 0 my b o so m ; thou d os t w ell to b e deaf to
,
'
m e \Vere I in thy pl ace I shoul d m o urn th e ol d m an a ll one

.
”
as thou do st .
'
Th en Margar et emb race d her an d this b it of tru e sym ,
p athy did her a littl e goo d Th e comm onplace s did none . .
’
Th en Catherine s b owel s yearn e d o ver her an d s h e said , ,
My p o or girl y ou wer e n ot b o rn t o li ve al o ne
,
I h ave got .
to lo ok on you as m y o wn dau ghter

‘
W aste not thine youth

‘
up o n my so n Gerar d Eith er he i s dead or h e i s a traitor

. .
I t cuts my heart to s a y i t ; b ut who ca n h elp seei ng i t ? Thy

father 1 s go n e ; an d I cann ot al ways b e aside thee An d here .
’
i s an honest lad that loves the e well this m any a day I d .
take him an d Com f ort to geth er Heaven h ath sent u s these .
creatures to torm ent u s an d comf ort u s a n d all ; w e are j u st

‘
'
”
n ot h i n g i n the worl d without em Th en s eein g Margaret ’
.
Wh y sure yo u
'
l o ok utterly p erpl exed s h e went on to s a y , , ,
ar e not s o blind as not to s ee i t ?

'
Wh at ? Wh o ?
Wh o b ut thi s Luk e P eterson .
Wh at our L uk e ? The b oy th at carri e s my b asket ?

,
Nay h e i s over ni neteen and a fi n e h eal th y lad ; a n d I

, ,
have m ade inqu i ri e s for yo u ; and th ey al l d o s a y h e i s a

cap abl e workm an and n ever tou ches a drop ; an d tha t is
‘ “
much in a Rotterdam lad whi ch th ey are m o stly h al f man , ,

”
half sp onge .
Margaret smil e d for the fi r s t tim e thi s m any days .
Luke l ove s dried p u d di n g s dearly said s h e and I mak e , ,
T i s the m h e c om es a courtin g here

” '
them to h i s mind .
’
-
.
Then sh e sud de nl y turne d red

'
But if I thou ght he cam e .
’ ’
after your s on 5 wi fe that i s or ou ght to b e I d so on p ut him
, ,
to th e d o or
Nay n ay ; for Heaven 5 s a k e l et me no t m ak e mischief
.
, .
Po or lad ! Why gi rl Fancy will no t b eb ri dl ed

, Bles s you
, .
,
I worm ed it ou t of h i m ne a r a twelvem o nth agone .
Oh moth er an d you l et h i ni l
, ,
-
Well I thou ght of you
, I s ai d t o m ys elf If h e i s fo ol .
,
enou gh to b e h er sl ave fo r nothin g al l t h e b etter f Or her A , . .
l one wom an is lo st without a m a n ab ou t her to fetch and

'
‘
’
c a r r v her littl e m atters B ut now my mind is ch anged and .
,
I thi nk the b est u se you c a np u t h 1 m to i s to marry h i m

an d woul d we d
.
S o then hi s own m other is a gainst

'
m e to th e fi r s t com er Ah Gerard thou h ast b ut n i e ; I .

'
, ,
'
w ill not b elieve thee dea d t i ll I s ee thy tomb n or fal se t i ll I

s e e thee with another lover i n thm e h a n d Fo oli sh b oy I ‘
.
,
’
shall n e er b e civil to him a gain .
A fflicte d with th e b u syb o dy s p rotection Luk e Peterson ’

,
met a col d re ceptio n i n th e hou se where h e ha d hitherto found

a 6 c n t l e and kind on e And b y and b y fi n d i n g h imself very
.
-
,
’
littl e sp oken to at all and then sharply and irritably the , ,
great so ft fellow fell to whimp erin g and asked Margaret ,
plump if he had done anything to o ff end her .
Nothing I a m to bl a m e . I a m curst If y ou will . .
”
take my counsel you will ke ep ou t of my way awh i le .
”
It is al l along of m e Luke said the bu syb o dy , , .
You Mistress Catherine , Why what have I done for .

,
t t h er a gainst m e ?
‘
y ou o s e
‘
Nay I meant all for the b est I told her I s a w yo u

'
.
,
were lo oking towards her throu gh a w edding rin g But s h e .
”
w on t hear of i t
’
.
There was no nee d to tell her that wife ; s h e knows I ,
a m courting h er this twelvem o nth .
N ot I said Margaret ; ,or I sh oul d never have op ene d

”
the street do or to y ou .
Why I com e here every S aturday night

, And that .
is h ow t h e l ad s in R otterdam do court I f we s u p with a .
’ ”
lass o S aturdays that s wo oing ,
’
.
Oh that is R ot t er d a m i s i t ? Then next tim e y ou com e

'
, ,
l et it b e Thurs day or Friday For my p art I thou ght you .

,
came after my pu ddings b oy , .
I like you r pu ddings w el l en ou gh You make them '
b etter than mother do es But I like you st i ll b etter than .
”
th e pud dings said Luke tenderly , .
Then you have s een the last of them How dare you tal k .
’
s o t o another m an s wife and him f ar away ? She ende d ,
gently b ut very fi r m l y
, You need n ot trouble yourself to ,
com e here any m ore Luke ; I can carry my b asket myself , .
”
Oh very well said Luke ; and after sittin g sil ent an d
, ,
stup id f or a little wh i le he ro se an d said sadly t o Catherine , , ,
D ame I daresay I have g ot the sack ; and went ou t

, .
But the next S aturday Catherine found him seate d on the

do orstep blubb ering H e told her h e had got u se d to com e
.
there and every other place s eem ed stran ge

,
Sh e went i n .
,
a n d tol d Margaret ; and Marg a ret sighed and said Poor , ,
Luke he might com e in for her if he could know his pl ace

, , ,
”
and treat her like a marrie d wife On this b eing c om .
m u n i ca t e d t o Luke he hesitated Pshaw ! said Catherine

, .
,
promises are pie crusts -

Promise her al l the world so oner .
,
t han s i t o utside like a fo ol when a word will carr y you i nside , .
Now y ou hum our her in everything and then if p o or Gerar d , ,
com e not hom e and claim her you wil l b e sure to have her ,
i h time A lon e woman i s aye to b e tired out th ou foolish

.
,
b oy .
C HA PTER L XXX
Gb e C l ois t er
‘
B R O T H ER C L EM E N T ha d tau ght an d preach e d in B asl e m or e

than a twelvemonth when on e day J ero m e sto o d b efore him
, ,
du sty with a triumph ant glance in his eye

,
.
Give th e glory to Go d Broth er Clement ; th o u canst ,

”
now wen d to Engl and with m e .
I a m ready Brother J erom e ; an d exp e cting the e thes e

, ,
many m onths have in th e interval s of te aching and d evotio n

,
”
stu died th e English to n gu e som ewhat clo sely .
”
Twas well thou ght of said Jerome H e then tol d
’
, .
him he h ad b ut d elayed till h e coul d obtain extraordinary

’
p owers from the P op e to coll ect m on ey for th e Church s u se
in England an d to h ear confession in al l the secul ar mo nas
,
t er i e s . S o n ow gir d up thy lo ins and l et u s g o forth an d deal ,
a go o d blow for th e Church an d a gainst th e Franciscans , .
The two fri a rs went preachin g down the Rhine for

England In th e larger places they b oth preach e d
. A t the .
smal ler they often divided an d to ok di fferent side s of the ,
river an d m et again at som e app ointed sp ot

,
B oth were .
abl e orators b ut in di fferent styles

, .
J er om e s was nobl e an d imp ressive but a littl e contracted

’
in religiou s top ics an d a t r i fl e m onotonou s in delivery

,
comp a red w ith Cl ement s thou gh in truth not s o comp ared ’
, ,
with m o st preachers .
Cl em ent s was full of variety and often rem a rkably

’
coll o quial In i t s general fl ow tender and gently winning

.
, ,
it curle d round th e reaso n an d th e heart But it always ro s e .
w ith th e risin g thou ght ; and s o at tim es Cl em ent soared a s

far ab ove Jerom e a s his level S p eaking was b elow him .
Indeed in th ese noble h eats h e was al l that we have read of

,
insp ire d prophet or h eathen orator : V eh em en s u t pro cella ,
e x c i t a t u s u t torrens i n c e n s u s u t fulm en t on a b a t f u l gu r a b a t
, , , ,
et r a p i d i s el oqu en t i ae fl u ct i b u s cuneta p r or u eb a t et p or t u r
b ab at .
I woul d give literal S p ecimens b ut for fi ve obj ections ; it ,
is d i ffi cu l t ; time is short ; I h ave done it elsewh ere ; an abl e

imitator h as since d on e it b etter ; and sim il arity a Vi rtu e in ,
p eas is a vi ce in b o oks
, .
But ( not to evade th e matter entirely ) Cl em ent u sed

se cretly to try and le arn the recent events and the b esettin g
s i n of each to w n h e wa s to pr each i n .
But Jerom e t h e unb endin g s corn ed to g o out of h i s wa y

, ,
5 26 TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HE ARTH
Th e doubl e faces ! That very even i ng a b and of m en

cau ght near a hun d red of th em roun d Brother Cl em ent fi ll i n g ,
his wallet with th e b est an d o f fering h i m th e very ro ses off

,
their h eads an d kissin g h i s fro ck and blessing him

, for ,
”
taking i n han d to m end their sots .
J erom e thought t his s erm o n to o e a rthly .
D ru n kenness is not heresy Cl ement that a whol e , ,
s erm o n sho u l d b e preache d a gainst i t .
A s th ey went ou h e found to h i s surp ris e that Clem ent s

’
,
s ermo ns sank into his hearers deep er than h i s own ; m ade

them listen thi n k cry an d s om eti m es even am end their
, , ,
”
ways H e b ath the a r t of sinki ng to the i r p eg
. thou ght ,
Jerome Yet h e can so ar hig h enough at times

. .
Up on the whol e it p u z z led Jerom e who had a secret sens e ,
of sup eriority to hi s tenderer b rother An d af ter ab out two .
hun dre d m il es of i t it go t to di spl ease him as well as p uzzl e

,
him .B ut he tried to check thi s sentime nt as p etty an d

u nworthy S o ul s di f f er lik e
. said h e and ,
prea chers mu st d i fi er lik e keys or the fewer shoul d th e ,
Church op en for Go d to p a s s i n And certes thi s novice .

,
hath the k ey to these north ern so ul s b eing hi mself a ,

” ’
northern m an .
And s o they c a m e sl owly do wn the Rhi ne sometim es ,
drifting a few m i l es on the stream ; b ut l n general wal ki ng by

th e b ank s p rea chi n g an d teach ing an d co nfessing sinn ers i n
, ,
the to wns and v il l ages ; and th ey reached the town of

D ii s s el d or f .
Th ere was th e l ittle qu ay where Gerar d and D enys ha d

tak en b o at up the Rhine The fri ars l anded on i t There . .
”
wer e the streets there was The S ilver Li on
, N othing .
had changed b ut h e who walked thr o u gh it b are fo ot with

, ,
his heart calm an d col d his hands a cro s s his breast an d his
, ,
eyes b ent m eekly o n th e gro und a tru e s on of D ominic an d ,
Holy Church .
C HAPTE R LXXX I
‘
(I b e b ear t b
‘
E LI said Cath erin e answer m e o n e questio n lik e a m an

, ,
a nd I 1 ]
ask n o m ore to -day Wh at is wormwo o d ? .
Eli lo oke d a littl e helples s at this su d den d eman d up on

his faculties ; b ut s o on re co vere d e n ou gh t o s a y it wa s ‘
s om ething th at tasted m ain b itter .
T hat i s a fai r answer m y m an b ut not the o ne I lo ok , ,
”
Th en answer it yo urself .
An d
shall —
Wormwo o d is to have two in the hou se .
a doing nought but waitin g for thy sho es and mine

-
, Eli .
groaned The shaft struck home

. .
Methink s waiting for their b est friend s c offi n that an d ’
nothing to do are enow to m ake them worse than Nature ,
m eant ; Why not set them up som ewhere to give em a ,

’
chance ?
Eli said h e was willing but afraid they woul d drink an d ,
gambl e their very shelves away .
’
N a y sai d Cath erine D o st t a k e m e for a simpleto n ?
, .
Oi cours e I m ean to watch them a t startin g and drive them ,

’
W i a lo o se rein as the saying is , .
Where did you think of ? No t here ; to divid e ou r ow n

cu stom .
Not likely I say R otterdam against the world . Then .
I coul d start them .
—
Oh self d e c ep t i on l The tru e motive of all this was to
,
get near little Gerard .
After many discu ssio n s a nd eager p romise s of am end

m ent on these term s from Cornelis an d S y b r a n d t Cath erine ,
went to Ro tterdam shop hunting an d to ok Kate with her ; -

,
for a change They so o n foun d on e an d in a go o d stre et ;

.
,
b ut it was sadly ou t of order However they got it cheap er .

,
f or that and instantly s et ab out b ru shing it u p fi t t i n g prop er

, ,
shel ves for th e bu siness and m aking th e dwelling hous e ,

-
ha b itable .
Luke Peterso n wa s always asking Margaret what h e

coul d do for her The answer u se d to b e in a sad tone .
,
”
Nothing Luke nothing , , .
What you that are so cl ever can you think of nothing

, ,
for m e to do for you ?

Nothin g Luke nothing , , .
But at last sh e varie d th e reply thu s If you coul d

”
m ake som ething to help my sweet sister K ate ab out
'
.
Th e slave of love consented j oyfu l ly an d so o n m ade K ate ,
a littl e cart and cu shione d i t and yoke d himself into i t and

, , ,
a t eventide drew her out of the town and al on g the pleasant ,
b oulevard with Margaret and Catherine walking b e side

, .
It lo oked a happier p arty than it was .
Kate for on e enj oye d it keenly for littl e Gerard was put
, , ,
in her lap an d s h e doted o n him ; and it was lik e a cherub

,
carried b y a littl e angel or a ro seb u d lying in the cup of a lily ,

.
S o th e vulgar j eere d ; an d aske d Luke how a thistl e

tasted and if his mistres s coul d n ot a ff ord on e with four
,
legs etc , .
Luke did not min d these j eers ; but K ate minded th em

for him .
5 28 T HE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
Thou hast m ade th e cart f or m e go o d Luke s ai d s h e , , .
’
Twas much I did ill to l et the e dr aw m e t oo ; we can
.
a fi or d to p ay som e p o or s oul f or that I love my rides an d .

,
’
to carry littl e Gerar d ; b ut I d li ever ri de n o m ore than th ou
” ’
b e m o cked for t .
Mu ch I care for th eir to n gu es s aid Luke ; if I di d ,
car e I d kno ck th eir h ead s to geth er

’
I shall d r aw y ou till .
my m istress says g ive o ver .
Luk e i f yo u ob ey K ate y ou wi ll ob l ige m e

, , .
”
Th en I will ob ey K ate .
A h honourab l e exceptio n to p opul ar humour was Jorian

K et el s wi fe Th at i s strength well l aid ou t to dr aw th e
’
.
weak .An d h er p rayers will b e your g u erdo n ; sh e i s not

”
lo ng for this worl d ; s h e s m il et h in p ain Th ese were th e .
words of Jo an .
S in gl e min ded L u k e an swere d that he di d n ot want th e

-
p o or lass s p rayers ; he d i d it to pleas e hi s mistress Margaret

’
, .
After th at Luk e often presse d Margaret to give him

som eth in g to d o— witho ut su ccess .
But o n e d ay a s i f tire d with his i mp ortuni n g s h e turned

, ,
on h i m a n d s ai d wi th a lo ok an d accent I sho u l d i n vai n try

,
to convey :
’
Fin d m e my b oy s father .
C HAPTER LXXX I I
M I S T RE S S th ey all s a y h e is dead
, .
N ot s o They fee d m e st i ll with hop es

. .
A y to yo u r fa ce b ut b e h ind your b ack th ey all s a y h e

, ,
”
is dead .
’
A t this revelatio n Mar gar et s te a rs b egan to fl ow .
Luk e whimp ere d for comp a ny H e ha d the b o dy of a .
m a n b ut the heart of a g irl

, .
Prithee weep not s o sweet m istress sai d h e

, I d , , .
’
b rin g h i m b ack to life an I coul d rather th an s ee thee weep ,
s o s or e fi
’
M argar et sai d s h e thou ght s h e wa s weep in g b ecaus e they

were so doubl e tong ue d with her
-
‘
Sh e recovered herself and layi n g her hand on his ,
shoul der said sol emnl y

, Luk e he is not dea d Dying m en , , .
ar e kn own to h ave a strange sight And listen Luke ! .

,
My p o or father wh en he was a -dyin g and I s i mpl e fo ol wa s

, , , ,
s o happy thi n k i n g h e was go ing to get we l l alto gether h e

, ,
said to m other and m e— h e wa s sittin g in that very chair

where you are now an d m other wa s as might b e h ere and I , ,
5 30 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H
Margaret coloure d to her ve ry brow Oh ; Luke .
,
Heaven w il l reward thee An d I sh all fal l o n my kn ee s and .
bles s thee ; and I shall love the e all my days swe et Luke , ,
a s a m other do es h er s on I a m s o ol d b y thee : troubl e age s .
the heart Tho u shal t not go g t i s not fa i r of m e

. L ov e ’
.
”
m aketh u s to b e all s elf .
Hump h ! sai d Luke And i i res u m e d h e in th e .

, ,
sam e g rave way yo n scap e gra ce sh al l rea d thy letter an d

, ,
“
hear m e tell him how tho u p i n est f or him an d yet b eing a , ,
traitor or a m ere i di ot will not turn to thee— what shal l

, ,
b ecom e of m e then ? Must I di e a b ach elor a n d t h ou fare ,

'
lonely to thy grave neither mai d wif e nor wi do w? , , ,
Margaret p ante d with fe ar an d em otio n at thi s terri bl e

piece of go o d s ense an d th e pl ain qu estion whi ch foll owe d i t
,
.
But at l ast s h e f al tered out I f which ou r L ady b e m erciful , ,
to m e an d forb id— Oh l
,
Well mistres s ? ,
If h e shoul d re ad my letter an d hear thy w ords— an d , ,
sweet Luk e b e j u st an d tel l him what a lovely b ab e h e hath

, ,
fath erless fath erless, Oh Luk e can h e b e s o cru el ? .

,
I trow no t ; b ut i i ?
Th en h e will give thee up my m ar ria ge lines a nd I sh al l
’
b e an ho nest wom an an d a wretch e d on e an d my b oy will

,
, ,
not b e a b astar d an d of co ur s e th en we cou l d b oth g o into ,
any ho nes t m an 5 hou se th at woul d b e trouble d with u s ;

'
and even for thy go o dness this day I wil l— I will — n e er b e ,

’
s o un grateful a s g o p ast thy do or to another m an s

’
.
A y b ut wi ll y ou com e in at mine ?
, An swer m e that !
Oh ask m e not ! S om e day p erhap s wh en my wounds
, , ,
leave bl ee din g Al as I 1 1 try . I t I d o n t fl i n g mys elf and

,
’
.
’
my ch i l d into th e Ma as D o not go Luk e ! do not think o f .

,
go ing ! Ti s al l m adness from fi r s t to l ast

’
.
But Luk e was a s slow to forego an ide a a s to form one .
His reply showed h ow fast l ove wa s m a kin g a m an of him .
Wel l s ai d h e , m adnes s i s som ethi ng anyw ay ; and

, ,
I a m tire d of do in g noth i ng for thee ; an d I a m n o gr eat

talker .To morrow at p eep of day I st a rt
-
, But hold I , .
,
have n o m o n ey My mother sh e takes care of all m ine an d

.
, ,
’
I n e er s e e it a gain
’
.
Then M argaret t ook out Catherin e 5 gol d an gel which ’
h ad e scap e d so often an d gave it to Luk e ; an d h e s et out o n

,
hi s m ad erran d .
It did not however seem s o m ad t oh i m a s to u s

, It , .
was a sup erstitiou s age ; and Luke a cte d on th e d y ing m an s ’
dream or Vision or ill usion or whatever it was much as we

, , , ,
shoul d act o n resp ectabl e i n f orrh a t i on

But Catherin e was downright an gry w
.
hen s h e heard of i t
T os end the p o or l ad on su ch a wil d -go o se chase !
.
’
B ut y ou
THE C L O ISTER AND THE H EARTH 531
are like a m any m ore girls ; and mark my word s ; by the tim e
o u have worn that Luke fairly ou t and m ade him as sick of
y ,
you as a d o g y ou will turn a s fo nd on him as a cow on a c al f

, ,
”
and To o late W ill b e th e cry .
G b e c l ois t er
The two friars reach ed H olland from th e south j u st

twelve hours after Luke started up th e Rhine .
Thus w i ld go o s e chase or not th e p arties w ere n earin g

,
-
,
each other an d rapidly to o

, F or Jerom e unabl e to preach .
,
in low D utch now b egan to pu sh o n towards th e co ast

, ,
anxious to get t o Englan d as s o o n as p o ssible .
And having the stream with them the friars would in p oint ,
of fact h ave missed Luk e by p assin g him in fu l l stream b elow

his station b ut f or th e incident which I a m ab out to relate
, .
Ab out twenty miles ab ove th e statio n Luk e was m akin g

f or Clement landed to preach in a larg e V illage and toward s
,
the end of his s ermo n h e noticed a grey nun weep in g .
H e sp ok e to her kindly an d asked her what was her grief , .
”
N ay said s h e
, tis not for mys elf flo w thes e te a rs tis
,
’
,
’
for my lo st friend Thy words reminde d m e of what s h e

.
w a s an d what s h e is p o or wretch
,
But you are a D omini
,
.
”
can and I a m a Franciscan nun
,
.
It m atters littl e my sister it we are b oth Chri stians

, , ,
”
an d if I can aid thee in au ght .
Th e nun lo oked in his face and said These are strange , ,
words b ut m ethinks th ey are go o d ; and thy lip s are oh

, ,
”
mo st elo quent I wil l tell thee ou r grief
. .
She then l et him know that a young nun the darling of ,
the convent and her b o som friend had b een lured away from
, ,
h er vows an d aft er variou s gradations of s i n was actu ally

, ,
living in a smal l inn a s chamb erm aid in reality as a d ecoy , ,
a nd was known to b e s elling her favours to the we al thier

custom ers Sh e added
. Anywhere els e we might b y , ,
kin dl y violence force her away from p erdition

, But this .
innkeep er was the s ervant of the fi er c e b aron 0 1 1 the h eight

there and hath his ear still and he woul d b urn ou r co nvent
, ,
”
to the ground were we to take her by force
, .
Moreover souls w i ll not b e s aved by b rute force said

, ,
Clem ent .
Whil e they were talking J erom e cam e u p and Clement ,
p ersuaded him to lie at the convent that night But when .
in the m orning Cl em en t t ol d him h e had ha d a long tal k with

‘
t h e abb ess ; and that s h e was very s a d and h e had promised ,
her t o try and win b ack her nun Jerom e obj ected and sai d , ,
It was not their b u s iness and w a s a waste of time , .

5 32 THE C L O I ST E R AN D T H E HEARTH
Cl ement h o w ever w a s n o longer a m ere pup il

, , H e stoo d .
fi r m an d at last they agree d that Jerom e shoul d g o forward

,
an d se cure their p assage in th e next ship for En gland an d ,
Cl em ent b e all owed tim e to m ak e his well m eant b ut idl e -
exp erim ent .
’
Ab out ten o clo ck th at d ay a fi gu r e in a hors em an s ,
’
clo ak an d gre at b o ots to m atch an d a large fl app ing felt

, ,
hat sto o d lik e a statu e near th e aub erge where w a s th e

, ,
ap o state nun M a ry Th e friar thu s dis gu ise d w a s at th at

, .
m om ent truly wretched Thes e ardent n atures und ert ak e .
wond ers but ar e dashed when th ey com e h and to h an d with

the sickenin g d i ff i culties B ut then as th eir hear ts are steel .
, ,
thou gh the i r nerves are anything b ut iro n they turn n ot ,
b ack b ut p anting an d disp irited stru ggl e o n to th e l ast

, , .
Cl em ent h esitate d lon g at th e do or prayed f or help an d ,
wis dom an d at last entere d th e inn an d s a t down faint at

,
h eart an d with hi s b o dy in a col d p ersp iration

, .
But outside h e was another m an H e c a lle d lu st i ly for .
a cup of w ine : it wa s b rou ght him b y th e l an dl ord H e p ai d .
for it with m on ey th e co nvent ha d supplie d him ; and m a d e

a sho w o f drinkin g i t .
L andlord sai d h e I hear there i s a fa i r ch amb erm aid ,
in thine hous e .
A y stran ger th e b uxom e st in Holl and

, , B ut sh e give
”
s .
no t h er comp any to al l com ers ; onl y to go o d cu stom ers .
Friar Clem ent dangl e d a m assive gol d chain i n the l a nd

lord s sight
’
H e lau ghed an d shoute d
. Here J anet here , , , ,
is a l over for th ee woul d b in d th ee in ch ai n s of gol d ; an d a

tall lad into th e b ar gain I promis e thee , .
”
Then I a m in doubl e lu ck sai d a fem al e voice ; ,
him hi th er .
Clem ent ro s e shu ddere d and p asse d into th e ro om wh ere

, , ,
J an et was seated playin g wi th a p iece of work a n d laying it ,
do w n every m inute to sin g a mut i lated fra gm ent of a son g, .
For i n her m o de of l ife s h e had not th e p atience to carry

, ,
anythin g out .
After a few words of greeting th e dis gu ised Vi sitor a sked ,
her if they coul d not b e m ore p rivate somewh ere .
Why not ? said s h e An d sh e ro se and smil ed an d .

,
went tripping b efore him H e foll owed gro anin g inwar dly .
, ,
an d sore p e r plexed .
There sai d she ,Have no fe ar ! N ob o dy ever .
com es here b ut su ch a s p ay fo r the privi l e ge

, .
Clem ent l o ok e d roun d th e ro om an d p raye d s i l ently for ,
wi sdom Then h e went softly and clo se d th e window

.
,
shutter s car e f ully .
Wh at on earth i s that for ? s a i d J an et in som e ,
uneasines s .
Th e angels weep stil l m ore Wilt n ot dry all their .
tears in e ar th and heaven an d s ave th ys elf ? ,
Ah ! woul d I coul d ; b ut it is to o late .
” ’
S atan avaunt cried the monk sternl y , Ti s thy .
favourite temptation ; an d th ou Mary listen n ot to th e , ,
enemy of m an b elying Go d an d whi sp ering des p a ir

, I who , .
com e to s ave the e h ave b een a far greater sinner than thou .
’
Com e M a ry s i n tho u s eest is n ot s o sweet e en in this
, , , , ,
”
worl d as holiness ; and eternity is at the do or
, .
How can they ever receive m e a g a i n l f ‘ ’
Tis their worth i nes s tho u d ou b t es t now

’
B ut in truth .
they p in e for the e Twas in p ity of their tears that I a

.
’
,
D ominican underto ok this task ; and b rok e t h e r ul e of my

,
'
ord er b y enterin g an i n n ; a n d b r ok e it agai n b y d o nni n g .
thes e lay vestments But al l i s wel l do ne a nd qui t for a

.
,
light p enance i f thou wilt let u s res cu e t h y s oul f rom thi s

,
'
”
d en of wolves an d brin g the e b ack to thy vows
, .
The nun gaz ed at h i m with tears in her eyes An d .
thou a D om ini can hast d one thi s for a daughter of S t

, ,
.
Francis ! Why th e Fran ciscan s and D ominicans h ate one

,
anoth er .
A y my dau ghter ; b ut Francis an d D ominic love one

,
”
another .
Th e recreant nun s eeme d s tru ck an d a f fecte d by this -
answer .
Cl em ent n ow remind ed h er how sho cke d s h e ha d b een

that the V irgin sho ul d b e rob b e d o t h er chai n “
But s ee .
th e co nvent an d th e V irgin to o thi nk ten

.
,
now s ai d h e
, , , ,
tim es m ore of their p o or nun than of gold en cha i ns ; for

they freely truste d their chain to m e a stranger that p er ,
a dventure th e sight of it mi ght tou ch their l os t M ar y and '
”
rem i n d her of th eir love Final ly he showed her with su ch ,
terr i bl e simplicity th e en d of h er p resent c o urs e an d on the ,
other hand s o r evi v e d h er do rm a nt m emories and b etter

feel in gs that s h e kneele d sobb ing at h i s feet an d o wned
, ,
s h e had n ever known happ i ness nor p eace since s h e b etraye d

her vows ; an d said s h e woul d g o b a ck ii h e woul d g o with ‘
h er ; b ut a l one s h e dared no t coul d n ot : even if s h e rea ched ,
th e gate s h e co ul d never enter H ow coul d s h e face th e .
ab b es s an d the sisters ? H e tol d her h e woul d g o with h er as

j oyf ul ly a s th e sh eph erd b ears a strayed lamb to the .
fol d .
But wh en he urged h er to g o at once up sp run g a crop of ‘
tho se pro di giously p etty d i ffi cul t i es that entan gl e her s ex ,
l i k e silk en nets l i ker iro n cobweb s , .
H e qui etly swep t them aside .
B ut h ow can I walk b esid e thee i n thi s hab it ?

I have b rou ght the gown and cow l of thy h oly order .
TH E C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH
Hide thy bravery with them A n d leav e t h y sho es as I leave .
th ese ( p ointing t o his horsem an s b oot S ) ’

’
Sh e collected her j ewels and ornaments .
Wh at are these for ? inquire d Clem ent .
”
To present to th e convent father ,
.
Th eir source is t oo imp u r e .
”
But obj e cted t h e p eniten t
, it woul d b e a sin to leave
_
,
them here They can b e s ol d t o f ee d th e p o or

.
~ ~
.
M a ry fi x thine eye on this cr u c i fi x and trampl e tho se

, ,
devilish b auble s b ene ath thy feet .
Sh e hesitate d ; b u t s oon threw them down and trampled

on them .
'
N ow op en th e window and fling them out on that

"
dungh il l .Tis well done S o p ass th e wa ges of sin from .
thy hand s ; its glitterin g yok e from thy neck its po l lution ,
from thy so ul Away d au ghter of S t Francis we tarry in

.
,
.
,
this vile place to o l ong She foll owed him . .
‘
But they were not clear yet .
A t fi r s t the landlo rd was so astounde d at seein g a black

friar and a grey nun p ass throu gh his kitchen from th e inside ,
that h e gap ed and muttered Why what mummery i s

, ,
‘
this ? But he so on comprehe n ded th e m atter and ,
whipp e d in b etween th e fu gitive s and t h e do or Wh at h o l .
R eub en ! Carl ! G a vi n l h ere is a f alse friar sp iriting away

'
'
ou r J anet .
Th e m en cam e ru nnin g in with threatening lo oks Th e .
”
friar ru shed at them cr u c i fi x in h and Forb ear he crie d .
, ,
in a stentorian voice Sh e i s a holy nun returning to her

.
vows Th e h a n d t h a t tou ches her cowl or her rob e to stay

'
her it shal l wither his b o dy shall lie unburied cursed by

, , ,
”
‘
R om e and his soul shall ro ast in eternal fi r e

, They shrank .
b ack as if a fl a m e h ad met th em And thou— miserabl e .
p a n d er er l
H e didnot en d th e sentence in words but seized the man ,
by the neck and stron g as a lion in his m oments of ho t

,
excitement whirled him furiou sly from th e do or and sent

,
him all acro ss the ro om p itching head foremo st on to the ,
stone flo or ; then tore th e do or op en and carrie d the scream

ing nun out into th e ro ad Hush ! p o or trembler he .
,
gasp ed they dare not m olest the e on th e highroad .
Away !
The landl ord l ay t errifi ed half stunned and bleeding ; , ,
a nd Mary thou gh s h e often lo oked b ack apprehensively s a w

, ,
no more of h i m .
On the r oad he b ad e her ob serve his imp et u o sity .
Hithert o said h e we h a V e spoken of thy faults

, ,
n ow for mine My choler i s un governabl e ; furious

. It is .
by th e grac e of Go d I a m not a murderer I rep ent the next .

5 36 THE C L O I ST E R A N D T H E H E ARTH
m om ent ; b ut a m om ent to o late i s a ll to o lat e Mary h a d .

,
the churl s laid fi n g er o n thee I sho u l d h a ve scattere d their ,
brains with my cr u cifi x O h I know myself ; go to ; and .

,
trembl e at myself There l u r k et h a wil d b east b eneath

.
”
this black go wn of mine .
”
Al as father said Mary
, were you oth er than yo u
, ,
a r e I had b een lo st To tak e m e from that place neede d a .
”
m an wary a s a fox ; yet b ol d as a lion .
Clem ent r efl e ct e d This mu ch i s cert ai n : Go d .
cho o seth wel l H i s fl e sh l y instrum ents ; and wi th imp erfect

hear t s do eth H i s p erfect work Glory b e to Go d ! .
When they were near th e convent M ar y suddenly

’
stopp ed an d s eiz e d th e fri a r s arm and b egan to cr y
, He , .
l o oke d at her kindl y and tol d her s h e had noth ing to fear , .
It wo ul d b e the h app iest day s h e had ever sp ent H e then .
m ad e her s i t down a n d comp o se h ers elf till h e shoul d return .
H e entered th e co nvent and desired to s ee the abb es s .
My sister give the glory to Go d : Mary i s at the

,
gate .
Th e astonishm ent an d delight of th e a b b ess were n u

’
b ounded She yielde d at o nce to Cl em ent s e arn est requ est
.
that th e ro a d of p enitence might b e smo othed at fi r s t to this

unstabl e wanderer and a fter s om e O pp o sition s h e entere d , ,
heartil y into his views a s to her actu al receptio n To give .
tim e for the i r littl e prep aration s Clem ent went slowly b ack ,
and s eating h im self by Mary s o othed her ; an d h eard her

co nfessio n .
The ab b ess h a s granted m e that y ou shall p rop o se your

”
own p enan ce .
It shall b e no ne th e lighter said sh e , .
”
I trow not s aid h e b ut that is future : to - day i s
,
”
given to j oy al one .
H e then led her roun d the b u i l di ng to th e abb ess s

’
p o stern A s th ey went th ey h e a rd music al instrum ents and

.
singing .
Tis a feast day sa id Mary

’
and I com e to m ar i t
-
, , .
H ar dl y said Cl em ent smiling ; , se eing that you a r e ,

”
th e qu een of the fete .
I father ? what m ean y ou ?

,
Wh at M a ry have yo u never heard that there i s m ore

, ,
j oy i n heaven o ver one sinner that rep enteth than o ver ,
ninety- nine j u st p ersons which need no rep en t a nce ? Now

this co nvent i s not heaven ; nor the nuns angels ; yet are
there amon g them some an gelic sp irits ; an d these sing an d
exult at thy return An d here methink s comes o ne of .
”
them ; for I s ee h er hand tremble s at the k eyhole .
The p o stern wa s flung op en and in a mom ent S i s ter ,

5 38 THE C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH
friar s ai d to h i m som ewhat s everely , An d what woul d you ,
Vt i t h him you call Gerar d E l i a s s oen ?

Wh y fath er i f he is alive I have got a letter f o
, , r him .
Humph ! s aid Jerom e I a m so rry for i t How . .
ever th e fl esh is weak

,
Well my s on h e you s eek wil l b e.
, ,
here by th e n ext b o at or th e n ext b o at after An d if he

, .
cho o se s to answer to that nam e After all I a m n ot the ,

”
keep er of h i s conscience .
Go o d fath er on e plai n word for Heaven s sake

, This ,
’
.
f
Gerard E l i a s s oen o T e g r ou — i s b e al ive ? ,
Humph ! Why certes he that went by that nam e i s , ,
al ive .
Wel l then that is s ettl ed s ai d Luk e dr i ly

, , But th e , .
next m om ent h e foun d it necessar y to ru n out of sight an d

bl u b b er .
Oh why di d th e Lord m ak e any women ? said he to

,
him self I wa s content with the worl d till I fell in love

. .
Here h i s littl e fi n g er i s m ore t o h er than my whol e b o dy and ,

”
he is n ot d ead An d here I h ave g ot to give him this He
'
-
. .
lo oked at the l etter and dashe d it on the g round But he .
pi cke d it up a gai n w ith a sp itef u l snatch an d went to th e ,
l andlord with tears in h i s eyes an d b egge d f or work

, The , .
l an dl or d declined said h e had h i s own p eople ,

”
Oh I seek not yo ur mo ney s a id Luke
, I only w ant , .
som e work to k eep m e fro m break i ng my he art ab out anoth er

man s l ass .
Go o d lad ! go o d l a d l explo de d th e landl ord ; an d

'
—
found him l ots of b arrel s to m e nd on th es e term s An d h e . .
co op ered with f u ry i n th e in terval of the b o ats coming do wn

th e Rhin e .
C HA PTER Lx xx n l
( th e b ear t h
W R I T I N G an e ar nest l etter s el dom l eave s th e min d i n s ta t u

qu o . Mar gar et in h ers vented her energy and her fai th in
, ,
her d y in g father s Vi sion or ill usion ; and when t h i s w a s done

’
, ,
and Luke gone s h e wondered at h er cre dul ity and her

, ,
conscience pricke d h er ab out Luke ; an d Cath erine cam e and

s col ded her an d s h e p aid th e p ri ce of f al s e h op es and
, ,
el evation of spirits by f al ling into d eep er desp ondency , .
She was foun d in this state by a staunch friend s h e h ad l ately

made J o an K etel , This go o d wom an cam e in radiant with
.
an idea .
Mar garet I know the cure for thin e ill : th e hermit of

,
TH E C L O ISTER AND THE HEARTH 5 39
Gou da a wondrou s h ol y m a n
,
Why he can tell what is '
.
,
coming when he is in th e mo o d
,
.
A y I have heard of him

, said Margaret hop elessly , .
Jo an wi t h som e d i ffi c u l t y p ersuaded her t o walk ou t a s far as

G ouda and consult t h e hermit
,
They to ok som e b utter and .
eggs in a b asket and went to his cave , .
What ha d m ad e th e p air su ch fast friends ? Jorian som e

s i x week s ago fell ill of a b owel disea se ; it b egan with raging
p ain ; and when this went off leavin g him weak an awkwar d , ,
symptom succeeded ; nothin g either liqu id or solid would , ,
stay in his stom ach a minute The do cto r sai d : H e must .
die if this go es on m any hours ; th erefore b oil tho u now a ,
chicken with a golden angel in th e water and let him sup ,
that ! Alas ! G i lt chicken b roth share d th e fate of the

humbler viands its predecessors Then th e curé steep ed the
, .
thumb of S t S ergiu s in b eef broth . S am e result Then . .
Joan ran weep in g to Margaret to b orrow some linen t o make

”
his shrou d L et m e see him said Margaret
. Sh e cam e ,
.
in and felt his pul s e Ah ! said she . I d oub t th ey h ave ,
not go ne to the ro ot Op en th e win dow ! Art s t i fl i n g him ;

.
now change all his linen .
Alack wom an what for ? Why foul m ore linen for a

, ,
dying man ? obj ected th e m edi aev al wife

‘
.
D o as thou a r t b i d said Margaret dully an d left th e

‘
, ,
ro om .
Jo an somehow foun d herself doing as she was b i d .
Margaret returne d with her apro n full of a fl ow er i n g herb .
She m ade a deco ction an d to ok it to the b edside ; and b efore

,
giving it to the p atient to ok a sp o o nful herself an d smacked , ,

”
her lip s hyp o critically That is fair s aid h e with a .
, ,
feebl e attemp t at humour Why tis swe et and now tis .

,
’
,
’
”
b itter . Sh e en gage d him in conversatio n a s so on as he had
taken i t This bitter -sweet stayed b y him
. S eeing which .
she built on it as cards are b uilt : mixed a very little schiedam

i n the third sp o onful an d a littl e b eaten yok e of egg in ,
th e seventh And so with th e p atience of her sex sh e co axed

‘
his b o dy ou t of D eath s grasp ; and fi n a l l y Nature b eing ’
, ,
p a t ted on the b ack instead of kicke d under th e b ed set

, ,
Jorian K etel on his legs ag a in But the do ctress mad e them .
b oth swear never to tell a soul h er gu ilty dee d They .
woul d put m e in prison away from my ch il d ,

.
Th e simpl e that saved Jorian was c al led sweet feverfew .
She gathered it in his own garden Her eagle eye had seen it .
growing ou t of the window .
Margaret and J oa n then reached th e hermit s cave and , ,

’
,
pl aced their present on the little platform Margaret then .
applie d her m outh t o th e ap erture made f or t hat purp o se , .
and s aid : Holy hermit we bring thee b utter and eggs of ,

the b est ; and I a p o or d eserted g i rl wife yet no wi fe and
, , , ,
m oth er of the sweetest b ab e com e to pray th ee tel l m e ,

”
whether h e i s quick or dead tru e to his vows or f al se , .
A faint vo ice issu ed from th e cave Troubl e m e n ot

with the things of e arth b ut s end m e a holy friar I am , .
”
d yin g .
I s it e en s o p o or soul ?
’
Alas ! crie d Mar gar et .
,
”
Th en l et u s in to help thee .
S aints forb id ! Thin e i s a wom an s V o ice S end m e a ’

.
holy friar .
They went b ack as they cam e J o an could n ot help .
saying Are wom en i mp s o d arkne ss th en that they must

,
’
not com e anigh a dyi n g b ed ?

But Margar et was to o d eeply dej e cte d to s a y anything .
Jo an ap plie d rou gh consol atio n B ut sh e wa s not listene d .
to till s h e said : An d Jorian wi ll sp eak ou t ere l ong ; h e i s

”
j u st on th e b o il H e is very grateful to the e b elieve i t
.
, .
”
S eein g is b elievi n g replied Marg a ret w ith q uiet , ,
b itterness .
N ot b ut what he think s you might h ave s aved him with

’
som ethin g more ou t o th e co mmo n than yon A man o f .
m y inche s to b e cured W 1 feverfew says h e Why if ’
, .
,
’
there i s a s orry herb says h e Why I was thinkin g 0
, .
,
’
’
p ullin g a l l mine u p says h e I up an d tol d him rem edie s
, .
were no ne th e b etter for b eing f ar fetched ; yo u and feverfew -
cured him when th e gran d m e di cines cam e up faster than

,
they went down S o says I You m ay g o down o n your

.
,
four b ones to feverfew But i ndeed h e i s grateful at .

’
,
b ottom ; y ou are al l his thou ght and al l his chat B ut h e .
s e es Gerard s folk coming around y e and go o d friends and

’
, ,
h e said o nly last night

Well ?
H e made m e v ow n ot to te l l y e .
”
Prithee tell m e , .
A n if I tel l what little I know it

’
Well h e said : ,
‘
won t b rin g him b ack and it wi ll s et them all by the ears

’
, .
I wi sh I h ad m ore h eadp iece sai d h e ; I a m sore p e r pl exed ,

’
.
’
But l east said is so onest m en ded Yon i s his favourite .
”
word ; he com e s b ack to t from a m i le off ’
.
Margaret sh ook her head Ay we ar e wading in deep .

,
waters my p o o r b ab e and m e
, .
It was S aturday ni ght and no Luke .
P o or Luk e ! said Mar garet It was very go o d of .
”
him to g o on such an erran d .
H e is o n e ou t of a hundre d replied Catherine ,
w arml y .
M other d o y ou th i nk he wo ul d b e ki nd to li tt le
,
Gerard ?
542 THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
th e sam e fr a gm ent of th e wreck ; his pup il his p enitent his , ,
son in th e Church an d now for four hundred mile s his fellow

,
travell er in Chr ist ; an d to b e sh ak en off l ike d irt the fi r s t ,
opp ortunity with h arsh an d col d disdain

, Why worldl y .
”
he arts are no colder nor less trusty than this said h e ,
.
Th e only on e that ever real l y loved m e lies in a grave hard -
by . Fly m e fly to England man b orn without a heart ;

, ,
”
I will g o and pray over a grave at S evenb ergen .
Thre e hours later h e p assed Peter s cottage A tro o p of ’

.
noisy chil dren were pl aying ab out the do or an d th e hous e ,
had b een rep aired and a new o uthou se added ,

H e turne d .
his head hasti ly away not to disturb a p icture his memory ,
treasure d ; an d went to th e churchyard .
’
H e sou ght amo ng th e tomb sto ne s for Margaret s He .
coul d not fi n d i t H e coul d not b elieve they had g rudge d

.
her a tomb stone so sear che d th e churchyard all over again

,
.
Oh p overty ! stern p overty ! Po or soul tho u wert lik e

, ,
m e ; n o o ne was left that love d the e when Gerard was ,

’
g o n e fi
went into th e church and after kiss i n g th e step s
He , ,
praye d lon g an d e ar n estly for th e soul of her who se resting

place he co ul d not fi n d .
Comin g ou t of the church h e s a w a ve r y ol d man l o okin g

over th e littl e churchyar d gate H e went towards him an d .
,
asked him did h e live in th e place .
Four score an d twelve years m an an d b oy An d I , .
com e h ere every day of l ate holy father to tak e a p eep , , .
”
This i s where I lo ok to hid e ere l on g .
My s on can you tell m e where Margaret lies ?

,
” ’
Margar et ? There s a many Margaret s h ere .
Margaret Brandt Sh e was d au ghter to a learne d .
”
physi c ian .
As if I di dn t know th at said th e ol d m an p ettishly

’
, .
But sh e do esn t li e here Bles s y ou t h ey left this a lo ngful

’
.
,
while a go Gon e in a m om ent an d th e hou se empty What

.
, .
,
is sh e dead ? M arg a ret a P eter dead ? N ow onl y think on t ’

.
L ik e enow ; lik e eno w Th ey gr eat town s do terribly dis .
”
agree w i country folk
’
.
Wh at great to wns my s on ? ,
Well twas R otterd am they went to fr om here s o I

,
’
hear d tel l ; or wa s it Am sterdam ? Nay I trow twas ,

’
Rotterdam ? An d gone there to die !

Clement sigh ed .
Twa s not in her face now that I s a w And I can

’
, .
mo stly tel l Al ack there was a blo oming youn g fl ow er to

.
,
b e cut off s o so on and an ol d wee d lik e m e left standing still

, .
Well well s h e was a May ro s e yon ; dear heart w h at a

, , ,
winsom e s m il e she had and ,

Go d bl ess thee my s on said Cl ement ; farewell !, ,
and he hurried away .
H e reach ed the convent at sunset and watched and ,
prayed in the chap el for Jerom e and Margaret till it was long
p ast midnight and his so ul had recovere d its cold cal m
,
.
C HAPTER LXX X I V
( t h e I b ea t t b
TH E next day Sunday after m ass w a s a b ustling day at

, , ,
’
Catherine s house in the H o o g S t r a et The shop was now .
quite rea dy and Cornelis and S y b r a n d t were to op en it next

,
d a y ; their nam es were ab ove th e do or ; also their sign a ,
white lamb sucking a gilt sheep Eli had com e and b ro ught .
,
th em som e m ore go o ds from his store to give th em a go o d

start .Th e hearts of the p arents glowed at what th ey were
doing and the p air th emselves wal ke d in the garden to
,
geth er an d a greed th ey were sick of their old life and it was

, ,
more pleasant to mak e m oney than waste i t ; they vowed

t o stick to bu siness like wax
’
Their m oth er 5 quick an d .
ever watchful ear o verh eard this resolution throu gh an O p en

window and sh e tol d Eli
, The family supp er was to inclu d e .
Margaret and her b oy and b e a kind of inau gural feast , ,
at which go o d trad e advice was to fl ow from th e elders and ,
goo d wine to b e drunk to th e success of th e converts t o

Commerce from Agriculture in its unremunerative form
wil d o ats 8 0 Margaret had com e over to h elp her m oth er
.
i n law and also to sh ake o ff her own deep languor ; and b oth
-
,
their faces were as re d as the fi r e Presently in cam e Jo an .
with a sala d from J or i a n s gard en ’

.
H e cut it f or y ou Margaret ; y ou are all his chat ; I ,
shall b e j ealou s I told him you were to feast to day

. But -
.
oh ,
lass what a sermo n in th e n ew k er k l Preaching ? I
,
”
never h eard it till this day .
Would I had b een there then s aid Margaret ; ,

”
I a m dried up for want of d ew from h eaven .
W h y h e preach eth again this afterno on But mayhap

,
.
”
you are wanted h ere .
“
Not s h e said Catherine Come away y e g o if
, .
, ,
’ ”
y are minded .
”
Indeed said Margaret m ethinks I should n ot b e
, ,
’
such a damp er at table if I could come to t warm from a
”
go od sermon .
Then you must b e brisk ob s erved Joan S ee the ,

.
folk are wending that way and as I live there go e s the holy , ,
5 44 THE C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH
friar . Oh bles s u s an d save u s Margaret ; th e hermit ! We
, ,
forgot An d this active woman b ounded ou t of th e h ou se

.
,
a n d ran acro ss th e ro ad and stopp ed th e friar Sh e returne d , .
a s quickly There I was b ent on seein g him nigh

.
,
’
h a nd f
Wh at said h e to thee ?
S ays h e My dau ghter I will g o to him ere sun set
, , ,
’
G od willing Th e sweetest voice
. But oh my mistresses .
, ,
what thin ch eek s for a young m an an d great eyes n ot far , ,

”
fro m your colo ur M argar et , .
I have a great m i nd to g o hear him said Margaret , .
But my cap is not very clean and they w i ll al l b e there in ,

—
their sno w white mutches ”
.
Th ere tak e my h andkerchief ou t of th e b asket said ,
Catherin e ; you cannot h ave th e chil d I want him for my ,

”
p o or K ate It i s on e of her ill days
. .
M argaret replied by taking the b oy up stairs Sh e foun d .
Kate i n b ed .
How art thou sweeth eart ? N ay I n ee d not ask , , .
T h ou ar t in sore p ain thou s m il es t s o S ee I have b rought .

,
th ee on e thou lovest .
Two b y my way of counting

, Sai d Kate with an , ,
angelic smil e Sh e h ad a sp asm at that m om ent wo ul d have

.
m ade som e of u s ro ar lik e b ull s .
Wh at i n your lap ? , said Marg a ret answer i n g a ,
gesture of the sufferin g girl Nay h e is to o h ea vy and .

, ,
”
thou in su ch p ain .
I love h i m to o d ear to feel his weight was th e reply , .
Mar g aret to ok this opp ortunity and m ade her toil et , .
I a m for the kerk s ai d s h e to h ear a b eautiful preach er

, , .
K ate sigh ed And a minute ago K ate I was all a go g to

.
, ,
o that i s th e way w ith m e this month p ast ; up an d do wn

g ; ,
up an d down lik e th e waves of th e Z u y d er Z ee

, I d as lieve .
’
stay aside th ee ; s a y th e word !

Nay sai d Kate
, prith ee go ; and brin g m e b ack ,
every word W el l a day th at I cannot g o myself

-
.
”a
An d th e .
tears sto o d in th e p atient s eyes This decid ed M argaret ’

.
,
an d s h e kisse d K ate lo oke d un der h er l ash es at th e b oy an d

, ,
heaved a little sigh .
I trow I mu st not sai d s h e I n ever c o ul d kis s him , .
a littl e ; an d my fath er wa s d ead a gainst wakin g a chil d b y

’
day or night Wh en tis thy pl easure to wak e sp eak thy
.
,
”
aunt K ate th e two n ew words tho u hast gotten An d s h e .
went ou t l o okin g lo vi ngly over her shoulder an d shut th e

, ,
do or inau dibly .
Jo an you will l en d m e a hand an d p eel th ese

, ,
? sai d
Catherine .
5 46 TH E C L O I ST E R AND THE HE AR TH
And near ly th e whol e ce ntr al a i sle wa s chequ ere d with
light and shade in broken outlines ; th e shade s s eem ing
co ol er and m ore so othin g than ever shade wa s and the lights ,
l i ke p atch es of amb er di amon d an i m ate d with h eavenly fi r e .
An d ab ove fro m west to east the blue s k y vaulted the lofty

,
ai sl e and se em e d q uite clo se

, .
Th e sunny cap s of the wo m en m ade a s ea of w hi te

contrasting exquisitely with th at Vivi d va ul t of blu e .
For th e mi d aisl e hu ge a s it wa s was cramm ed yet

, , ,
quite still Th e words and the m ellow gentle earn est vo ice
.
, ,
o f t h e preacher h el d them mute .
M argaret stoo d sp ellb oun d at th e b eauty th e d evotion , ,
th e great c al m Sh e got b ehind a pil l ar in th e north

.
aisle ; an d there thou gh s h e coul d hardly catch a word a

, ,
sweet devotion al lan g u or crept o ver her at th e lovelin ess of

’
th e place and the preacher s mu sical voice ; a n d b al my oil
s eem ed t o trickl e over th e waves in her he art and sm o oth
them S o s h e leaned a gai nst the p i ll ar with eyes half clo sed
.
,
and all s eem ed s oft an d d r e amy Sh e felt it go o d to b e there . .
Presently s h e s a w a lady leave an excell ent place opp o site

to get ou t of the s u n which was i ndeed p ouri ng on her head
,
from th e win do w Mar garet went roun d softly b ut swiftly ;

.
and was fortunate enou gh to get th e place She was now .
b eside a p i ll ar of th e south ai sle and no t ab ove fi fty feet ,
from th e preacher Sh e wa s at hi s side a li ttl e b ehin d h i m

.
, ,
b ut coul d hear every word .
Her attention however was so on distracte d by the

, ,
shadow of a m an s head an d shoulders b ob b ing up and down

’
s o drolly s h e had som e ado to keep fr om smili ng .
Yet it w a s nothing essentiall y d r oll .
It was the s exton digging .
She found that out in a mom ent by lo okin g b eh i n d her ,
th rou gh the window to whence th e shadow cam e, .
N ow a s s h e w a s lo oking at Jorian K etel diggin g ; sud denl y

’
a ton e of th e preach er s voice fell up on her e a r an d her m i nd
s o di stinctly it s eemed l iteral ly to strike her and m a ke her
, ,
vibrate inside an d ou t .
Her hand went to her b o som s o strange an d su dden was ,
th e thrill Then sh e t u rne d round and lo oked at the

.
,
p reacher His b ack wa s t u rned an d nothi ng vi sibl e but his

.
,
to n sure Sh e sighed
. That tonsure b ein g al l s h e s a w
.
, ,
contradicted th e tone e ffectually .
Yet s h e now le aned a littl e forward with do wncast eyes ,
hop i n g for that accent a gain It d i d n ot come But the . .
whole voice grew strangely up on her It ro s e an d fell a s .
th e preacher warm ed ; and it seeme d to wak en faint echo es

of a thousan d happy m emories She woul d not lo ok to .
disp el the m elancholy pl easure th is voic e g a v e her .

THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
Presently in th e middl e of an elo qu ent p erio d the
,
.
preach er stopp ed .
Sh e almo st sighed ; a s o othin g mu sic had ended Coul d .
the sermo n b e ende d already ? No ; s h e lo oked roun d ; th e

p eople did n ot m ove .
A go o d many faces seemed n ow t o turn her way She .

.
looked b ehind her sh arply There wa s nothin g there . .
Startle d countenance s near her n ow eyed the preacher .
She follow e d their lo ok s an d th ere in the pulpit was a face , ,
as of a starin g corp se Th e friar s eyes naturally large and

.
’
, ,
made larger b y th e thinne s s of hi s cheeks were dilated to ,
sup ernatural size and glaring her way ou t of a blo o dless

,
face .
Sh e crin ge d an d turned fearfully roun d : f or s h e thou ght

there m u s t b e som e terrible thin g near her No there wa s .
nothing ; she was th e outsid e fi gu r e of the listenin g crowd .
A t this moment th e church fell into commo t ion Figure s .
got up all over th e b uilding and craned forward ; a gitate d ,
faces by hundred s gaz ed from th e friar to Margaret and ,
from Margaret to th e friar Th e turning to and fro of s o .
many cap s made a lou d ru stle Then cam e shrieks of 1

.
nervou s women and buzzing of m en ; and Margaret seein g

, ,
s o many eyes l evelled at her shrank t er r i fi e d b ehind th e ,
p i llar with on e scared hurried glance at th e preacher

, , .
Momentary as that glance w a s it cau ght in that strick en ,
face an expression that m ad e her shiver .
She turned faint and s a t down on a heap of chip s th e

,
workmen had left and burie d her face in her hand s

, The .
sermon went on a gain S he heard th e sound of i t ; bu t not

.
the sense She trie d to think b ut her min d was in a whirl

.
, .
Thought woul d fi x itself in n o shap e b ut this : that on that

pro digy -stricken face s h e h ad seen a lo ok stamp ed
-
An d .
the recollection of that lo ok n ow m ade her quiver from head

to fo ot .
F or that look wa s RE C O GN IT I O N .
Th e sermon after waverin g som e time ended in a strain

, ,
of exalted n ay feverish elo qu ence that went far to mak e

, , ,
the crowd forget th e preacher s stran ge p a u se and ghastl y ’
glare .
Margaret mingled hastil y with th e crowd an d went ou t ,
of th e church with them .
Th ey went their ways home But s h e turn ed at the door .

,
’
and went into th e churchyard ; to Peter s g rave Po or a s .
s h e was s h e h a d given him a slab and a headstone She s a t .
down on the slab an d kissed i t Then threw her apron over

, .
her head that no on e might distin guish her by her hair .
Father s h e said
, thou h ast often heard m e s a y I a m
,
wading in deep waters ; but now I b e gin to think Go d o nly

knows th e b ottom of th em I l l follow th at friar round the .
’
world b ut I ll s e e him at a rm s l ength

,
’
And h e sh all tell m e ’
.
why he lo oke d towards m e like a de ad man waken ed and no t

a so ul b ehind m e O h father ; you often praised m e here
.
, .
sp eak a wor d f or m e th er e For I a m wadin g in deep waters . .
Her father s tomb co m m ande d a side vi ew of the church

’
do or .
And on that tomb s h e s a t with h er fac e covered way , ,
l a y m g the holy preacher .
C HA PTER LXXXV I
tt b e Cl oi s t er a no t h e h ea r t h
TH E co ol church chequ ere d with su n b eam s and crowned

,
with h eavenl y p urple so othe d a n d ch arm e d Father Cl ement

, ,
a s it did M a rgar et ; an d m ore it carried hi s min d di re ct to ,
the Creator of al l go o d an d pure delights Then hi s eye fell .
on the great aisle cramm ed with h i s country folk ; a thous a n d

snowy cap s fi l i gr eed with gol d
, Many a hun dre d lea gues he .
ha d travell ed ; b ut seen nothin g lik e th em excep t snow In , .
the m orni n g h e had thun d ere d ; b ut this sweet af terno on

seem e d out of tune with threats H i s b owel s ye arn e d o ver .
’
that m ultitu de ; an d h e mu st tel l th em of Go d s love : p o or
soul s they hear d al m o st a s littl e of it from the p ulp it then a
,
days a s th e h eathen u sed H e t ol d t h em the glad tidi n gs o f

'
salvation Th e p eopl e hung up o n his gentle earn est tongu e

.
, .
H e w a s not on e of tho s e p reachers who keep gyratin g in

the pulpit like the weatherco ck on the steepl e H e moved .
th e hearts of others m ore th a n h i s own b o dy But o n the .
other hand h e di d not entirely n e gl ect tho s e who were in b a d

places An d presently w a rm with this them e that none of
.
, ,
all that multitu de might mis s th e j oyful tidi ngs of Christ s ’
l ove h e turned him to wards th e south ai sle

, .
And there in a stream of sunshine from the w i ndow was

, ,
the radi a nt face of Margaret Brandt H e g a z e d at it with out .
em otion It j u st b enumb ed him soul and b o dy

. .
B ut so o n the words di ed in h i s thro at and he tr embl ed a s ,
he gl a red at i t .
Th ere wi th her aub urn hair b athed in sunb eam s and

, ,
gli tterin g lik e the gloriol a of a saint and her face glowing ,
do u bly with i t s own b eauty a n d the sunshin e it wa s s et i n

, ,
s to o d hi s dead love .
She was le a ning very lightly a gain st a whi t e col u m n .
She was listening with tender downcast lashes , .
H e had seen her l isten s o to h im a hundr ed tim es .

THE C L O I ST E R AN D THE HEARTH
had changed him even m ore than his tonsure his short ha i r ,
sprinkled with premature grey and his cheeks thinne d and ,
p ale d by fasts an d Vi gil s .
”
My s on said Friar Clem ent softly , i f y ou keep any ,
m emo ry of tho se whom you l ay in th e e a rth prithee tell m e ,
is any Christian b uried inside the church n ear on e of the ,
p ill ars ?
Nay father sai d J orian
, here in th e churchyard l i e
, ,
b uried a l l that b uried b e Why ? .
No m atter Prithee tell m e th en where lieth M a rgaret

.
”
B ran dt .
Margaret Brandt ? An d J ori an st a red stup idl y at

the sp eaker .
She die d ab out thre e years a go and was b uried here ,

.
”
Oh that is anoth er m atter s aid Jorian ;
, that was ,
b efore my tim e ; the vi c a r coul d tell y ou lik ely ; if s o b e s h e ,
was a gentl ewo man or at th e least rich enou gh to p ay h im ,

”
h i s fee .
Al as my s on s h e was p o or ( an d p aid a h eavy p en al ty

, ,
for i t ) ; b ut b orn of d ecent folk Her fath er Peter w a s a .

, ,
learne d physician ; s h e cam e hith er from S evenb ergen to —

”
die.
Wh en Cl em ent had uttere d thes e words his head sunk

up on his breast an d h e s eem e d to have no p ower nor wish to
,
question Jorian m ore I d oub t even if he kn ew wh ere h e

.
wa s . H e was lo st in th e p ast .
Jorian p ut do w n his sp ade an d standing upright in th e ,
grave s et his ar m s akimb o an d said sulkily

, Are yo u , ,
makin g a fo ol of m e holy s i r or has som e wa g b een m aking a

, ,
fo ol of you !
An d h avin g relieve d his mind thu s h e p ro ceede d to di g ,
again with a certain vi gour that showed h i s som ewhat

,
irritabl e temp er wa s ru ffl ed .
Clem ent gazed at h i m with a p uzzle d b ut gently repro ach

ful eye f or the to ne was ru de an d th e words unintelli gib le
, , .
Go o d -natured thou gh crusty J orian had not thrown up

, ,
three sp adeful s ere h e b ecam e asham ed of it hi m self Why .

,
what a b as e churl a m I to sp eak thu s to thee holy father ; ,
and thou a standing th ere lo oking at m e l i k e a lamb Aha ! , .
’
I have i t ; t i s P eter Brandt s grave you woul d fain s ee not ’
,
’
Mar garet s H e do es lie here ;
. hard by the west do or .
Th ere ; I l l s h ow you
’
An d h e laid down his sp ade an d
.
‘
put o n h i s d oublet and j erkin to g o with the friar .
H e did not know there was anyb o dy sitting on P eter s ’
tomb . Stil l l ess that sh e was watchin g for this holy fri a r .
THE C L O I ST E R AND THE HEARTH 551
C HAPTER LXXXV I I
W H I LE J orian was putting on his d oublet and j erkin to go to
Peter s tomb his tongu e was not idl e
’
They u se d to call
, .
him a magi cian ou t S evenb ergen way And th ey do s a y h e .
’
gave em a touch of his trade at p arting ; tol d em h e saw ’
’
Margaret s la d a comin g d own Rhine in brave clothes and -
’
store 0 mo ney b ut his face scarred by foreign glaive and , ,
not alto gether so many arm s an d l egs as a went away w i ’

.
’
But dear heart nou ght cam e on t
, Margaret i s still weary
, .
ing for her lad ; an d Peter he lies as quiet as hi s n eighb ours ; ,
not b ut what s h e hath put a stone slab over him to keep him ,
”
where h e is : as y ou shall s ee .
H e put b oth hands on the ed ge of the grave an d was ,
ab out to rais e himself out of i t but the friar laid a trembling ,
hand o n his shoulder an d said in a strange whisp er ,
H ow l on g s i n ce Pe t e r Br a n d t
d i ed
Ab out two m onths Why ? .
A n d h i s d a u h t er b u r i e d h i m ,g s ay y ou
N ay I buried him b ut , , sh e p aid the fee and reared th e
stone Why ? .
T h en — b u t h e Ma r g ”
h ad bu t d a ug h t er
'
on e a r e t) l .
No m ore ; leastways that h e owned to , .
T h e n y ou t h i n k M a r ga r et i s —is a l i ve I
Think ? Why , I should b e dead else . Rid dl e m e
Alas how can I ? You love her ! ,
No more than rea so n b ein g a ma rr ied man and fath er , ,
of four more sturdy knaves lik e myself N ay the answer is .

, ,
she saved my life scarce s i x weeks agone Now had she b een .
dead s h e coul dn t h a kept m e alive Bless your h eart ’ ’

.
,
I couldn t keep a thing on my stomach ; nor do ctors

’
’
couldn t make m e ’
My Jo an says Tis time to b uy the e a .
,
shrou d I dare s a y s o tis says I ; b ut try and b orro w

.
’
,
’
,
’
on e fi r s t In comes my lady this M argaret which s h e die d

.
’
, ,
three years a go by your way o n t op ens th e windows m akes

,
’
, ,
’
em shift m e where I lay an d cures m e in the twinklin g of a ,
b edp o st ; b ut wi what ? there p inch es the sho e ; with th e ’
scurviest herb and out of my own garden t oo ; with sweet

, ,
feverfew A herb quotha tis a w eed ; leastways it was a

.
, ,
’
’
weed till it cured m e but now whene er I p ass my bunch I ,
’
d oh my b onnet and says I My service t y e Why how
' ’
, ,
.
,
now father you lo ok wondrou s pal e and now you are red
, , , ,
and now you are white ? Why what is the m atter ? Wh at , ,
i n Heaven s nam e i s the m atter ?

’
,
552 T HE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ART H
Th e surprise— th e j oy — the wonder— the fear gasp ed ,
Clem ent .
Why what i s it to thee ? Art thou of kin to Mar garet

,
Brandt ?
Nay ; b ut I kn ew on e that love d her well s o well her ,
d eath nigh kill e d him b o dy an d so ul An d yet thou sayest

, .
”
s h e l ives An d I b elieve thee
. .
Jo rian stared an d after a consi derabl e sil ence sai d very

,
gr avely Father you h ave ask e d m e m any qu estions an d I

, , ,
’
h ave answere d them truly ; now for our Lady s sake answer
m e b ut two D id you in very so oth know on e who love d this
.
p o or lass ? Where ?
Cl em ent was on th e p oint of revealing h i mself b ut h e ,
rem emb ere d Jerom e s l etter a n d shra n k from b e i n g call ed

’
by th e n am e he ha d b orn e in the world .
”
I kn ew hi m in Italy sai d h e , .
If yo u knew h im y ou can t ell m e h i s nam e s ai d J orian ,
cautiously .
His nam e was Gerar d E l i a s s oen .
Oh b ut this is strange
, Stay what m ad e thee s a y .
,
M argaret Bran dt was dead ?

I wa s with Gerard when a l etter cam e fr om M a rgar et
V an Eyck Th e l etter tol d him sh e h e l oved was dead and
.
b uried . L et m e s i t down f or my stren gth fai l s m e Foul ,

.
pl ay ! Fo ul play !
Fath er s aid J orian , I thank Heaven for s en d i n g the e ,
to m e . A y s i t y e do w n ; y e do lo ok l i ke a gho st ; y e fast
,
overmu ch to b e stron g My mind mis give s m e ; m eth i n k s I

.
hol d the clu e to th i s ri d dl e an d if I d o there b e two knaves , ,
in thi s town who se heads I wo ul d fain b atter to p iece s a s I do

this moul d ; an d he clenche d his teeth an d raise d h i s lon g
sp ad e ab ove h i s head a n d b rou ght it furiou sly down up o n
,
the heap s ever al tim es Fo u l play ? Yo u n ever said a

.
tru er word i your l ife ; an d i f you know where Gerard i s now

’
l o s e no tim e b ut show h i m th e trap th ey have l ai d for h i m

, .
Mine is b ut a dul l head b ut whil es th e slow hound p uzzl es ,
ou t the s cent— g o to
’
An d I do thi nk you an d I h a got h ol d
.
’
of two en ds 0 on e stick an d a m ai n foul on e , .
Jorian then after som e of tho se u sel ess preliminaries m en

,
of his class al ways de al i n cam e to the p oint of th e sto ry , .
H e h ad b een employed by th e burgomaster oi T er g ou to

rep air th e flo or of an upp er ro om in his hou se and when it ,
was al mo st done comin g su ddenly to fetch away his to ols

, ,
curio sity ha d b een excite d by som e l ou d word s b el ow an d ,
h e had lain do wn on his stomach an d he a rd th e burgom aster ,
t al kin g ab out a letter which Cornelis and S y b r a n d t were

minded to convey into the place of on e that a cert ain Han s
Memlin g w a s takin g to Gerard an d it s eem s the i r wi ll wa s
5 54 THE C L O IST E R A N D T HE HEARTH
him . A nd when I thin k that b ut for tho se two greedy , ,
lying knaves yon W insom e lad who s e life I saved might b e

, , ,
b y her side this day th e happiest he in Hollan d ; and th e sweet

lass that save d my lif e m ight b e sittin g with her cheek up on
, ,
’
her sweetheart s sho ul der the happ iest s h e in Holland i n ,
place of the saddest ; oh I thirst for their blo o d th e nasty , , ,
sneakin g lyin g co gging cowar dl y h eartless b owel les s

, , , , ,
how n ow ?
The m onk started wil dly u p livi d with fury an d de sp air , ,
an d rushe d hea dl on g fro m th e place with b oth h and s clenched

and rai se d on high S o terr i bl e was this in ar t ic ul ate burst of
‘
fury that J orian s p uny ire die d out at sight of i t an d he sto o d

,
’
l o okin g dism aye d af ter th e hum an temp est h e had launche d .
Whil e thu s ab sorb e d he felt h i s arm gr asp e d by a sm all ,
tremul ou s han d .
It was M argaret Brandt .
H e started h er coming th ere j ust then seem ed s o stran ge .
S he h a d waite d lon g on P eter s tomb ston e b ut the friar ’
did no t c om e S o s h e went into th e church to s ee i f he was

.
there still She coul d not fi n d him

. .
Presently goin g up th e south aisl e the gigantic shadow

, ,
of a fri a r cam e rap i dl y al on g the fl o or an d p art of a p ill a r

'
an d s eeme d to p as s throu gh her Sh e w a s near screaming ; .
’
but in a m oment re m emb ere d Jorian s sh adow ha d com e in
s o from th e churchyard ; an d trie d to clamb er out the n e arest
way . She di d s o b ut with s om e d i ffi cul t y ; an d b y that tim e
,
Clem ent was j ust disapp earing down the street ; yet s o ,
expressive at t i m es i s the b o dy as well as the face s h e co ul d ,
see he was greatly a gitated Jorian an d s h e lo oke d at on e .
another and at the wil d fi g ur e of the distant friar

, .
Well ? said s h e to Jori an trembling , .
Well s aid h e , yo u star tled m e How com e y ou here

, .
o all p eople
f ?
I s this a t i m e for idl e chat ? Wh at s ai d he to you ?

'
'
”
H e h as b een sp eak ing to you ; d eny it not .
Girl as I stan d here he aske d m e Whe re ab out you were

, ,
‘
b urie d in this churchy ard .
Ah !
I tol d him nowh ere tha n k Heaven : yo u were alive
, ,
and savin g other folk from the churchyard .
Well ?
Well the lon g an d the short is h e knew thy Gerard in
, ,
It al y ; and a letter cam e s ayin g y ou were dead ; and it b roke

’
thy p o or la d s heart L et m e s ee ; wh o was the letter written
.
by ? Oh by the dem oisell e V an Eyck

, That was h i s way .
'
of i t But I up and tol d him nay ; twas neither demoisell e ’

.
n or dam e that p enne d yon lie but Gh y s b r e c h t V an S wi et en , ,
a n d tho se foul knaves Cornelis and S y b r a n d t ; thes e c han g e d

,
TH E C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH 555
th e tru e letter for on e of their own ; I tol d h i m as how I s a w

the whol e v i l lainy done through a chink ; an d now if I have ,
not b een and tol d you !

Oh cruel ! cruel ! But h e lives
, The fear of fear s is .
gone Thank Go d !
.
A y lass ; and a s for thine enemies I have given them

, ,
a dig F or yon f riar is friendly to Gerard an d h e i s gone to

.
,
Eli s house methinks

’
For I tol d him where to h n d
,
.
Gerard s enemies an d thine and wow b ut he wil l give them

’
,
’
their lesson If ever a man wa s m ad with rage it s y on
. He , .
turne d black an d white and p arte d l i ke a sto ne from a sling ,

.
Girl there wa s thund er in h i s eye an d sil ence on his lip s

,
.
”
Made m e col d a did .
Oh Jorian what have yo u don e ?

, crie d Margaret
,
.
Quick ! qu ick ! help m e thither for th e p ower i s go ne all ,
ou t of my b o dy You kn ow him n ot a s I d o . Oh it you .

,
had seen th e blow he gave Gh y s b r ech t ; an d heard the fright

ful crash ! C om e save h im from wors e mischief ,The .
W ater is deep enow ; b ut not blo o dy yet ; com e !

H er accents we r e s o full of agony that Jorian spran g o ut
of the grave and cam e with her hu ddling on his j erkin a s h e ,
went .
But as th ey hurrie d alon g h e aske d her what on earth she ,
meant ? I talk of this friar an d you answer m e of ,
Gerard .
Man s ee you n ot th i s is G erard !

, ,
This Gerard ? what m ean y e ?

,
I m ean y on friar i s my b oy s father , I h ave waite d for ’

.
him lon g Jorian Well he is com e to m e at last

, . An d , .
thank Go d f or i t Oh my p o or chil d ! Q uicker Jorian .

, , ,
quicker !
Why thou art m ad a s h e ,S tay ! B y S t B avon y ou . .
,
wa s Gerard s face ;
’
twa s nou ght like i t ; yet som ehow
’ '
’
twa s i t
. Com e on ! com e on ! let m e s ee th e en d of thi s
. .
The end ? H ow m any of u s will live t o se e that ?

They hurrie d al on g in b reathle ss sil ence till th ey re ached ,
Ho o g S t r a et .
Then Jorian tried to reassure her You are making .
”
your own trouble said h e ; who says h e has gone thither ?
,
m ore likely to th e convent to weep and pray p o or soul Oh , .

,
curse d curse d villain s !

,
D id n ot you tell h i m where tho se V illain s b id e ?

”
A y that I did , .
Then quicker oh Jorian quicker , I s ee the hou se , , , . .
Thank Go d an d all the saints I shall b e in tim e to cal m him , .
’
I know what I ll s a y to him ; Heaven forgive m e ! Po or
C atherin e tis of her I think : sh e has b een a m other to me
’ ”
.
The shop was a corner hou se with two do ors ; on e i n th e ,

m ain stre et for custom ers and a hou se do or roun d th e
, ,
-
corner .
Margar et an d J orian were n ow with i n twenty yards of

th e shop when th ey h ear d a ro ar inside lik e a s of so m e wi l d
, ,
animal an d the friar b urst ou t white an d ra g in g an d went

, , ,
tearin g d own the street .
’
M ar garet s cream ed an d sank fainting on J or i a n s arm , .
Jori an shoute d after him S tay m adm an kn o w thy , , ,

”
friends .
But he was de af an d went hea dl on g shak ing his clenched , ,
fi st s high high in the air, .
Help m e i n go o d Jorian m o ane d M ar garet turning

, , ,
”
su ddenly c al m L et m e know th e worst ; and die
. .
H e supp orte d h er tremblin g limb s into th e hou se .
I t seem ed unn atural ly stil l ; n ot a sound .
Jorian s own heart b eat fast

’
.
A do or was b efore him u nl a t ched H e pu she d it softly , .
with hi s l eft hand and Margaret and he sto o d on the ,
threshold .
What they s a w there you shall so on know .
CHAPTER LXXXV I I I
’
Ir wa s sup p er -tim e Eli s fam ily were c ollected roun d the
.
’
b o ard ; Margaret only was missin g To Catherine s surprise . .
,
Eli s aid h e would wait a b it for her .
W h y I tol d her you wo ul d n ot wait for the duke

, .
Sh e is n ot the duk e ; s h e is a p o or go o d l ass that hath , ,
waite d not minutes b ut ye ars f or a graceless s on of mine , , .
You can p ut the m eat on th e b o ard a l l the sam e ; then we

’
can fall to without f a rther l o ss 0 tim e when s h e doe s
, ,
come .
The sm okin g dishes smelt s o savoury that Eli gave way .
Sh e will com e if we b egin said b e ; they al ways do , .
’
Com e s i t y e down Mistress J oa n ; y are no t here for a slave
There I hear a quick step— o fi co vers
, , ,
I trow b ut a gu e st
, .
, ,
”
and fal l to .
The covers w ere wi thdrawn and the knive s brandi shed , .
Then burst into the ro om n ot the exp ecte d M argaret b ut a , ,
D ominican friar livi d with rage , .
H e was at th e tabl e in a m oment in fro nt of Cornelis an d ,
S y b r a n d t threw h i s tall b o dy over the narrow table and with

, ,
two hands hovering ab ove th eir shrinkin g heads like ea gles ,
o ver a quarry h e c u 1 s e d them by nam e soul and b od y i n

, , ,
this world and the next It w a s an a ge eloquent in curses ; .

558 T HE C L O I ST E R AND THE HEARTH
h ou se ; then th ey l et him g o ; a n d he went va i nl y ra gi ng

a fter them ou t into th e street .
They were a fur lo ng ofi runnin g l ik e h a res , .
H e b a ck ed down the b o a rd on which their names were

written and b ro u ght i t indo ors and nung it into th e chimney
, ,
pl ace.
1
Cather i n e was sitting ro ck i ng herself wi t h h er apro n over

‘
her hea d J o an had run to h er h u sh and Margaret had her

. .
’
arms roun d Catherin e s n eck ; a n d p al e and p antin g was yet ,
m ak in g eff orts to co mfort h er .
B ut it was not to b e don e 0 my p o o r ch i l dren ! sh e .
O miser a ble m ot h er l T i s a m e rcy K ate w a s i l l

’
cried ,
w
.
u p st a irs . There I have live d to th ank Go d for that ! s h e

,
cried ; with a fresh b urst of sob s It woul d have kill ed h er .

’
H e had b etter h ave staye d in It al y as co m e h om e to curs e ,

”
h i s own fl esh an d bl o o d a n d s et u s al l b y th e ears .
”
0 hol d yo ur chat wom an
, cried Eli an grily ; , y ou ,
~
are still on th e s id e of th e ill -do er You are ch eap served ; .
your we aknes s m ad e th e ro g ues what they ar e I w a s for

c o rrectin g them in their youth : for sor e i ll s sh a rp remedies ; ,
b ut you still sided with their faul ts an d u nderm i ned m e an d , ,
b a tfl ed wis e s everity An d y ou M argaret l eave comforting

.
, ,
h er th at ou ght rather to comfort yo u ; for what i s h er hurt

to yours ? But s h e n ever had a grain of j ustice und er her
skin ; an d n ever will S o com e thou to m e that a m thy
.
,
father fro m t his hour .
This was a comm an d ; s o s h e kisse d Catherine an d went ,
totterin g to h i m an d h e put h er on a chai r b eside him and

, ,
s h e laid her feebl e head o n h i s honest breast ; b ut not a te a r :

it was to o deep for that .
”
P o or lamb s aid b e After awh ile
, Co me go o d .
,
folks said tru e Eli in a b roken vo ice to Jor ian and J o an

, , , ,
we ar e in a little troubl e a s y ou s ee ; but that i s no r easo n ,

’
you shoul d starv e F or ou r L ady s sake fall to ; an d add
.
,
not to my grief th e reputatio n of a chur l Wh at the .
dickens ! add ed h e with a su dden ghastly attemp t a t

,
stout-hearte dness the more knave s I have the luck to get

,
shut of the m ore my n ee d of tru e men and wom en to help

, ,
m e cle a r the di sh an d cheer mine eye with honest faces ab out

,
”
m e where els e were gap s Fal l to I do entreat y e .
-
, .
Cath erin e sobb ing b acked h i s request

, Po or simple
, .
, ,
antiqu e ho sp itabl e so ul s ! Jorian who se app etite es pecial l y

, , ,
sinc e h i s ill ness wa s V ery k een wa s for actin g on this h osp i t

, ,
abl e invitatio n ; b ut J o an whisp ere d a word i n h i s e ar and ,
he i ns tantly drew b ack Nay I ll tou ch no m eat that .

,
’
Holy Chu rch hath cursed .
In so oth I forgot s aid E l i ap olo getica lly

, , My son .
,
Wh o wa s rea red a t m y table hath curs ed my vi ctu al s Th a t , .

seem s strange Well , what Go d wills m an mu st b ow

.
,
”
to.
Th e supp er was flun g ou t into the yard .
J or i a n t ook his wife h om e an d heavy sadne ss reigne d in

‘
Eli s hou se that night

’
.
Meantime where wa s Clem ent ? ,
Lyin g at full l ength up o n th e flo or of th e convent church ,
with his lip s up o n the l owe st step of the altar in an i n d es cr i b ,
able stat e of terror misery p enitence and self ab asement : , , ,

-
throu gh all which stru ggle d gleam s of j oy that Ma rgaret wa s

al ive .
Night fell and foun d him l ying there weep ing an d prayin g
, ,
and m ornin g woul d have foun d him there to o ; b ut h e

su dde nl y rem emb ere d th a t ab sorb ed in his own wr on gs and ,
M argaret s h e had committe d another s i n b esides i n t em

’
p erate rage H e had neglecte d a dying man

. .
H e ro se instantly gr o anin g at his accumul ate d wicked ,
ness and set out to rep air th e omission

, Th e weather h a d .
ch anged ; it was rainin g h ar d an d when h e g ot clear of th e ,
town h e h eard th e wolves h aying ; they were on th e fo ot

, .
But Clem ent was himself a gain or nearly ; h e thou ght littl e ,
of danger or disco mfort havin g a sham eful omissio n of ,
religiou s duty to rep air : he went stoutly forward throu gh

rain and darkness .
An d as he went he often b eat his breast and cried , , ,
MEA CUL PA ! MEA C U L PA I
C HAPTER LXXX IX
W HA T that sensitive mind and tend er conscience and lovin g , ,
heart and religiou s soul went throu gh even in a few hours

, , ,
under a situ ation s o su dden and tremendou s i s p erhap s ,
b eyond the p ower of word s to p aint '

.
Fan cy yourself the man ; and th en put yourself in his place !

Were I to write a volum e on i t we shoul d have to com e to ,
that at last .
I shall relate his next two overt acts They indicate h i s .
state of mind after th e fi r s t fi er c e temp est of th e soul had

sub sided .
After sp ending the night with the dying hermit in givin g

and receiving holy con solations h e s et ou t not for Rotterdam
‘
, ,
but f or T er gou H e went there to confro nt his fatal enemy

.
th e burgom aster and by m eans of that p archment who se , ,
history b y the -b y was itself a rom ance to mak e him di s

,
-
,
g or g e ; and g ive M a rgaret h er own

5 60 T HE C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH
H eated an d du sty h e stopp e d at the fountain and th er e , ,
b egan to eat his bla ck brea d and dri n k of th e water But in .
th e middl e of his fru gal m e al a femal e s ervant cam e ru nning

an d b e gged hi m to com e and s h rive h er dying m aster He .
returne d th e b rea d to his wallet an d fo l lowe d her without a ,
word .
She took h i m — to the Stadth ou se .
H e drew b a ck with a littl e shu dder when h e s a w h er go i n .
But h e a lm o st instantly recovered hi m self and followed ,
her into th e hou se an d up th e stai rs An d th ere in b ed

, .
,
p ropp ed up b y p ill ows lay h i s dea dly enemy lo okin g a l ready , ,
lik e a corp se .
Clem ent eye d him a m om ent from th e do or and thou ght ,
of al l — th e tower th e wo o d th e l etter Then h e s a i d in a

, , .
low voice Pax vob i s cu m l

, H e tre m bled a little whil e h e
s ai d i t .
Th e sick man welcom ed him a s eagerly a s h i s we a k state

p ermitted Thank Heaven tho u art com e in tim e to
.
,
a b solve m e from my sins fath er an d pray for my so u l th ou , , ,

”
and thy b reth ren .
”
My s on said Cl em ent b efore ab solutio n com eth
, ,
conf ession In whi ch act th ere must b e no reservatio n a s

.
,
’
thou valu est thy soul s we al B ethi n k thee therefore .
, ,
wherein thou hadst m o st o f fende d Go d an d the C hurch whi le ,

”
I off er up a prayer for wisdom to di rect thee .
Cl em ent then kneele d a n d prayed ; and when h e ro s e

from hi s knees h e s ai d to Gh y s b r ech t with app arent cal m
, ,
”
ness My s on confess thy sins
, , .
”
Ah fath er s a i d th e sick man
, they ar e m any an d
, ,
Great then b e thy p enitence my s on ; s o shal t thou

, , ,
’ ”
fi n d Go d s m ercy great .
Gh y s b r e ch t put h i s hands to gether and b e gan to confess ,
with every ap p earance of contrition .
H e o w n ed h e ha d eaten meat l n m i d L en t H e h ad often ~

.
’
ab sente d him self from m ass on th e L ord s d ay an d s a ints ’
days ; an d had t r ifl e d with other religi ou s O b serv a n ces which ,

i
h e enum erate d with scrupul ou s fi d el t y .
Wh en h e had done th e fri a r said quietly T i s well my , ,

’
,
s on .Thes e b e faults Now to thy cr i mes Tho u hadst . .
”
don e b etter to b e gin with th em .
Wh y father wh at crim es lie to my account if the se b e

, ,
none ?
Am I confess i n g to thee or tho u to m e ? s ai d Clement ,
som ewhat severely .
Fo rgive m e father ! Why surely I to you , But I , .
”
know no t what you cal l crim es .
Th e seven deadly sins are thou cl ea r of th em ? ,

stay . I will co nfess a l l all I robb ed my friend Fl oris , . .
Al a s ! wo uld it ha d en de d there ; for h e l o st littl e by m e ;

b ut I k ep t the l an d fro m P eter his s on an d f rom Margar et , ,
’
Peter s dau ghter Yet I was al ways going to give it b ack ;
.
” ’
b ut I coul dn t I coul dn t
’
, .
’
Avar ice my s on av a rice
, Hap py f or thee tis n ot too
, .
No I w ill l eave it h er by will She w i ll n ot h ave long .
”
to wait for it now ; not a b ove a m o nth or two at farth est '
.
’
For whi ch m onth s p o sse ssio n thou woul dst damn thy
so ul for ever Thou fo ol !
.
The sick m an gro aned an d prayed th e friar to b e reason ,
abl e . Th e friar fi r m l y b u t g en t l y an d p ersuasively per

,
'
sisted an d with i n fi n i t e p atience detach ed the dy i n g m an s

,
’
rip e from another prop erty There were tim es wh en h i

’
g 5 s .
p atie mc e was tried an d he was on the p oint of th ru sti ng his

,
han d into h i s b o som an d pro du cin g th e deed w hi ch h e had ,
b rou ght fo r that pu rp o se ; b ut af ter yesterday 5 o utbre ak ’
h e was o n h i s g u ard a gainst choler ; an d to conclu de b e ,
con qu ered his imp ati ence ; h e conqu ered a p erson al r e

p u gn a n ce to th e m an so stron g as to m a ke his own fl esh
,
creep all th e tim e h e was stru gglin g with thi s miser f or h i s

soul ; an d at last wi thout a word ab out th e deed he wo n
, ,
up o n him t o m ak e full and promp t re stitution .
How th e resti tutio n was mad e will b e b r i efly rel ated

el sewhere : al so certain curiou s effects p ro duce d u po n Gh y s
b recht b y i t ; an d when and on what term s Gh y s b r ech t and
Cl ement p arte d .
I p romise d to relate two acts of th e latter in di cative of ,
his mind .
This is one The other is tol d in two words ;

.
As so on as he wa s quite sure Margaret h ad h er own an d

’
was a rich wo man

H e disapp eare d .
CHAPTER XC
IT was the day after that terribl e scen e : the littl e hou se in
th e Ho o g S t r a et wa s lik e a gr ave an d none m ore l i st l es s a n d ,
dej e cte d th an Catherine so b u sy an d sprightly ,
After dinner h er eye s re d with weep in g s h e went to t h e

, ,
co nvent to try an d soften Gerard and lay the fi r s t ston e at ,
l east of reconcil iation It was s om e t i rn e b efore s h e c ou l d

' ‘
mak e th e p orter understan d whom s h e was seeki ng : t
Eventu all y she learned he had l eft late last night ; an d wa s

not exp ected b ack She went sighin g wi th the n ews t o
.
Margaret Sh e found her sitting idl e like on e with whom

.
,
yl i f e had lo st its savour ; s h e ha d her b oy clasp ed s o tight in

her a rms as if h e was al l s h e had left and s h e feared som e
, ,
lone would tak e him t oo Catherine b e gged her to com e to .
the Ho o g S t r a e t .
What f or ? sighed Margar et You canno t but s a y .
to yourselves s h e is the cause of all

, .
Nay nay said Catherine

, , we are not s o il l h ear te d ,
-
,
and Eli s o fond o n you ; yo u will mayb e soften him .
’
Oh if you think I can do any go o d I ll come
, said , ,
Margaret with a weary sigh , .
They found Eli and a carp enter p uttin g up another nam e

in place of Cornelis and S y b r a n d t s ; and what shoul d that ’
nam e b e b ut Margaret Brandt s ’

.
With al l h er a ff ection for Margaret this went through ,
p o or Catherine like a knife Th e b ane of on e is another s .

’
”
m eat sai d s h e
, .
Can he m ake m e sp end th e mo ney unj u stly ? replied

Margaret coldly .
You are a go o d soul said Catherine Ay s o b est , .

, ,
sith h e i s th e strongest .
The next day Giles dropp ed i n and Catherine told th e ,
story all in favour of the black sheep an d invited his p ity ,
for them anathematized by their brother and turne d on th e

, ,
wi d e worl d by their father But G il es s p rej u dices ran the .

’
other way ; h e heard her ou t and tol d her bluntly the knaves ,
ha d got 0 1 1 cheap ; th ey deserved to b e hange d at Margaret s ’
do or into the b argain and di smissing them with contempt , ,
crowed with delight at the return of his favourite

'
I ll .
’
’
show him said h e , what tis to have a brother at court
,
”
wi th a heart to serve a friend and a head t o p oint th e way , .
”
Bl ess thee G i les m u rmure d Margaret softly
, , .
Thou wast ever his staunch friend dear Gil es sai d , ,
littl e Kate ; b ut alack I know n ot what thou canst do for ,

”
h i m now .
G i les had left th em and all was s a d and sil ent again , ,
when a well -dressed m an O p ened the do or softl y an d aske d ,
wa s Margar et Brandt here .
D ye he a r lass ? You are wanted

’
, said Cath erin e ,
b riskly . In her the Go ssip was indestru ct i ble .
”
Well mother said M argaret listlessl y
, ,
an d here I ,
am .
A s h u ffl i n g of fee t wa s heard at the do or and a colo u rless , ,
feeble ol d man was assisted into th e room It was Gh y s .
brecht V an S wi e t en A t sight of him Catherine shrieked

.
,
and threw her apron over h er head and Margaret shuddered ,
violently and turne d her head swiftly away n ot to s ee h i m

, ,
.
A feeble voice issu ed from t h e strange visitor s lip s ’
,
5 64 THE C L O I ST E R AND THE HEARTH
Go o d p eopl e a dyi ng m an hath co m e to ask yo u r forgive
,
ness .
Com e t o lo ok o n yo ur work you m ean sai d C atherine , , ,
takin g down her apron an d b ursting ou t sob b in g There .

,
”
there s h e i s fai nting ; l o ok to h er Eli quick
, , , .
N a y said Margaret in a feebl e voice th e si ght of him

, , ,
gave m e a turn that is al l Prithee l et hi m s a y his s a y and

, .
, ,
”
g o ; for h e”i s the murtherer of m e and mine .
Alas said Gh y s b r e ch t
, I a m t oo feebl e to s a y it ,
standing an d no one b idd eth m e s i t do wn

, .
Eli wh o had fo l lowed him into the hou se interfere d here

, , ,
an d said hal f sull enly hal f ap olo getic al ly

, Well b urgo , , ,
m aster tis not our wo nt to leave a visito r standing whil es

,
’
we si t But man m an you have wrou ght u s to o mu ch ill

.
, ,
.
’
An d th e ho nest fell ow s vo ice b egan to s h ak e with anger
h e fou ght h ard to contain b ecau se it was his own hou se ,
.
Then Gh y s b r ech t foun d an a dvo cate in on e who s eldom

sp ok e in vain in that fam ily .
It was littl e K ate Fath er m oth er sai d s h e my .

, , ,
duty to y ou b ut thi s i s n ot well ,D eath squ are s all .
a ccounts An d s e e you not d eath in h i s face ? I sh all not

.
live long go o d friends ; and h i s tim e i s shorter than

,
”
ml ne .
Eli m ade haste an d s et a chair for th eir dying enemy

with h i s o wn hands Gh y s b r ech t s attendants p ut h i m into
’
.
”
it. G o fetch th e b oxes sai d h e Th ey b rou ght in two , .
b oxes an d then retired leavi n g th e i r m aster al on e in the

, ,
family h e ha d s o cru elly inj ure d .
Every ey e w a s now b ent on him except Margaret s He ,

’
.
undi d th e b oxes with unstea dy fi n g er s an d b rou ght ou t of on e

th e titl e—
,
d eed s of a prop erty at T er gou This land an d .
thes e hou ses b elon ged to Floris Brandt an d do b elon g to ,
thee of right h i s granddau ghter These I did u surp for a

, .
d eb t l on g since defrayed with interest These I n ow restore .
th eir rightful o wner with p enitent tears In this oth er b o x .
are three hun d r ed an d forty golden an gels b eing th e rent ,
and fi n e s I have received from that lan d m ore than Fl oris

’
Brandt s deb t to m e I have k ept comp t still m eanin g to .
,
b e j ust on e d ay ; b ut Avarice withh el d m e Pray go o d .

,
p eople against temptation ! I w a s n ot b orn disho nest : yet

,
”
y ou s ee .
Well to b e sure ! crie d C atherine

, And you the .
burgom aster ! Hast whipt go o d store of thieves in thy day .
”
However said s h e on secon d thou ghts
, ti s b etter late , ,
’
th a n never What M argaret art deaf ? Th e go o d man

.
, ,
h ath b rou ght thee b a ck thine own Art a rich woman . .
Alack what a m ountain 0 gold !

’
,
Bid him k ee p land and gold and gi ve m e b a ck m y ,

5 66 TH E C L O IST E R AN D T HE HEARTH
hysteri cs over th e w eal th th at cam e t oo l ate to b e sh a red
wi th h i m s h e loved .
A li ttl e of this gol d a p ortio n of this l an d a ye ar or two

, ,
a go wh en it wa s a s much h er own as now ; an d Gerard

,
wo ul d h ave never l eft her side for Italy or any other place .
T oo late ! To o late !
C HAPTER XC I
N or m an y days after t h i s cam e th e news that M a rgaret

V an Eyck was dead an d b uri ed B y a will s h e had mad e .
a ye ar b efore s h e l e f t a ll her property af t er her funeral

, ,
exp ense s an d certain p resents to Reicht H ey n es to her dear ,
dau ghter Mar garet Bran dt requ esting h er to ke ep R eicht ,
a s lo ng as unm arried B y thi s will Mar gar et inh erite d a

.
fur ni she d ho us e an d p ictur es an d sketch es that in th e

,
pres ent day woul d b e a fo rtune : am on g th e p ictures was

on e s h e val ue d m ore than a gall ery of oth ers It r ep r e .
“
s ente d A B etroth al The s olem nity of th e cerem ony
.
w a s m a rk e d i n th e g rave face of th e m a n a n d th e demur e ,
compl acen cy of th e wom an S h e was p ai nte d al m o st .
entirely b y M argar et V an Eyck b u t th e rest of th e p icture b y ,
Jan Th e a ccessori es were exqu isitely fi ni s h e d an d rem ai n

.
,
a m arvel of skill to th i s day Margaret Bran dt s ent word .
to R eicht to stay in the hou se till su ch tim e a s sh e co ul d

fi n d th e he a rt to put fo ot in i t an d mi s s th e fa ce an d voice ,
that u se d to m eet h er there ; an d to tak e sp eci al c a re of th e

p ictur e in th e litt l e c u b b oor d ; m e a ni n g th e di p tych .
Th e ne xt thi n g was Luk e P eterso n cam e hom e an d

, ,
hear d that Gerard w a s a monk .
H e wa s li k e to g o m ad with j oy H e cam e to M argaret .

,
an d s ai d
N ever hee d mis t ress , I f he canno t m arry you I .
can .
You ? sai d Margar et Why I have se en h i m .

, .
”
But h e is a fri a r .
H e was my husb a n d an d m y b oy s fath er long ere h e

’
.
,
”
w a s a fri ar And I h ave s een h i m I ve s een h i m
.
,
’
.
’
Luk e was thoro u gh l y p uz z l ed I ll tell you wh at .
,
sai d h e ; I h ave g ot a cou sin a lawy er I ll g o and a sk .

’
”
h i m wh eth er you ar e m a rri e d or singl e .
Nay I shall a s k my o wn heart n ot a lawy er

, S o that , .
is yo ur reg ard f or m e ; to g o m a kin g m e th e town ta lk oh , ,
fi el
Th at i s d on e a lr ea dy wi th out a word fr om m e .
But not by su ch as seek my resp ect An d if you do i t .

,
”
never com e nigh m e again .
”
Ay said L uke with a sigh
, y ou are lik e a cl ove
, ,
”
to al l th e rest ; but y ou are a hardhearted tyrant to m e .
Ti s your ow n fault d ear Luke f or wo oing m e

’
That , , .
is what l ets m e from b ein g as k ind to you a s I desire Luk e .

,
my b onny lad listen to m e I a m rich n ow ; I can mak e

, .
my friends hap py thou gh not myself L o ok roun d the

, .
street lo ok roun d th e p arish

, There is many a qu ean in it .
fairer than I twi ce tol d an d not sp o il ed with w eepin g ,

.
Lo ok high ; an d tak e your choice Sp eak you to th e lass .
herself an d I ll sp eak to the moth er ; they shall n ot s a y the e

,
’
’
nay ; tak e my word for t .
“
I see what y e m ean said Luke turnin g very red , , .
But if I can t have your l ikin g I will n on e 0 your mo ney

’
,
’
.
I was your servant when you were p o or as I ; an d p o orer .

.
No ; i t y ou woul d liever b e a friar s lem an than an hone st

’
’
man s wife you are n ot th e wom an I to ok you for ; s o p art
,
we withouten m alice ; s eek you your comfort on y on ro ad ,
wh ere never a she did fi n d it yet an d for m e I l l live and die , ,

’
”
a b ach elor Go o d even m istress
.
, .
Farewell dear Luk e ; and G od forgive yo u f or s ayin g

,
”
th a t to m e .
F or som e days Margaret dr e aded al mo st a s mu ch a s s h e ,
d esired the comin g in t erview with Gerard

, She said to .
h erself I wonder not h e keep s away a whil e ; for s o

,
shoul d I However h e woul d h ear he wa s a father ; and

.
,
the desire to s ee their b oy woul d overcom e eve r ything .
And said th e p o or girl t o herself

, if s o b e that m eeting ,
d o e s not kill me I feel I sh all b e b etter after it than I a m

,
”
now .
But when d ay after day went b y and h e was not heard ,
oi a fre ezin g su sp icio n b e gan to crawl an d creep toward s her

,
m ind What if his ab sence was intention a l ? What if h e

.
had gon e to som e col d -blo o ded m onk s his fellows and they ,
had tol d him never to se e her m ore ? The convent had ere
this shown itself as m ercil ess to tru e lovers as the grave
itself .
A t this thou ght the very life s eem ed to die ou t of her .
And now for the fi r s t tim e deep indignation mingle d

at tim es with her grief an d appreh ension Can he h ave .
ever loved m e ? To run from m e a n d his b oy without a

’
word ? Why this p o or Luk e thinks more of m e than he

,
do es .
Wh il e her mind wa s in this state Giles cam e ro aring ,

-
.
I ve hit the clout ; our Gerard i s V icar of Gou da

’ ‘
A V ery brief sketch of th e dwarf s court life will ’

s u ffi c e
5 68 T HE C L O I ST E R AND THE HEARTH
to prep are the reader fo r h i s own account of this feat .
S om e m onth s b efore h e went to court his intelligence ha d

bud d ed H e himself d ated th e change from a certain 8 th
.
of June when swin ging b y on e hand al on g with the w eek s

’
, ,
wash i n g o n a tight rop e in the drying g round som ethin g ,
went crack insid e h i s head ; an d lo ! intel le ctual p owers

unchaine d A t court h i s shrewdness and blu ntness of
.
sp ee ch coupled with his gi gantic voice and his smal l stature

, ,
m ade him a Po wer : without th e last item I fear they wo ul d

h ave condu cte d h i m to that unp opul ar gy mnasium th e ,
g a l lows The youn g D u chess of Burgundy a n d M ari e th e

.
,
heiress app a rent b oth p etted him a s gre at l a di es have

, ,
p ette d dwar fs in a ll a ge s ; an d th e cour t p o et m elted b utter

b y the s i x-fo ot r ul e and p oure d enou gh of it down h i s b ack
,
to stew G ol i a h i n H e even a m p l ifi e d ver s i fi e d

. a nd , ,
enfeebled certain rou gh an d ready sentences dictate d by

G i les .
Th e centip edal prol ixity that resul te d went to E li by

letter thus entitl ed—
,
a
Th e h i g h a n d p u i s s a n t Pri n c es s M a r i e
of Bou r g og n e h er l y t el j a n t i l m a n h y s
c om p l a y n t of y Coor t , a n d
°
r a i s e of a r u s t i ca l l l y f e, v er s i fi ca t e d , a n d em a d
p p py r e
b y m e t h e l y t el j a n t i l m a n 8 ri g h t l ovy n g e
’
a n d ob s e qu i ou s s er v i t or , e t c .
But th e dwarf reached h i s clim a x by a h appy m ixture

of mind and m uscle ; thu s :
Th e day b efore a grand court j oust h e challen ged th e -
D uk e s giant to a tri al of strength

’
This challenge m ad e th e .
gr avest gr i n and arou sed exp ectation

, .
Gil e s had a lofty p ole pl ante d ready and at the app o inte d ,
hour went up it li ke a squ i rrel and b y stren gth of arm mad e ,
a right angl e with h i s b o dy an d s o rem ai ned ; then sli d ,
down s o quickly that the hi gh and puissant p rinces s

,
squ e a ked and hid her face in her hands n o t to s ee the demis e
, ,
oi. her p o cket -

Hercules .
The giant e fi e ct e d o nly ab out ten feet then l o oke d ,
ru efully up an d ruefully do w n and de scended b athe d in , ,
p ersp iration to argu e the m atter , .
It wa s no t th e dwarf s gr eater stren gth b ut h i s smal l er ’
b o dy .
Th e sp ectators rece ived thi s excu se with lou d derisio n .
There was the fact th e dwarf w a s great at m ountin g a p ole

,
th e giant o nly great at excu ses In short Giles had gau ged .
their intel lects ; with h i s own b o dy no doub t .
Com e said h e an y e go to that I ll wrestl e y e my

, , ,
’
lad if s o b e yo u will let m e blin dfold yo u r eyn e

, .
5 70 THE C L O I STER AND THE HEARTH
’
a b it m esdam es sai d s h e and thou sp e ak wi th outen fear ;
, , ,
f or s h e s a w I was in s a d earnest .
I b egan to qu a k e a b it ; for mind y e sh e can do ti ,
fr eedo m an d d on di gni ty quicker than s h e can sli p ou t of h er

dressin g gown into kirtl e of state
-
But I m ade my voice s o .
s oft a s ho ney ( wh erefore and I sai d M adam on e , ,
evenin g a m atter of fi ve years a gon e a s y e s a t with your

, ,
mother the Countess of Ch a r ol oi s who i s now in he aven

, , ,
wors e lu ck yo u wi your lute an d s h e wi her tap estry or

,
’
,
’
,
th e lik e do y e mi n d there cam e in to y e a fair youth with —

,
a letter f r om a p ai nter b o dy o n e Margar et V an Eyck ? ,
Sh e sai d she thou ght s h e di d Was it n ot a tal l youth .
excee di ng com ely ?

A y m a d a m s ai d I ;
, h e w a s my b rother
,
’
.
’
Your b roth er ? s ai d s h e a n d di d eye m e lik e al l over ,

.
( Wh at do st smil e a t ? )
S o I tol d h er all that p ass ed b etwe en her an d Ger ar d
an d ho w s h e w a s f or g ivi n g h i m a b ishop ri c ; b ut th e go o d
countess said Gently Marie l h e i s to o youn g an d with th at
, ,
they di d b oth promise hi m a living : Yet sai d I h e hath ,

’
,
’
b e en a priest a lo n g whi le an d n o l ivin g Hence my b i l e , . .
Al as ! s ai d s h e tis not by my go o d wi ll ; f or a l l thi s

,
tho u hast sai d is so oth an d more : I d o rem emb er my d ear ,

”
m other sai d to m e S ee tho u to it i f I b e not h ere
,
So .
then s h e cried out Ay dear mother n o word of th i ne shal l

, , ,
’
ever f al l to th e g roun d .
I s eein g her s o rip e s ai d quickl y

, M adam th e V icar , , ,
of Gou da di e d l ast week ( For when y e seek favo u rs of the

’
.
great b ehove s y e know the very th in g y e aim a t )

,
.
’ ’
Then thy b rother is vi car of Gou da qu o s h e so , ,
s ure a s I a m h eires s of Bur g u n dy an d th e N eth erl ands .
Nay thank m e n ot go o d G i l es quo s h e

, b ut my go o d
, ,
’ ’
m oth er And I d o th ank th ee for gi vi n g of m e s om ewh at

.
’ ’
to do f or her m em ory An d do e sn t sh e fall a weeping for .
’
her m other ? An d do esn t that s et m e off a snivelling f or-
my go o d b rother th at I love s o d ear an d to think th at a p o or ,
littl e el f l i k e m e co ul d yet sp eak in th e ea r of p rinces and ’

,
mak e my b eautif ul brother vi car of Gouda ; eh lass it i s a , ,
b onny place an d a b onny m ans e and h awthorn in every

, ,
b ush at sprin g tide an d d og-roses an d egl antin e i n every

-
,
summ er hed ge I know what the p o or fo ol a fi e ct s l eave

.
,
that to m e .
Th e dwarf b egan h i s narrative struttin g to and f r o b efore

Mar garet but h e ende d it in h er arm s ; for s h e coul d n ot
,
contain herself b ut cau ght h i m an d emb race d h i m warmly

, ,
.
”
Oh G i les
, s h e said blushi n g an d kissin g h i m
, I , , .
cannot keep my han ds off thee thy b o dy it i s s o little an d , ,
thy he a rt s o great Th ou art h i s tru e fri end . B l es s thee l .

bl ess th ee l bless thee l Now we shall s e e him again We .
”
have not s et eye s on him since that terribl e day .
Gram ercy b ut that is stran ge said Giles , Mayb e , .
he is a sha m ed of h aving curse d tho se two va g a b on e s b ein g ,
ou r ow n fl e s h an d blo o d wors e luck , .
Think you that is wh y h e hides ? sai d Margaret

eagerly .
A y if h e i s hiding at all
’
, However I ll cry him by .

,
”
b ellman .
Nay that might mu ch off en d him

, .
W hat care I ? I s Gouda to go vi c a r l es s and the mans e

in nettles ?
’
An d to Margaret s secret satisfaction Gil es had the n ew ,
Vicar cried in Rotterdam and th e n eighb ouring town s H e .
easily p ersu aded Margaret that in a day or two Gerard woul d

b e sure t o h ear and co m e to his b en efi c e , She went to lo ok .
at his manse and thou ght how comfortabl e it might b e made

,
for him and how dearly s h e shoul d love to do i t

, .
But th e days rolled ou and Ger ard cam e neither to ,
Rotterdam nor Gou da Giles was m or t i fi e d Margar et .

,
indignant an d very wretch ed

, Sh e said to herself Think .
,
ing m e dead he come s hom e an d now b ecau se I a m alive

, , , ,
”
he go es b ack to Italy for that is where h e has gone , .
Jo an a dvised her to consult th e hermit of Gouda .
”
Why sure h e i s dead b y this tim e
,
.
Yon on e b elik e But the cave is never long void ;

, .
’ ”
Gouda n e er wants a hermit .
But Margaret decline d to g o a gain to Gouda on su ch an

errand . Wh at can h e know shut up in a cave ? l ess than ,
’
I b elike
, Gerard hath gone b ack t It al y
. H e hates m e .
for n ot b eing dead .
Presently a T er govi a n cam e in with a word from Catherine

that Gh y s b r ech t V an S w i et e n had seen G erard later than
any one else On this Margaret determined to g o and s ee
.
the hou se and go o ds that had b een l eft her an d take R eicht ,
H ey n es hom e to Rotterdam An d as may b e supp o sed her .

,
step s took her fi r s t to Gh y s b r ech t s h ou se She foun d him ’

.
in his garden seat ed in a chair with wheels

,
H e greeted .
her with a feebl e voice b ut cordially ; and when sh e asked ,
him whether it was tru e he had seen Gerard since the fi f t h

of Au gu st h e replied ,Gerard n o m ore but F r i a r Clement
, , .
A y I s a w him ; and blessed b e t h e day he entered my hou se

,
.
H e then rel ated in his ow n words his interview with

Clement H e tol d her more over that th e friar had after
.
, ,
wards acknowledge d h e cam e t o T er g ou with the missin g

deed in his b o som on purp o se to make him disgorge her land ;
but that fi n d i n g him disp o sed toward s p enitence he had gone ,
to work the other way .

5 72 T HE C L O I ST E R AN D T HE HE A R TH
Was n ot t h i s a saint ; who cam e to ri ght th ee b ut must ,
n e eds save h i s enemy s so ul i n th e do ing i t ? ’
T o her question whether he had rec o gniz e d h i m he said , , ,
I ne er susp e cte d su ch a thi ng Twas onl y when he ha d

’
.
’
b een thre e days wit h m e that he reve al ed him self Listen .
w h il e I sp eak my sh a m e an d his praise .
I said to him Th e lan d 1 8 go n e hom e an d my sto mach ,

‘
,
feel s l ighter ; b ut there i s an oth er fa ul t that cl i n g et h to m e

still ; th en tol d I h im of the letter I had writ at requ est of
’
his b rethren I who se place it wa s to check them

, S aid I .
,
Yo n l etter was writ to p art two lovers and th e devi l aidin g , ,
it hath d on e th e foul work L and an d hou s es I c an give .
b ack b ut y ou mischief i s do ne f or ever

,
Nay qu oth h e .
’
,
’
,
not for ever b ut for li f e Rep ent it then whi le thou

, .
livest .I shall said I b ut how can Go d forgi ve i t ? I

’
,
’
wo ul d n ot s a id I were I H e
,
’
, .
’
’
Yet wi ll H e certai nl y forgive i t quoth h e ; for H e i s ,
ten tim es more forgi vin g than I a m and I forgive the e I , .

’
stare d at h i m ; an d th en h e s a i d softly b ut qu aver i ng lik e , ,
Gh y s b r ech t lo ok at m e clo ser I a m Gerar d th e son of

, .
,
Eli .
’
An d I lo oked an d lo oke d an d at last 1 0 ! it wa s , , ,
Gerard V erily I ha d fall en at h i s feet with sham e an d

.
contrition b ut h e woul d not suff er m e

, Th at b e cam e not .
min e ye ars an d his for a p a rticul ar fa ul t I s a y not I , .
forgive thee without a stru ggle s aid h e n ot b eing a s aint ,

’
,
.
But thes e three d ays thou hast sp ent in p e n iten ce I h ave ,
worn under thy ro of in p rayer ; an d I do forgive thee .

’
”
Tho se were hi s very words .
M argar et s tear s b egan to fl ow for it was in a broken an d

’
contrite vo i ce th e ol d m an tol d her thi s unexp ect e d trait in

her Gerard H e co ntinu ed . An d even with that h e b ad e ,
m e farewell .
My work h ere i s do ne now s ai d h e I had n ot th e ,

’
.
heart to stay hi m ; for let hi m forgive m e ev er s o the sight ,
of m e must b e wo rmwo o d to h i m H e l eft me in p eace an d .

,
m ay a dying m an s bl es sin g wait o n h i m g o where h e will ’

,
.
Oh g irl wh en I th i nk of his wro ngs and th in e and how he

, , , ,
hath aven ge d hi mself b y savi n g th is stain e d soul of mi ne ,
my heart is b rok e n w ith remorse an d the se ol d eye s she d ,
te a rs by ni ght an d day .
”
Gh y s b r e ch t sai d Mar garet weep in g since he hath for
, , ,
g iven th ee I for give th ee to o : what is do ne i s do ne an d tho u

,
h a s t l et m e know thi s day that which I had w alked the worl d to

hear .But oh b urgom aster thou art an un derstandin g m an
, , ,
”
now help a p oor w om a n which hath forgiven thee her mi sery ,
.
”
She then tol d h i m al l that had b efall en And sai d .
,
she , they w il l not k eep the li vin g for h i m for ever H e b ids .
fair to lo se that as wel l a s b reak all our ,

5 74 T HE C L O ISTER AND THE HE ARTH
the do ctor th at cure s al l hurts a b onny lass H e al so b ad e , .
her ob serve h e b ore her n o mal ice for h e wa s p ayin g her a ,
Visit sore a gainst hi s wi l l Wh erefore prith ee sen d away .

,
th ese dru nkar ds and let y ou an d m e h ave t other gl ass to

,
’
,
”
drown a ll unkindness .
All thi s tim e Marg a ret was p al e an d re d b y turn s at si ght

of h er enemy and a t h i s insolenc e ; b ut on e f of th e m en
-
whisp ered wh at had happ ened an d a streaky som ething in ,
S y b r a n d t s fac e arreste d her attention

’
.
An d he canno t stan d u p s a y you ? ,
A co ul dn t j u st n ow Try co mrade ! B e a m an
’
.
,
now !
I a m a b etter m an than thou ro are d S y b r a n d t I ll , .
’
’
stan d up an d fi gh t y e a ll for a crown .
H e starte d to h i s fe et an d instantly roll ed into hi s ,
attendant s arm s with a p iteo u s gr o an H e then b egan to

’
.
curs e hi s b o on comp ani on s a n d decl are they had stolen ,

”
away his legs H e co ul d feel nothin g b elow th e waist
. .
”
Al as p o or wretch
,
said Marg ar et S h e turned very
, .
gravely to the m en an d said L eave h im h ere

,
An d i f you , .
h ave brou ght h i m to this g o on your knee s for you have , ,
spo il ed him fo r life H e will never walk again ; h i s b ack i s

.
b roken .
Th e dr u n ken m an cau ght these words an d th e fo olish ,
lo ok of intoxicatio n fle d an d a glar e of an gu i sh to ok i t s place

,
.
”
Th e curs e h e gro aned ;, th e curs e !
M argar et and R eicht H ey n es carrie d h i m c a re f u lly an d ,
laid him on th e softest b ed .
I mu st d o a s h e woul ”
d do whisp ered M a rgaret , .
wa s ki nd to Gh y s b r ech t .
Her O p inion w a s v er i fi e d S y b r a n d t s sp in e w a s fat al l y .

’
inj ure d ; a n d h e l ay gro aning an d helpl ess fe d an d tende d b y ,
her h e had s o deeply inj ured

Th e n ews wa s sent to T er g ou an d C atherine cam e over
.
.
,
It was a terri bl e bl ow to her Moreo ver s h e accu se d .

,
herself a s th e cau se Oh fal se w ife ; oh we ak m other

.
, , ,
s h e cried
”
I
. a m ri ghtly punish ed for my treason to my
p o or Eli .
She sat for hours at a tim e b y his b edside ro ckin g herself

in sil ence an d was n ever quite herself a gain ; and the fi r s t
,
grey hairs b e gan to com e in her p o or hea d from that hour .
As for S y b r a n d t al l h i s cry wa s now for Ger a rd

, H e u se d .
to whine to Margaret lik e a su ff erin g hound Oh sweet , ,
M argaret oh b onny Margaret f or ou r L ady s s ak e fi n d

, , ,
’
G erar d an d b id him tak e h i s curse off m e

, Thou are gentl e . ,
thou art go o d ; thou wilt entreat f or m e an d h e wil l refu se ,
the e n ou ght ”
C atherine shar e d his b elief that Gerar d co u l d
.
cure him and j oined her e ntreatie s to h i s

, Margaret har dly .
needed this The b urgom aster and hi s a gents having fail ed
.
,
s h e employed her own an d sp ent m on ey lik e water An d, .
am on g these a gents p o or Luke enroll e d himself She m et .
him on e day lo oking very thin and S p oke to him comp assion ,
ately . On this he b egan t o blubb er and s a y he wa s m ore ,
miserable than ever ; h e woul d l i ke to b e go o d friend s a gai n

U po n al mo st any term s .
D e ar heart said Mar garet sorrowfully , why can y ou ,
not s a y to yourself now I a m her littl e b rother and s h e is

, ,
my old m arried sister worn d own with care ? S ay s o and

, , ,
I wil l indul ge thee and p et thee and m ake thee happier , ,
than a prince .
Well I w i l l sai d Luke s avagely

, so oner th an keep
, ,
away from you al to gether But ab ove all give m e som e .
Perchance I m ay have b etter luck thi s time

,
”
thing to d o . .
Get m e my m arriage lines said Mar gar et turning s a d , ,
a nd glo omy in a mom ent .
That is as mu ch a s to s a y get m e h i m for where they ,

”
are h e is
, .
Not s o H e may refu se to com e nigh m e ; b ut certe s

.
he will n ot d eny a p o or wom an who love d him once her , ,
lines of b etrothal How can s h e g o without them into any

.
honest m an s hou se ? ’
I ll get them you if they are in Holland said Luke

’
, .
”
They are a s like to b e in R ome replie d Margaret , .
Let u s b e gin with Holland ob serve d Luke prudently , .
Th e slave of l ove w a s furnish e d with m oney by his soft

tyrant a n d wandered hither and thither co op ering and
, , ,
carp entering and l o okin g f or Gerard , I can t b e wors e if .

’
I fi n d the va g a b on e s aid h e and I m ay b e a hantle

”
, ,
b etter .
The m onths rolled ou an d S y b r a n d t improved in S p irit ,
but n ot in b o dy ; he was Margaret s p ensioner for life ; an d ’
a lon g exp ecte d sorrow fe l l u p on p o or Catherine an d left

-
,
h er still more b owed d own ; an d s h e lo st her fi n e hearty

b u stling way an d n ever went ab o ut th e ho us e sin gin g no w ;
,
and h er nerves were shaken and s h e lived in dread of som e ,
terr i ble misfortune f al ling on C o rnelis The curse was laid .
on him as well as S y b r a n d t .
S he prayed Eli if s h e had b een a faithful p artner all

,
these years t o tak e Cornelis into his hou se a gain and let h er
, ,
live awh i l e at Rotterdam .
I have go o d dau ghters here said s h e ; but Marg a ret ,
is s o tender and thou ghtful an d th e littl e Gerard h e is my

, , ,
j oy ; he grows lik er his father every day and h i s prattle ,
cheers my h eavy heart ; and I do love children .
And Eli sturdy but kin dly consente d sorrowfu l ly

, , .
An d the p eople of Gou da p etitioned the duk e for a vicar ,

5 76 T HE C L O I ST E R AND T H E HE ARTH
a r e al vicar O ur s com eth n ever ni gh u s s aid they

.
, ,
this s i x m onths p ast ; o ur ch il dren they di e unchr istened ,

”
an d our folk u nb urie d except b y som e chance comer , .
Gil e s i n fl u en c e b a ff l e d this j u st compl ai nt once ; b ut a s econ d

’
p etiti o n was prep ared an d h e g ave Marg a ret littl e h Op e ,
that th e p resent p o sitio n coul d b e m aintaine d a sin gl e day .
S o then Margar et went so rrowf u ll y to th e p retty m anse

to s ee it for th e l ast tim e ere it shoul d p ass for ever into ,
stranger s han ds
’
.
I think he wo ul d have b een happy here s h e s ai d an d , ,
turne d hear t sick away -

.
On their return R ei cht H ey n es prop o sed to h er to g o an d

,
cons ul t th e herm it .
Wh at s ai d Mar garet
, J o an h a s b een at y ou Sh e , .
i s th e on e for herm its I ll g o i f t i s b ut to sh ow the e th ey

.
’
,
’
know no m ore than w e d o An d th ey went to the cave . .
It was an excavation p a rtly n atur al p ar tly ar t i fi ci al , ,
in a b ank of ro ck over gro wn b y b rambl es Th ere w a s a .
rou gh sto n e do or o n hi nges an d a littl e win dow high u p , ,
an d two ap ertures thro u gh on e of which t h e p eopl e a n

,
n ou n c e d their gi fts to th e hermit a n d p ut qu estio ns of a l l ,
s ort s to him ; an d when h e cho s e to answer h i s vo ice cam e ,
dissonant an d m on stro u s o ut at an oth er smal l ap erture .
On th e face of th e ro ck this l in e was cut
t el i g qui i n D omi no ni rus ah or b e f ug tt .
Mar g ar et ob s erve d to her comp a ni o n that this wa s n ew

since s h e w a s here l ast .
”
Ay sai d R eicht
, l i ke enou g h ; an d l o oke d up at it
,
with awe Writin g even o n p ap er s h e thou ght no t r i fl e ;

.
b ut on ro ck !
Sh e whisp ered Ti s a far h olier herm it th an th e l ast ;
,
’
h e us e d to co m e in the to wn n ow and then but thi s on e ne er ,

’
”
shows his face to mort al m an .
An d that i s holin ess ?

”
Ay sure , .
Th en what a s aint a do rm ou se mu st b e ?
Out fi e mistress
, Woul d y e even a b east to a m an ?
, .
”
Com e R eicht s ai d M argaret
, my p o or father
, ,
S o I wi ll e en s i t here an d l o ok at
’
tau ght m e overmu ch .
,
the mans e on ce m ore G o th ou forward an d q uestio n thy

.
solita ry an d tel l m e wh ether y e get no ught or nonsense ou t

,
’
of him for twil l b e on e
, .
As R eicht d r ew n ear the cave a numb er of b irds fl ew ou t

of i t . S h e gave a littl e scream and p ointe d to the cave ,
to sh ow Mar garet they had com e thence Ou t hi s Margar et .
felt s u r e th ere wa s no hum an b ein g in t h e c av e a n d gave t h e ,

5 78 TH E C L O I STER AN D THIZ HEARTH -
o ut b ut at n ight an d praye d amon g th e wolves an d they

, ,
n ever m olested h i m ; a n d how he b ade th e p eople not b ring

him s o much fo o d to p amp er his b o dy b ut to b ring h i m ,
can dl es .
The can dl es are to b urn b ef or e h i s saint wh isp ered ,
R eicht solemnl y .
A y l ass an d to rea d hi s holy b o oks wi A neighb our ’
, .
o mine s a w hi s han d com e out and th e b irds s a t thereo n and

’
p ecke d crumb s Sh e went for to k iss i t b ut th e holy m an

.
,
w h i p p i t it away in a trice
’
They can t ab ide a wo man to .
’ ” ’ ’
touch em or even lo o k at em saints can t
, , .
What lik e was his hand wife ? D id you ask h er ? ,
What is my to n gue for el s e fZ Why de a r he art a ll o n e , .

, ,
”
as ourn ; b y the s am e token a had a thumb an d t our fi n ger s .
,
.
Lo ok y e th ere now .
But a deal whi ter nor yo u rn and m ine .
”
Ay , ay
An d m ain skinny .
”
Al as .
W hat co ul d y e exp ect ? W h y a live up on air and , ,
prayer ; and can dl es .
Ah well continue d J o an ;
”
, , p oor thi ng I wh i l es think ,
'
’
t i s b est for her to know th e worst An d now s h e h ath _
gotte n a voice from heaven or alm o st a s goo d and b ehove s , ,
her p ray for h i s soul O ne thi ng s h e is not s o p o or now

.
,
a s s h e wa s ; an d never fell rich es to a b etter hand ; an d s h e ’
i s o nly co m e into her own for that m atter s o s h e can p ay ,

”
the priest to s a y m asses for him and that is a great comfort , .
In the midst of their go ssip Margaret i n who se cars it , ,
was al l b uzzing thou gh s h e se eme d lo st in thou ght go t

, ,
softly u p a n d crept away with h er eyes o n the g round an d

, ,
h er b rows b ent .
She hath forgotten I a m with h er said R eicht H ey n es ,
rueful ly .
Sh e had her go s sip ou t with J o an and then went hom e .
She found Marg a ret s eate d cuttin g out a p el iss e of grey

cloth and a cap e to m atch
, Littl e Gerar d wa s stan di ng at .
h er si de i nside her l eft arm eyeing the work and maki n g it

, , ,
more d i ffi c ul t by wri g gl in g ab out and fi n g er i n g th e arm with ,
which s h e h el d the cloth steady to al l whi ch s h e sub m itte d ,
with imp ertur b abl e p atience and complacency Fancy a , .
mal e workm an s o entan gl ed imp eded worri ed ! , ,
Ot s th at m ammy ?
’
,
A p elisse my p et , .
Ot s a p liss e ?
’ ’
” ’
A gr eat fro ck An d this is the cap e to t . .
Ot s it for ?
’
To keep h i s b o dy fro m the col d ; and th e cap e i s for h i s

shoulders or t o g o o ver hi s head like th e countr y fo l k

, Tis .
’
f or a h ermit .
’
Ot s a ermit ’
.
”
A h oly man that lives in a cave al l by him self .
In d e dark ?
”
A y whil es ,
.
Oh .
In the mo rnin g Reicht was sent to th e h ermit with th e

p elisse and a p ound of thi ck can dl es
, .
As s h e was going out of th e do or Ma r ga r et s a i d to her

'
S aid y ou who se son Gerard was ?

”
Nay n ot I , .
Think girl ! How coul d h e cal l him Gerard son of Eli

, , ,
if you had not tol d him ? ‘
R eicht p ersisted s h e had never m ent i one d him bu t a s

pl ain Gerard But Margaret tol d h er fl a t l y she did not b elieve
.
her ; at which R eicht was a ffronted an d went ou t with a ,
littl e to ss of th e h ead However s h e determined to qu estion .

,
th e h ermit a gain and did not doubt h e woul d b e m ore li b eral

,
in his communication when h e saw his nice n ew p elisse

an d the candl es .
Sh e had n ot b een gon e lon g wh en Gil e s cam e in with ill

'
n ews Th e living of Gouda wo ul d b e k ep t vacant n o longer

. .
Margaret was greatly distresse d at this .
”
Oh Gil es s ai d she , ask for anoth er m onth
, Th ey , .
”
will give the e another m onth m ayb e , .
H e returne d in an hour t o tell her h e coul d n ot get a

”
m onth Th ey have given m e a week
. said h e An d , .
what is a week ?
D rownin g b o dies catch at strawen wa s her reply , .
A week ? a littl e week ?

'
R eicht cam e b ack from h er erran d out of sp irits

'
Her .
o r acl e h ad declined al l furth er communication S o at least

’
its ob stinate sil ence might fairly b e interp reted .
Th e n ext day Margaret put R eicht in charge of th e s h 0 p

'
an d d i s a p p ea r e d a l l day S o the next day and s o the next

'
.
, .
Nor woul d s h e tell any on e where s h e had b een P erhap s s h e .
wa S a s h a m e d The fact i s s h e sp ent all tho se days on on e

'
.
,
littl e sp ot of ground Wh en they thou ght her dreamin g .

,
s h e w a s applyin g to every word that fell from Joan an d

Reicht th e wh ol e p owers of a far acuter mind than either of
them p o ssessed .
Sh e Went to work on a scal e that n ever o ccurred to either

of them Sh e wa s d etermined to s ee th e hermit an d
.
,
qu estion him face to face not throu gh a wall Sh e foun d , .
that by m aking a circu it s h e coul d get ab ove th e cave a n d ,
lo ok down with out b eing seen by th e solitary But when s h e .
came to do i t sh e found an imp enetrabl e m ass of b rambles

,
.
After tearing her clothes and her hands and feet s o that s h e
, ,
was so on cover e d with blo o d th e re solute p atient girl to ok , ,
ou t her scissors an d stead i ly snipp e d and cut till s h e m ad e a

n arrow p at h throu gh th e enemy But s o slow w a s the work .
that s h e had to l eave it half done The n ext day s h e h ad her .
s cissors fresh ground and brou ght a sha r p kni fe a s we l l

, ,
an d gently sil ently c u t her way to the ro of of the cave

, , .
There s h e m ad e an amb ush of som e of th e cut b rambles s o ,

-b
that the p assers y might n ot s ee her and cou che d with ,
watchful eye t i ll the h ermit shoul d com e out Sh e heard him .
m ove u nderneath her But he n ever left h i s cell

. S he .
b e gan to think it was tru e that he o nly cam e ou t at night .
The n ext day s h e cam e e arly and b rou ght a j erkin s h e wa s

m akin g for littl e Gerard and there s h e s a t all day workin g
, , ,
and watching with do gge d p atience .
A t four o cl o ck th e b irds b egan to fee d ; an d a great

’
m any of th e small er kind s cam e fluttering roun d t h e cave ,
and on e o r two went i n But m o st of them takin g a pre

.
,
liminary seat on th e bu she s su dd enly discovere d Margaret , ,
an d went off with an agitate d fl i rt of their little wings .
And althou gh they s ail e d ab out in the air they woul d n o t ,
enter th e cave Presently to encourage them th e hermit

.
, , ,
al l u nc onsciou s of th e cau se of their trem ors p ut o u t a thi n ,
white h and with a few crumb s in i t Margaret l ai d down .
her work softly and glidin g h er b o d y f orward lik e a s n a k e

, ,
l o ok e d down at it fro m ab ove ; it wa s but a few feet from her .
It w a s a s th e wom an describ ed i t a thin white hand , , .
Pres ently th e oth er h an d cam e ou t with a piec e of b read ,
and th e two hand s to gether broke it and scattere d the

crumb s .
But that other han d had h ardly b een out two second s ere
the Violet eyes that were watchin g ab ove dil ated ; and th e
gentl e b o som heaved and th e whol e fram e quivere d lik e a
,
l eaf in th e wind .
Wh at her swift eye h ad seen I le ave th e reader to gu ess .
Sh e sup presse d th e s cream that ro se to her lip s b ut the efi or t ,
co st h er d ear S oo n th e left hand of th e hermit b egan to

.
swim indistinctly b efore her glo a t in g eyes ; and wi th a deep

sigh h er head dro op ed an d s h e lay like a broken lily
, .
Sh e was in a d eep swo on t o which p erhap s her lon g fast ,
t o day an d th e agitatio n and sl eepl essnes s of m any p recedin g

-
d ays contributed .
.
An d th ere l ay b eauty intelligence and constancy p al e

, , ,
and silent . An d littl e that h ermit guesse d who w a s s o ne ar

him . The littl e b ir ds h e pp ed on h er no w an d on e nearly ,
e ntangle d his littl e feet in her rich aub urn hair .
She cam e b ack to h er troubl es . Th e sun wa s s et . She

5 82 THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEAR T H
W h en she cam e down Mar garet b egged
’
to l o o s e
, b er
D rago n an d brin g him al on g N ow D ra gon wa s a great .
m a s t i fi wh o h ad gu a rded M argaret V an Eyck an d R eicht

'
, ,
two lone wom en for som e years an d wa s d evotedl y attach e d

, ,
to th e latter .
M ar garet an d R eicht went out with D r a gon w al kin g ,
m aj estic al ly b ehind th em Th ey cam e b ack lo n g after .
mi dnight an d retire d to rest,

.
Cath erin e n ever kn ew .
Margaret rea d her fr i end s : s h e s a w th e sturdy faithful

'
'
,
"
Frisian coul d hol d h er ton gu e an d Ca t h er i n e c ou 1 d not , .
Y et I a m n ot sure sh e wo ul d h ave tru ste d even R eicht had

h er nerve equ al l e d h er sp irit ; b ut With all h er d ar i n g an d
‘
resolutio n sh e was a tend er timi d wom an a littl e afrai d of

, ,
‘
,
th e dark very afrai d of b ein g al on e in i t an d d esp er ately

, ,
afrai d of wolves N ow D ra gon co ul d kill a wolf m a brace of

.
sh ak e s ; b ut then D rago n wou l d not g o with h er but o nly ,
with R eicht ; so al to geth er sh e m ade on e c en fi d a n t e .
Th e next night th ey m a d e another m o onli ght re co n

naissance an d a s I think with som e result
,
F or n ot t h e
, .
'
next night ( i t r ai ne d th at night an d extin g uish ed their

courage ) b ut th e n ext after th ey to ok with them a com
,
p anion th e l ast in th e worl d R eicht H ey n es woul d have

,
th ou ght oi ; yet sh e gave her warm approv al a s so on a s s h e

was tol d h e was to g o with them .
'
Im a gin e h ow thes e ste al thy ass a ilants trembl ed and

p ante d wh en th e m om ent of action cam e ; im a g ine if you ,
’
can th e tumult in Margaret s b reast th e thrilling hop e s
, , ,
chasin g an d chase d b y sickenin g fears ; th e stran ge and

, ”
p erh ap s unp arall el e d mixture of ten d er fa miliarity an d '
distant aw e with whi ch a lovely an d hi gh sp i rite d b ut ten der , ,
adorin g W em an wif e in th e eye of th e L aw an d n o wife in

'
, ,
th e ey e of th e Church tremblin g blu shing p al in g glowi n g

, , , , ,
shiverin g stol e at ni ght noiseless a s th e d ew up o n t h e

, , ,
h ermit of Gou da .
' ’
An d th e st ars ab ove s eem e d n ever s o b r 1 gh t an d c al m .
C HAPTER
"
xcu
YE S th e h erm it of Gou da w a s the vicar of Gou d a an d kn ew

, ,
it n ot s o ab solute w a s hi s s eclusio n
, .
My reader i s aware that th e m om ent th e frenzy of h i s

p assion p assed he was seiz e d with rem orse for havin g b een
,
b etraye d into i t But p erhap s onl y tho s e who h av e ris en a s

.
high i n religiou s spirit as he had and su ddenl y f al len can , ,

THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
,
5 83
reali z e the t error at hims elf that to ok p o ssessio n of him He

—
.
felt l ike one w h om s elf c on fi d en c e ha d b etrayed to the very

edge of a pre cipi ce Ah go o d Jerom e he cried
.
, how , ,
m u ch b etter y ou knew m e than I kn ew mys elf 1 How b itter

yet wholesom e was yo ur a dmonition !
Accustom e d to s earch his own he art he s a w at on ce that ,
t h etru e caus e o f his fury was Mar gar et I love h er then .
b etter than Go d s aid h e d esp airingly ;

, b etter than th e
Ch urch . From su ch a love what can spring to m e or to ,
H e shuddered at th e thou ght L et the stron g

‘
h er ? .
b attl e temptation ; tis for the weak to fle e

’
An d who i s
weak er than I h ave sh own m
.
yself ? Wh at i s my p enitence ,
my religion ? A p ack of cards b u i lt by d egrees into a fair

seeming s tructure ; and 1 0 1 o ne breath of earthly lo ve and ,
it lies in th e dust I mu st b egin again an d o n a surer ,
foun d ation H e resolved to leave Holland at o nce an d

.
,
sp en d y ears of his lif e l n so m e distan t co nvent b efore return

.
ing to i t B y that time the t emptatio ns of earthly p assio n

.
wo ul d b e doubly b a tfl ed ; an ol der an d a b etter m o nk h e ,
shoul d b e more m aster of his earthly aff ections an d Margaret ,
se ein g herself ab an do ned woul d m arry an,d l o ve anoth er , .
Th e very anguish this l ast thought co st him showed the

s elf—sear ch er and self denier that he wa s on th e p ath of
r eligiou s d u ty .
But i n l eavin g h er for h i s imm ort al go o d an d h ers he wa s ,
not to ne gl ect h er temp oral we al In deed the sweet thou ght .

,
h e coul d m ake h er comfortable for life an d rich i n this

worl d s go o ds w
,
’
hich s h e was not b oun d t o despise su stained
, ,
him l n t h e b itter stru ggl e it co st him to turn hi s b ack on her

without on e kin d word or lo ok Oh what will s h e think
of m
.
,
Shal l I not s eem to h er of all

.
e? h e gro ane d .
creatures the m o st h eartles s inhum an ? b ut s o b est ; a y ,
b etter s h e shoul d hate m e miserabl e that I a m

,
, Heaven is .
m erciful an d giveth my b roken h eart this comfort ; I c a n

mak e that vi ll ai n restore her own an d s h e sh all n ever lo s e
.
,
a nother true lover b y p overty Anoth er ? Ah m e ! ah m e ! .
G od and the saints to m i ne aid !

a
How h e fa r ed on thi s errand has b een relate d But fi r st .
,
as you m ay p erhap s 1 em em b er he went at night to shrive the ,
hermit of Gouda H e found him dying an d never l eft h i m

.
,
till h e had clo se d his eyes and b uried him b eneath th e fl oor
of th e littl e oratory attache d to h i s c el l It was th e p eaceful .
end of a stormy life Th e hermit had b een a soldier and

.
,
even n ow carried a steel corsel et next his skin s aying h e w a s ,

’
now Christ s soldier as h e had b een S atan s
’
W h en Clement .
had shriven him and praye d b y him h e in his turn sou ght , , ,
counsel of on e wh o wa s d ying in s o p iou s a frame

. The .
he r mit advis e d him to b e his successor in this p eaceful r e w

treat . H i s had b een a hard fi gh t again st th e world the ,
fl esh and the devi l an d he had n ever thorou ghl y b a tfl e d

, ,
”
th em till h e retire d into the citadel o f S olitu de .
’
These word s an d the h ermit s p iou s and p eaceful d eath ,
whi ch sp eedily foll owed an d s et as it were th e s eal of i m

,
mortal truth o n them m ad e a deep impressio n up o n C lem ent

, .
N or in h i s cas e h ad th ey any prej u dice to comb at ; th e

solit a ry reclu s e wa s still p rofoun dl y revered in th e Church ,
wh ether immure d as an anchorite or anchoress in som e cave

o r ce l l b elo ngin g to a m o nastery or hidden in the m ore ,
s avage b ut l axer seclusio n of the indep endent hermitage .
An d Clem ent kn ew m ore ab out th e h ermits of the Church

than mo st divine s a t his t i me of life ; he h ad read mu ch
thereo n at the m o nastery n ear T er g ou ha d devoured their ,
lives with wo nder an d delight in the m anuscripts of th e

V atican an d converse d e a rnestly ab o ut th em with t h e
,
m en dicant friars of s ever al nations B efore Printin g the s e .
fri ars were th e great cir culators o f tho s e lo c al ann al s an d

b io graphie s which accumulate d in th e convents of every l an d .
Then his teacher Jerom e had b e en thre e year s an an chorit e

, ,
on th e heights of Cam al doli wh ere for m ore than four ,
centuries th e Th eb aid had b een revive d ; an d J erome col d ,
an d curt o n m o st reli giou s them es wa s warm with en t h u s i ,
asm o n thi s on e H e ha d p ore d over th e a nn al s of S t John

. .
’ ’
B aptist s abb ey round ab out which th e hermit s caves were
,
s cattered an d tol d him the nam es of m any a nobl e an d many

, ,
a fam ou s warrior wh o ha d en ded h i s days th ere a herm it an d ,
of m an y a b ishop an d archb ishop wh o h ad p asse d from t h e

s e e to the hermitage or from th e hermitage to th e s ee
'
, .
Amon g th e form er th e Archb is h op of R avenn a ; amon g th e

latter P op e V icto r th e Ninth H e tol d him to o with gr im .
,
delight of their m ultifar iou s au sterities and h ow each hermit

, ,
s et him self to fi n d wh ere h e w a s weak est an d attacke d h i rn ,
sel i without m ercy o r rem issio n till there even th ere h e w a s , ,
strongest An d h ow s even tim es in the twenty -four hours

.
,
in thunder rain or snow by d aylight twilight m o onlight

, , , , , ,
or torchlight th e solitar ies fl o ck e d fro m d i s t a n t p oi n t s over

'
, ,
ru gge d p recip itou s ways to worship in the convent church ;

,
at m atin s at p rim e tierce sexte non es V esp ers and

, , , , , ,
compline H e even un der eager qu estionin g describ e d to

.
, ,
him th e p erson s of fam ous anchorite s h e ha d sun g th e Ps al ter

an d prayed with there ; th e only intercours e their vows
al l owed excep t with sp e cial p ermission
, Moncata D uke of .
,
M oncat a an d Cardo va and Hid al go of Sp ain wh o in the

, ,
fl ow er of his yo uth ha d retired thith er from the p omp s ,
vanities and pleasures of the world ; Father J oh n B apt i st of

,
Novara who had led armies to b attl e b ut wa s now a private

, ,
s ol dier of Christ ; Cornelius S amuel and Sylvanu s , This , .

5 86 TH E C L O ISTER AN D T H E —
H E AR TI I
Was this se em in g owl som ethin g diab oli cal ? tryin g t o

‘
d eter him fro m hi s Ou secon d thou g h ts might ,
it not b e som e go o d sp ir it th e h ermit h a d employed t o keep

th e ce l l for him p erhap s t h e h ermit him s elf ? Finall y h e
,
conclu de d t hat it was j u st an o l an d that h e woul d try an d

m a k e friend s with i t .
w
,
H e kneel ed d o w n a nd in au gura t ed h i s new li f e wit h

’
p raye r .
Cl em ent ha d no t only an e a rt hl y p assion t o qu ell t h e ,
p ow er of whi ch m ad e h i m trembl e fo r h i s etern al weal b ut ,
h e h ad a p enance to d o for h avin g given way to ir e his ,
b es ettin g s i n a n d c u r s e d his o wn b rothers

h
1
, .
H e lo ok e d roun d thi s ro omy cel l furnishe d wit s o m any

comf o rts an d comp are d it with th e p ictur es i n hi s min d of
,
th e hi deou s place cr em a s i n er em o a d esert in a des ert wh ere

, , ,
holy Jerom e h erm it and th e Plutarch of h erm its h a d wrestl e d

, ,
with sickn ess temptatio n an d desp ai r four m ortal ye a rs ;

, ,
an d with th e inacce ss ib l e an d thorny ni ch e a hol el n a preci ,
p ice wh ere th e b oy h ermit B en edi ct b uri ed hi m self an d live d

_
, ,
thre e year s o n the p ittan ce th e go o d mo nk R o m anu s co ul d

sp are h i m fro m h i s s canty co mm on s a nd sub di vide d that
'
m outhfu l with his frien d a raven ; a n d th e holl o w tr e e o f h i s

,
p atro n S t B avo n ; an d th e earthly p urgatory at Frib o u rg

'
.
,
wh ere live d a nam el ess s ai nt in a horri d cavern h i s e yes ,
chil l e d with p erp etual gl o om an d hi s e ar s stunn ed with a n ,
eternal waterfal l ; an d th e pil l ar o n wh i ch S t S im eon .
S t y l i t a exi ste d forty fi v e ye ars ; an d th e d estin a o r sto n e

-
,
b ox of S t D un stan wh ere l i k e Hil ario n 1 n h i s b ulru sh hiv e

’
, .
, , ,
s ep u l ch r e p ot i u s qu a m d om u h e c oul d s c a rce sit stan d or lie ;

’
, , ,
an d th e livin g tomb s s eal e d with l ead of Thais an d , , ,
Christ i na an d other reclu s es ; an d th e d a m p dun geo n of S t

, .
A1 r e d . T h e s e a n d scores m ore of th e dism al d en s in which

tru e h ermits ha d worn ou t th ei r w a ste d b o dies on th e ro ck ,
an d th e ro ck un der th eir sl eep in g b o dies an d th eir p rayin g ,
kne es al l cam e into hi s m ind an d he s ai d to hi ms el f

, Thi s
, ,
'
sweet retreat I s fo r saf ety of th e soul ; b ut what for p en an ce ? ' ‘
J esu ai d m e a gai nst faults t o com e ; a n d f or th e faul t I ru e ,
face of m an I will not s e e for a tw elv em onth an d a d a y ”

.
H e h a d fam ou s p rece dents in h i s eye even for th i s l ast a n d

u nu su al s everity In fact th e ori ginal h en nit of this V ei
.
'
c ell was cl ear ly un der th e sam e v ow H e nc e the t o

' '
0 .
’
:
ap ertur es th rou gh whi ch h e was sp ok en to an d replied
, , .
’
A dop ting l n oth er resp ects th e uniform rul e of h erm it s an d

, ,
"
anchorites b e di vi de d hi s day into the s eve n ofi i c es i gnori ng
'
, ,
the p etty a ccidents of ligh t an d d ark cr eations b oth of H i m

"
to whom h e praye d s o unceasin gl y H e l earn e d th e p s al t er .
by heart an d in al l th e in terval s of d evotion ; n o t o ccup i ed

,
by b roken slumb ers h e worke d h ard with his han ds , N0 .

THE CL O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
’
arti cl e of the hermit s rul e was m ore strict or m ore ancient
than t h is An d h ere his s elf imp o se d p enance emb arras sed
.
-
him for what work could h e do without b ein g s een that

, , ,
sho ul d b en efi t his neighb ours ? for th e h ermit was to l ab o ur

f or h i m s el f in tho se cases only wh ere his sub sistenc e dep en de d
N ow Clement s m o dest needs were amply supplied
’
on i t .
b y the villagers
On mo o nl ight nights h e w
.
oul d steal ou t like a thi ef an d ,
dig som e p o or man 5 g a rden o n th e outskirts of th e vi l lage

’
.
H e ma de b askets and dropp e d th em slily at humble do ors .
An d since he coul d do nothing for the b o dies of tho s e who

p ass ed b y his cell in daytim e he went ou t in th e dea d of th e ,
night with his hamm er and hi s chisel and carved m oral an d ,
religious s entences a l l down th e ro ad up on th e sand ston e

“
ro cks . Who knows ? said h e often a chance sh aft ,
striketh hom e Oh , sore h eart comfort tho u th e p o o r and

.
,
b ereave d with holy words of solace in their n ative tongu e ;

for h e s aid well tis cl avis a d corda p l eb i s
,
’ ‘
Also h e r e .
m emb ered th e learne d Colo nna ha d tol d him of th e written

m ou ntains in the east where kings ha d inscrib ed their ,
victorie s What
,
s aid Clem ent , ar e they s o wise , ,
tho s e E astern m onarchs to en grave their war l i ke glo r y ,

-
upon the ro ck m ak in g a blo o d b ubbl e endure s o l on g a s

'
,
,
earth ; and shal l I l eave the ro cks ab o ut m e s il ent on th e
King of Glo r y at who se word th ey were and at who s e
, ,
breath they shall b e dust ? Nay b ut thes e sto nes shall ,

‘
sp eak to we ary wayfarers of etern al p eace an d of the L amb , ,
who s e fr a i l and a ffl i c t e d yet happy s ervant w orketh them

”
a mong .
N ow a t this tim e the insp ire d words that have co nsoled

the p o or an d the a ffl i c t e d for s o m any ages were not yet
printed in D utch s o t h a t these s entences of go l d fro m th e
, .
holy evan gelists came l ike fresh oracl es from heaven or l i ke ,
the dew on p a rched fl e wers ; and th e p o or hermit s written ’
ro cks softened a heart or two an d sent th e heavy laden ,
singing o n their wa y l
.
These holy oracles that seeme d t o spring up around him

l ik e m agic ; his prudent answers throu gh his window to such
as s ou ght gho stly counsel ; an d ab o ve all his in visib i lity , ,
( so on gained him a pro digiou s reputation This was n ot .
d im inished by t h e m edi ca l advice they n ow an d then

extorte d from him sore a gainst hi s will by tears an d e n
’
, ,
tre aties ; for if the p atients got wel l they gave the holy hermit
the credit and if not they laid all th e blam e on the devil
, .
. I think h e kill ed nob o dy for his remedies were ,

womanish
1
I t g
qu i r e s n ow a d a y s a s t r on e ff or t of t h e i ma i n a t i on t o r e a l i z e t h e
re g
e ff e c t on poor p e o l e w h o h a d n e ver s e e n t h e m b e f or e of s u ch s e n t e n ces u
p
w
”
_
hi a , Bl ess ed a r e t h e poor , e t c .
5 88 THE C L O ISTER A ND T H E HEARTH
an d weak S age and wormwo o d sion hyssop b orage
.
, , , ,
’ ’
sp i kenard d o g s ton gu e ou r L ady s mantle feverfew and
,
-
, , ,
Faith and al l in sm all quantities excep t th e last

, .
Then his ab stin ence sure si g n of a saint Th e eggs an d

, .
m il k th ey b rou ght him at fi r s t h e refu se d with horr or .
’
K now y e not th e h ermit s rul e is b read or herb s an d water ? , ,
E ggs th ey ar e b ir ds in dis guise ; for when th e b ird dieth

, ,
th en th e egg r ot t et h As fo r milk it is littl e b etter than

.
,
white blo o d An d wh en th ey b rou ght him to o much b rea d

.
h e refu s ed i t Th en th ey u s ed to press it o n him

. N ay .
,
holy father ; give th e o verplu s to th e p o or .
You wh o go amon g th e p o or can do that b etter Is .
’
b rea d a thin g to fling h aph a z ard from an h ermit s window ?
And to tho s e who p ersiste d after this : T o live o n char ity ,
y et play S i r B ountiful is to li e with th e right ha n d

, Givin g .
another s to th e p o or I shoul d b e guil e them of their thanks

’
, ,
an d ch eat th e e th e tru e giver Thu s do thieves who s e b o ast .

,
it is they bl ee d th e rich into th e lap of th e p o or Oc ea s i e .
”
a va r i t i ae nom en p a u p er u m .
When nothing els e wo ul d co nvince th e go o d souls thi s ,
p iece o f L atin al ways b rou ght th em round S e wo ul d a .
line of V i rgil s [ E nei d ’
Thi s great rep utatio n of sanctity w a s a ll external .
In sid e th e cell wa s a m an who hel d th e herm it of Gouda a s

ch eap a s di rt .
Ah ! sai d h e I cannot d eceive myself ; I canno t

,
’
d e ceive Go d s animal s S e e the littl e b i rds h ow coy they
.
,
b e ; I fe ed an d fee d th em an d l on g for the i r friendship yet , ,
wil l they n ever com e within nor tak e my hand b y li ghtin g , ,

’
on t . For why ? N o P aul n o B enedict n o Hu gh of Lincoln , , ,
n o Columb a n o G u t h l a e hide s in thi s cell

, Hunte d do e .
fl i et h n ot hith er f or here i s n o F r u ct u os u s nor Aventine

, , ,
nor Alb ert of S u a b i a ; no r e en a p retty s quirrel com eth from ’
the wo o d h a r d b y for the acorns I have b o a rd ed ; for here

'
ab ideth no Columb an Th e very o wl that wa s h ere hath

.
fl e d . Th ey are not to b e d eceive d ; I have a P op e s word ’
”
for th at ; Heaven rest hi s s oul .
Clem ent h ad on e advantage over her who s e im age i n h i s

h eart he w as b ent o n destr oyi n g .
H e h ad suffere d an d survived t h e p an gs of b ereavem ent ,
and th e m in d cannot qu ite rep eat su ch an guish Th en h e .
h a d b u i lt up a h ab it of lo okin g on her as d ead After that .
strange s cen e in th e church an d churchyard of S t L aurens .

,
that hab it might b e comp are d to a stru ctu re riven by a

thunderb olt It was sh attere d b ut sto nes eno u gh sto o d t o
.
,
foun d a simil a r hab it on ; to lo ok on h er as de a d to h i m .
An d by s evere sub divi sion of hi s tim e an d thou ghts b y ,
unceasing pra y ers a n d m anu al l ab our h e di d in ab out ,

5 90 THE C L O ISTE R A ND THE HE A R T H
p ray with tru e fervo u r Th e very sys t em of m echanical . .
supplicatio n h e h ad for m onth s carrie d ou t s o s ex orely b y

rul e ha d rath er check e d th a n fost ered h i s p ower of or i gi n a t
i n g tru e prayer .
H e p ray e d lo u d er than ever b ut th e h e a rt h ung back ,
col d and glo omy and l et the words g o up al o n e

, .
Po or W in gle ss p rayers h e cried yo u will not get , ,
h alf way to h eaven

-
.
A fi en d of this compl exi o n h a d b een driven o ut of K in g

S aul b y mu sic .
Cl em ent to ok up th e hermi t s p sal te ry an d with mu ch ’

,
trouble m ende d th e strin gs a n d tune d i t .
N o h e co ul d not play i t
, Hi s s o ul wa s s o ou t of tune . .
Th e s o un ds j arre d on i t an d m ad e him almo st m ad , .
Ah wretch e d m e l h e cried ;
, S aul had a sai nt to play .
to him H e wa s no t alo n e wi th the S p irits of d arkness ;

‘
.
,
b ut here is n o swe et h ard of Israel to play to m e ; I lo nely , ,
with cru she d heart o n which a bl ack fi e n d sitteth mountain

,
high mu st m ak e the mu sic to uplift th at heart to h e aven ;

,
it m ay no t b e And h e gro vell e d on t h e e ar th weep in g

.
and te a rin g his hai r .
V E R T E B A T U R A D ME LAN CH OL I AM o
C HAPT ER xc1 1 1
ON E da y a s h e l ay there s i gh m g an d gro aning p rayerl ess , ,
tunel es s hop el ess a thou ght fl a s h ed into his m ind

, , Wh at .
h e ha d don e for th e p o or an d th e wayfarer h e wo ul d d o for ,
him self H e woul d fi l l h i s d en of desp air with th e n am e

.
of Go d an d the m agi c word s of holy writ an d th e p io us , ,
prayerf ul con solatio ns oi th e Church .
Then lik e Christia n at A p ol l y on s feet h e reach e d hi s

,
’
hand su ddenly ou t an d cau ght not hi s sword for he ha d , ,
none b ut p eaceful l ab o ur s humb l er weap on hi s chi s el and

,
’
, ,
er k e d with it as if his soul dep end e d on h i s arm .
They s a y th at Mi chael Angel o i n the n ext generatio n u se d

to carve statu es not li k e ou r timi d s culp tors b y m o d ell i ng
, ,
th e work in clay an d th en s ett i n g a m echa ni c to chi sel i t

, ,
b ut woul d se iz e th e bl o ck conceive th e i mage a nd at o nce , , ,
wi t h m a l l et and steel m ake th e m arbl e chip s fl y li k e mad

'
ab out him an d the m ass S prout into form

, Even s o Cl ement .
drew no lines to gu ide his hand H e went to h i s m emory .
for the graciou s words an d then dash ed at hi s work an d ,
eagerly grave d th em i n the soft sto ne b etween worki ng an d ,
fi gh t i n g .
THE C L O ISTE R AN D THE HEARTH
'
5 91
b egge d h i s Visitors for can dle en ds and ran ci d oil

He
' '
, .
”
Anything is go o d enou gh for m e, h e said if twill ,
’
but b urn S e at night th e cave glowed afar off like a

.
blacksmith s forge throu gh th e window and th e gapin g

’
chink s of th e ru d e ston e do or and th e ru stics b ehol ding ,
cro sse d them selves an d su sp ected d eviltries and within th e ,
h oly talismans on e after a n ot h er ca m e up o n the wall s

"
, , ,
an d the sp ark s an d th e chip s fl ew day an d n ight night an d

‘
day as th e soldier of S olitu d e an d of th e Church plied

, ,
with sigh s an d gro ans his blo o dl ess weap on b etween work , ,
in g an d fi gh t i n g .
i Rg r i e 1 5 1 6 1 5 0 11 .
C h r i s t a 1 5 1 6 1 5 0 11 .
Tov E '
ar a y a u a vvr pcgb ou 1 7 3 mr e vs 7 0 5 11 9 i m a m}
S urs um Gor b a f
’
E 6 1 1 5 mef ug i um nos t r um ct vi r t us fi’
21 9 11 1 1 9 D ei , qui t outs p ecca ta munoi mi s er er e mi b i .

4
S anct a E r i ni t as unus mi s er er e nobi s

E eus , .
5
E a cmonum a vcnt ur a 1 1 a Da mnat i one

'
21 h i nt es t at i oni b us , , a
p cr p ct ua fi
I i b er a nos E omi ne .
217 6 1 1 5 , qui 11 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 6 Zh i g el orum mtni s t er i a, et c ( t h e w h ol e .
l l 7
c o e ct ) .
Q uem qua et i mus ab j ut or em ni s t t e D omi ne qui p r o

p ecca t i s noet t i s us t e i ra s car i s j 2 8
S a nct e E eue, s ancre f or t i s , S ancre et

'
mi s er i cors S a l va t or ,
a mar ae mor t t ne t r a b a s nos .
An d und erneath th e great cr u el fi x which was fastened to ,
th e wall h e gra y e d this from Au gu stin e :

,
a ni ma i s t i ana, r es p i ce vul ner a p at i ent i s , s ang ui nem,

t
ni or i ent i s , p r et i u m r c oem p t i oni s —1 b a ec qu a nt a s i nt cog i t a t e,
.
'
at i n s t a t er a mant i s ves t r a e ap p enb i t e, ut t ot us vob te ag a rut
1
B ea t d ow n S a t a n u n d er ou r f e e t .
2
L i f t u p y ou r h ea r t s
3 g
O G od ou r r e f u e a n d s t r en t h g .
4 k
0 L a m b of G od , t h a t t a e s t a w a y t h e s i n s of t h e w or l d , h a ve m e r cy
u p on m e .
5
O H ol y T r i n i t y , on e God , h a ve m er c y u p on u s
—
.
6
F r om t h e a s s a u l t s of d em on s f r om t h e w r a t h t o e om e -f r om e ve r
g
l a s t i n d a m n a t i on — d el i ve r u s , 0 L or d .
g g
,
7 S e e t h e E n l i s h c ol l ec t S t M i c h a e l a n d a l l A n el s
w
.
, .
8 Oi k
h om m a y w e s e e s u c c o u r b u t of T h e e , O L or d , w h o f or ou r s i n s
art ju s t l y d i s l e a s e d (a n d t h a t t or r e n t of p r a y e r , t h e f oll ow i n
p ve r se ) g .
5 92 T HE C L O IS TE R AN D TH E HEARTH
( n cor b e, qui p r o vob is t ot us fi rms es t i n cr u ce R am 5 1 .
p as ei o C h r i s t i a b memor i a m r evocet ut , ni h i l es t t a m b ut um
q uoo non a equo a ni mo t ol et et ut .
W h i ch m ay b e thu s ren dered

c h r is t i an s oul , l ook on t h e wounos of t h e s uff er i ng ® ne
t b e b I oob of t h e ag i ng ® ne, t h e p r i ce p a th f or our r eb emp t i on
z b e, ano wei g h t h em
G b es e t h i ng s , ob , t h i nk b ow g r ea t t b ex
i n t h e b a l ance of t h y mi ne : t h at h e may b e wh ol l y 1 1 11 1 1 6 0
t o t b g h ear t , wb o f or t h ee was a l l na i l co unt o t h e cr os s .
f or b e b ut ca l l t o mi ne t h e s uff er i ng s of ¢ b ri s t , anb t h er e
i s nou g h t on ear t h t oo b ar b t o ens ure w1 t h comp os ur e .
S o oth e d a littl e a V ery littl e b y th e sweet an d p iou s

, ,
words h e was raisin g a l l roun d him an d weighed d own wit h ,
watchin g an d workin g night and day Cl em ent o n e m orning ,
s ank p ro strate with fatigue and a deep sleep o verp owered

,
him for m any hours .
Awak in g qui etly h e h e a rd a littl e cheep ; h e op ene d hi s

,
eyes an d lo ! up o n h i s b revi ary which w a s on a low sto ol

, ,
near his fe et r u ffli n g all h i s feathers with a singl e pul l and

, ,
smo othin g th em a s su dd enly an d co cking h i s b il l th i s way

,
an d th at with a vast di splay o f cunning p urely ima gin ary ,
p erch ed a rob in redbreast .
Cl em ent hel d h i s b reath .
H e hal f clo se d h i s eyes lest t h ey sh oul d fri ghten th e a iry

guest .
D own cam e rob in on th e fl o or .
When there he went throu gh his p antomim e of a stute

n ess ; and then p im p im p im with thre e s t i fi littl e h e p s
, , , , ,
l i ke a b all of worste d o n Vertical wires h e wa s o n th e hermit s ,

’
b are f e e t On this eminence he swell e d an d co ntracte d

.
agai n with eb b and fl ow o f fe athers ; b ut Clement l o st this

, ,
for h e quite clo se d his eye s an d s car ce drew his b re ath in fear
of frightening an d lo sin g his visito r H e w a s co ntent to .
feel th e minute claw o n his f e e t H e co ul d b ut j u st feel i t

.
,
an d th at by h elp of kno win g it was there .
Presently a littl e flirt with two littl e wings an d t h e ,
feathere d b u syb o dy was on the b revi ar y a gai n .
Then Cl ement determined to try an d fe ed this p retty

littl e fi d get without frightening it away B ut it wa s very .
d i ffi cu l t H e ha d a piece of bread with in reach b ut h ow get

.
,
at i t ? I think he wa s fi v e m inute s creepin g his han d up to

that bread and when there he must not m ove h i s
,
5 94 T HE C L O ISTE R AND T HE HE ARTH
Clem ent rej oice d wa sMy sin s are goin g h e cried
.
”
,
”
,
an d the creatures of Go d are ownin g m e on e a fter anot he r , .
An d in a b urst of en t h u s i a s m h e stru ck up th e l a u d z ' ‘
Prai se Him al l y e creatures of His !

L et everythi n g that hath b reath p raise th e L ord !
An d all th e tim e h e s a n g t h e wolf b aye d at in t erval s .
Bu t ab ove al l h e s ee med now to b e d r awin g n ear er to

th at cel esti al intercours e which was t h e si gn an d th e bliss of
th e tru e hermit ; for h e h ad dre a m s ab out th e saints an d
an gel s s o vi vi d they were m ore lik e vi sions
, , H e saw .
b ri ght fi gu r es cl a d in woven sn ow Th ey b ent on him eye s .
lovelier than th o s e of the antel op e s b e had s een at R om e ’

,
an d fan ne d him with b ro a d win gs hu e d lik e th e rainb ow

‘
a nd th eir gentl e voi ce s b a de h im sp ee d up on his course .
H e h ad not l on g enj oye d this felicity Wh en h i s dream s

b e gan to tak e anoth er an d a s tran ge compl exi on He .
wandere d wi th Fra Col o nna o ver th e relics of anti q ue n atio ns ,
an d th e fri ar was lam e an d h ad a sta ff an d this staff h e ,
wave d over th e mighty ru ins an d were th ey E gyp tian Greek , ,
or R om an str ai ghtway th e temples an d p al aces who se

, ,
wre ck s th ey were ro s e a gain l ik e an exhal ation an d were

, ,
thro n ge d with th e fam o u s dea d S o ngsters that might h ave

.
e clip se d b oth Ap oll o an d hi s riv al p oure d forth the i r l ays ;

wom en go dlik e in form an d drap e d li k e Minerva swam
, , ,
roun d th e m arbl e co urts in volup tu ou s b ut easy an d g raceful

d ances .Here s cul pto rs carve d away amidst adm irin g
'
pup ils an d form s of sup er natur al b eauty g rew ou t of Par ian
,
m ar bl e in a qu a rter of an hour ; an d g rave phil o soph ers

convers e d o n high an d subtl e m atters with youth listenin g ,
reverently ; it wa s a lon g tim e a go An d still b eneath al l .
thi s won derful p anoram a a sort of su sp i ci on or exp e ctatio n

lurke d in th e dream er s mind Th i s i s a prolo g u e a
’
.
,
fl ou r i s h th ere 1 S s om ethi n g b eh m d som ethin g that m eans m e

,
n o go o d som ethi n g mysteriou s awful

, , .
An d on e ni ght that the wi z a rd C ol o nna h ad trans cen de d

h im self h e p o inte d wi th h i s sti ck and t h er e wa s a swal l owin g
, ,
‘
up of m any great a ncient citie s an d th e p ai r sto o d o n a vast

,
san dy p l ain with a hu ge cri m so n s u n s inkin g to rest Ther e .
wer e great p al m tre es ; an d th ere were b ulru sh hives scar ce

-
,
a m an 5 h eight dotted all ab out to th e san dy horiz on a n d t h e

’
, ,
crim son s u n .
Th es e are th e an chorites of th e Th eb an desert said ,
Colonn a calmly ; foll owers not of C hr ist an d His ap o st l e s ,
and th e great fath ers b ut of th e Greek p up il s of the

,
E gyp tian pup i l s of th e B r ach m a n s an d Gym no so phi sts .
An d Cl em ent thou ght th a t h e burne d to g o an d em b race

th e holy m en and te l l them his troub l es an d s eek th eir ,
THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H
advice But h e wa s tied by th e feet som ehow an d coul d not
.
,
mo ve and the crim so n s u n sank and it got d u sk and th e

, , ,
’
hives scarce visibl e An d C ol on n a s fi gu r e b ecam e sh adowy
.
a n d s h a p el es s b ut h i s eyes glowe d ten tim es b righter ;

,
and
this thi ng a l l eyes sp oke and s aid : Nay let them b e a , ,
p ack of fo ol s ! s ee how dismal it all is Th en with a su d den .
sp rightliness But I hear o nc e t them ha s a m anu s cript of

,
~
P etro nius o n p apyru s ; I go to b uy i t ; farewell for ever

.
, ,
fo r ever for ever , .
And it was p itch dark and a light cam e at Clem ent s ,

’
b ack lik e a gentl e stroke a gloriou s ro s ea te light It warm ed, .
as well a s b rightened It lo o sene d his feet from th e gro un d ;

.
h e turne d round and there , h er face irradiate d with sunshine

, ,
and her hair glitte r ing lik e th e gloriola of a saint was ,
Margaret Brandt .
She blushe d and smiled and cast a lo ok of i n e fi a b l e

”
tenderness o n him Gerard s h e murmure d . b e who s e , ,
tho u wil t b y day b ut at night b e m ine !

~
,
'
Even as s h e sp ok e the agitatio n of seeing her s o su ddenly ,
aw a kene d him and h e foun d hims elf lying trembling from

,
hea d to fo ot
.
.
That ra diant fi gu r e and m ellow voice seem ed to have

stru ck his nightly keynote .
Awake he coul d pray and p raise and worship Go d ; he , ,
w a s m aster of his thou ghts But if he clo s ed hi s eyes in .
sleep M a rgaret or S atan in h er shap e b eset h i m a s eeming

, , , ,
an gel o f light H e might dream of a thousand diff erent

.
things , wide a s the p oles asun der ere h e woke the imp eri al
.
. fi gu r e wa s s ure to co m e an d extin g uish all the re st in a

, mom ent s tel l a s exor t a s u t i ae th er i a s s ol for s h e cam e glowing
,
’
with two b eauties never b efo re unite d an angel s radi ance ,
and a woman s blushes ’

.
An gels cannot blush S e he knew it was a fi e n d . .
H e was al armed but not s o much surprised as at the ,
d emo n s last a r t i fi c e From Anthony to Nicholas of the

’
.
Ro ck scarce a hermit that had n ot b een thu s b eset ; som e

times with gay Voluptu ou s visions so m etime s with lovely ,
phantom s warm tangible an d womanly witho ut d emons

, , , ,
within nor al ways b a fi l e d even by the saints

,
Witnes s .
’
that angel form with a devil s he a rt that cam e hanging
i t s lovely head lik e a bruised fl ower to S t M a c a r i u s with
, ,
.
,
a fei gn ed t al e and wep t and wept ; and wept and b eguile d

, , ,
him fi r s t of his tears and then of half his virtu e .
But with the exampl es of S atanic p ower an d craft had

’
com e down cop ious re cords of the hermits triump hs and the
weap ons by which they had conquered .
“
2 D om a n d u m es t corpu s ; th e b o dy must b e tam ed ; this
h ad b een their watchword for twelve hun dred year s It was .
a trem endou s war cry f or they call ed th e earthly a ffectio ns
-
,
a s well as app etites b o dy and cru she d the whol e heart

, ,
th rou gh th e su ffering and m or t ifi e d fl esh .
Cl em ent then sai d to him s elf th at th e great enemy of man

had retire d b ut to spr i n g w ith m ore e fi ec t an d ha d al lowed ,
him a few day s of tru e p urity an d j oy onl y to put him off h i s

g u ar d a gainst th e soft bl andishm ents h e was p our in g over
th e soul that had survived th e b u ffetin g of his black wings .
H e applie d hims elf to tam e the b o dy h e shortene d his sl eep , ,
len gth ene d his prayers and increased hi s s evere temp erance
,
to ab stinence Hitherto fo l lowing the o rdinary rul e h e ha d

.
, ,
e aten o n ly at sunset Now h e ate b ut o nce in forty -eight

.
hours drinking a littl e water every d ay

,
.
On this th e vi sio n s b e c a m e m ore distinct .
Then h e fl ew to a fam ou s antidote to th e grand ,

—
feb rifu ge of an chorites col d water .
H e fou nd th e de ep est p art of th e stream that ran by h i s

cel l ; it ro se not far off at a holy well ; and cl earin g the b otto m
of th e l arge sto nes m ad e a h ole wh ere h e coul d s t an d in water
,
to ! th e chi n and f or t i fi e d b y s o m any examples h e spran g

, ,
fr om hi s ru d e b e d up o n th e n ext diab oli cal assa ul t an d ,
entere d th e icy water .
It m ade him gasp an d almo st shriek with th e col d It .
fro z e his m arrow I shall die h e crie d I shall die ; b ut

.
”
, ,
-
b etter thi s th an fi r e etern al .
An d th e n ext day h e wa s so s t i fi in all his j oints h e coul d

'
n ot m ove an d h e seem e d on e gr eat ache

,
An d even in sleep .
h e felt that h i s very b one s were lik e s o m any ra gin g te eth ,
till the ph anto m h e drea de d cam e an d gave o n e p ityi ng smile ,
an d a ll the p ain was gone .
Then feelin g that to g o into t h e i cy water a gain enfeebl e d

, ,
by fasts as h e was might p erhap s carry th e gu i lt of sui cide h e

, ,
s courge d hims elf t i ll th e bl o o d ran an d s o lay do wn sm artin g , .
An d when exhau stio n b e gan to blunt th e sm a rt down

to a throb that m om ent th e p resent was away and th e p a st
, ,
cam e smili n g b ack H e s a t with Margaret at th e duke s

’
.
feast the minstrel s playe d divinely and the p urpl e fount ai n s

, ,
g ushed Youth
. an d love rei gn e d in e ach h e ar t an d p er ,
fum e d the very a i r .
Then th e scene s h ifted an d they sto o d at the altar ,
to geth er m an an d wife An d no interruptio n thi s tim e an d

.
,
they wan dere d han d in hand an d tol d each other their ,
h orribl e dream s A s for him . h e had dream ed s h e wa s ,
dead an d he was a m onk ; and re ally the dream h ad b een

,
s o Vivi d an d s o full of p articul a rs that o nly hi s eye sight coul d

even n ow convin ce him it was o nly a dream an d they w er e ,
r e ally on e .
5 98 THE C L O I STER AND “
'
TH E HEARTH
country ; here I a m b o un d fast in m em o ry s chai n ; and ’
-
b e gan to drea d his cell H e s aid A b r eath fro m h el l hath .

,
infe cte d i t an d robb e d even thes e holy words of th eir vir tu e

, .
An d uncons ciou sly imitatin g S t J ero m e a vi ct i m of ear thly .

,
hall u cin atio ns a s o verp owering a n d c o a rs er h e to ok his

, , ,
war m est cover i n g out i nto the wo o d har d b y and there flung ,
d own under a tre e that torn and wr i nk l ed l ea t h er b a g of

b o nes which a littl e ago might have s erve d a s c u lp tor for
,
.
Ap oll o
Wh ether the fever of h i s im a ginatio n interm itted a s a
.
m aster min d of our d ay h a s shown that al l things intermit '
or th at this r eal ly b rok e s om e s u b tl e link I know n ot b ut , ,
his sl eep wa s dreaml es s .
H e awoke n early f r o z en b ut warm with j oy within

-
, .
I shall y et b e a tru e hermit D ei gratia sai d h e

'
, , .
The n ext day s om e go o d s o ul l eft o n his littl e platform a °
n ew lam b s wo ol p eli ss e an d cap e w arm soft a nd ampl e

-
, , , .
H e had a m om ent s mis gi ving on a cc ou n t of its deli cio us

’ '
softness an d war mth ; b ut t h at p assed I t wa s th e righ t . .
skin an d a m ark that H eaven app ro ved h i s pres ent course

2
,
.
It restore d warmth to h i s b o nes a f t en h e c a m e in fr o m his ,
short rest .
An d no w at on e m om ent he s a w vi c t ory b efore him if h e

,
-
co ul d b ut live to i t ; at anoth er he s ai d to hi m se l f T i s b ut
'
,
.
,
’
anoth er lull ; b e o n thy g uar d C lem ent

m
, .
An d this thou ght a gi tated h i s nerves an d kept h i in

continu al awe
H e was lik e a s ol dier within the enemy sline s
.
’
.
O n e night a beautiful cl ear fro sty n ight h e cam e b ack to

, ,
his cell after a sh ort rest

,
The stars were wo n derf u l . .
H ea ven s eem e d a thou san d tim es l arger a s we l l a s b righter

than e arth an d t o lo ok wi th a thou sand eyes instead of o ne
, .
”
Oh wo n derful h e cried
,
that there shoul d h e m en , , .
who do crim es b y night ; an d others s carce less m ad who live ,
f or thi s littl e worl d and not for that great an d glorio us o ne

'
,
, ,
which nightly to all ey es n ot blinded b y custo m reve al s its

‘
, ,
glowin g glories Thank Go d I a m a hermit ”

. .
And in this m o o d h e cam e to his cell do or .
H e p au sed at i t ; it was clo sed . .

1
Wh y m ethou ght I left it O p en sai d h e :

, Th e wind , .
There i s not a b reath of wi nd W hat m e an s this ?

‘
'
.
H e sto o d wi th his hand up on th e ru gg ed do or He .
lo oke d throu gh on e of the gre at chinks ; for i t wa s much ‘
1
k
D r D i c s on , a u t h or of F a ll a ci es of t h e F a cu l t y ; e t c
. .
2
I t i s r el a t e d of a m e d i ze va l h e r m i t , t h a t b e i n off er e d a a r m e n t m a d e g g
’
k
o f c a t s s i n s , b e r e ect ed i t s a y i n g ,
”
j
I h a ve h e a r d of a l a m b of G od , b u t
,
I n e ver h e ar d of a ca t of G od p: .
1 1
THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH
smal ler 1 n place s than th e a p erture i t pretend ed to clo se an d ’
,
s a w his little oil wi ck b urnin g j u st where h e ha d l eft i t

'
How is it with m e h e sighed “

wh en I start an d , ,
trembl e at nothin g ? Either I did shut i t or th e fi en d hath ,
shut it af te r m e to di sturb m y happy soul R etro .
Sat h ana s l
An d h e entere d h i sflc a v e rap idly an d b e g an with some ,
what nervou s e xp edition to light on e Oi his largest tap ers .
Whil e h e wa s lighting i t there was a soft sig h in th e cave , .
He start ed an d dropp ed th e candle j u st a s it was lightin g ,
an d it went ou t .
H e st e e p e d f or it hurriedly an d lighte d i t 1 i s t en i n g ,
int ently .Wh en it wa s lighte d h e shaded it with his h and

fro m b ehind a nd t h rew th e faint light all roun d th e cell
,
‘
In th e farthest co rner th e outlin e of th e wall seem e d b roken .
H e to ok a ste p towards the place with hi s h eart h eatin g

' '
Th e candl e at th e sam e ti me gettin g brighter h e s a w it

.
’
“
wa s th e fi gu r e of a wom an .
Anoth er step with his kn ee s k no ck i n g to gether ;

I T WAS MAR GARET BRAN D T .
CHAPTER X C IV
HER attitu d e wa s on e to excite p ity rather than terror in ,
eye s not blinded by a preconceive d notion Her b o som wa s .
fl u t t er i n g lik e a b ird and th e re d an d white comin g and going

,
in her ch eeks an d sh e had h er hand against th e wa l l by the

,
instinct of timid thin gs s h e trembl ed s e ; an d th e m arvellou s ,
mixe d g az e of l ove an d p iou s awe an d p ity an d tender , , ,
m em ories tho se purpl e eyes cast o n th e emaciate d and glar

,
in g hermit w as an event in nature

,
.
A h a! h e crie d Thou art com e at last in fl esh an d

.
blo o d ; com e to m e a s thou ea rn est to holy Antho ny But I .
am ware of thee I thou ght thy wil e s were not ex

.
h a u s t ed . I a m armed With this h e snatche d up his sm a ll .
cr uc i fi x an d h el d it out at h er astonished ; an d th e candl e ,
in th e oth er h and b oth cr u ci fi x an d candle shakin g Violently

, ,
Exorcizo
Ah no ! crie d s h e p iteou sly ; and p ut ou t two pretty
,
dep recatin g p alm s Alas ! work m e n o i l l !

. It is
”
M arg a ret .
Liar i shout ed the hermit Margaret was fair but n ot .
so sup ernatural fair a s thou Thou didst shrink at that sacred .
nam e thou sub tle hyp o crite

,
In Nomine D ei exorcizo v os . .
6 00 THE C L O ISTER AND TH E HE ARTH
Ah , J esu i
gasp e d Margaret i n extremity of terror , ,
c urs e m e not ! I W i ll go hom e I thou ght I might come . .
F or very m anho o d b e -
L atin m e n ot ! O h G er a rd i s it thu s , ,
you an d I m eet after all af ter a l l ? ,
And s h e cowered al m o st to her knee s and sob b e d with

s up erstitiou s fear an d wounde d affection .
Impre gn ate d a s h e wa s with S atanophob ia h e might ,
p erhap s h ave doub te d still wh ether t h i s distresse d creature ,
a ll wom an an d nature was not all art and fi e n d , But h er .
s p ontaneou s app eal to that sacre d nam e dissolve d his

chimera ; an d l et him s ee with h i s eyes and b e a r with h i s ,
e ars
—
.
H e uttere d a cry of self repro ac h and trie d to raise her ; ,
b ut wh at with fasts what wit h th e o verp owerin g em otion o f

,
a lon g so l itu d e s o broken h e coul d not What h e gasp e d

, .
, ,
shakin g over h er an d i s it thou ? An d have I m et thee

,
with h ar d words ? Alas ! An d they were b oth choke d

with emotion an d coul d not sp eak for a wh il e
, .
I hee d it n ot mu ch s aid M a rg a ret b ravely stru g glin g

”
, ,
with h er tears ; you to ok m e for anoth er : for a de vil ! oh !

oh ! oh ! oh ! oh !
Forgive m e sweet soul ! , An d a s so o n a s he co u l d
sp e a k m ore than a word at a tim e h e said I have b een , ,
mu ch b eset b y the evi l on e since I cam e h ere .
M ar gar et lo ok ed round with a shu dder L ik e enow . .
Then oh tak e my han d an d l et m e lea d thee fro m this foul

,
’
p l a cef
H e gaz ed at her with a stonishm ent .
Wh at d esert my cell ; an d g o into the worl d a gain ?

,
Is it f or th at tho u hast com e t o m e ? said h e sa dl y an d

repro achfully .
A y Gerard ,
I a m co m e to tak e thee to thy pretty
.
Vicarage : art vi car of Gou da thanks to H eaven an d thy ,
go o d brother Gil e s ; an d m other and I have m ad e i t so neat

f or thee Gerard ,
Tis well enow in winter I p romis e thee
.
’
.
But hid e a b it till th e ha wthorn bl o om and ano n thy wall s ,
p ut on the i r kirtl e of b rave ro ses an d sweet wo o db ine , .
Have we forgotten th ee an d th e fo olish things th ou lovest ?,
And dear Gerard thy m other i s waiting ; an d t i s late for

, ,
,
’
h er to b e o ut of her b ed : p rith e e prithee com e ! And the , ,

’
m om ent we are ou t of this foul hol e I ll show the e a treasure
’
thou hast gotten and knowest nou ght on t o r sure hadst
, ,
never fl e d fro m u s s e Al a s ! what is to d o ? W hat have

.
I ign orantly s aid to b e regarded thu s ?

,
F or h e h ad drawn him self up a l l into a heap an d wa s ,
lo okin g a t h er with a stran ge gaz e of fear an d su spicion

bl ended .
Unhappy girl s ai d h e solemnly yet de eply agitated ,

, ,
6 02 TH E C L O ISTER AND T H E HEA R T H :
N a y Marg a ret wel l t ho u knowest I wo u l d suff er ma ny
, ,
deat h s rath er than p ut f orce on the e; thy swe et b o dy i s

d earer to m e than my own ; b ut a mil l io ntim e s de arer t o m e
,
are our i mmortal so ul s b oth thine an d min e I h ave , .
withsto o d thi s d i rest tem pt atio n of all long enow N ow I

mu st fl y i t : farewel l ! f a re w
.
ell !
He m ad e to the do or an d ha d ,
hal f ou t when s h e darte d af ter

,
arm .
N ay th en an oth er mu st sp eak for m e I th ough t to

, .
rewar d the e for yiel din g to m e ; b ut unk in d that thou art I

n eed his h elp I fi n d ; turn th en this way on e mo ment
, ,
Nay nay ,
.
B ut I s a y ay l An d then turn t h y ba ck on u s a n th ou ,
canst . S h e s om ewh at rel a x e d her grasp , thinking h e woul d

n ever deny h er s o small a f a Vou r B u t at th i s h e s a w hi s
opp ortuni ty an d s eiz e d 1 t .
h e al m o st shri ek e d ; an d h i s
.
Fly C l em ent fl y !
relig i ou s enthu s i asm givin g him f or a m
, ,
o m e nt hi s ol d
strength h e b urs t wil dl y away fro m h er an d after a few
, , “
step s b oun ded o ver th e littl e stre a m an d ra n b esi de i t b ut ,
fi n d i n g h e was n ot foll owe d stop p e d an d l o oke d b a c k , ,

. .
Sh e was lying o n h er face w1 t h h er h ands s prea d ou t ,, , .
Yes with out m eaning i t h e ha d th rownh er d own an d

, ,
hurt her
Wh en h e s a w th at h e g ro ane d a n d turned b ack a step ;
.
b u t su d denly b y a n oth er imp ul s,e flung himself into the i c y

water instead .
There kill my b o dy ! h e cried

,
b ut sav e my soul ! ,
Whilst h e sto o d th ere u p to his thr e at in liq ui d me s o to , ,
S p ea k M argar et uttere d on e lo ng p iteou s m e an an d ro s e to

, , ,
h er kn ees
H e s a wher a s pl ai n a lmo st a s i n midd a y
.
S a w h er p al e .
, “
fac eand h er eyes glisteni n g ; an d th en i n the still night h e .
heard thes e word s :

Oh G od 1 , Tho u that kno we st al l Thou s eest h o I a m , w
u se d F orgive m e then ! F or I will not li ve another day
'
. .
With this s h e su d denly starte d to h er feet and fl ew like som e ,
w i l d creature woun ded to d eath clo s e b y { h i s miserabl e

, ,
hidi ng pl ace s hrieking : ,

—
CR U E L l CR U E L l — CR U E L I
CRUE L !
W h a t m a n i f ol d an gu ish m ay b urst from a hum a nhear t in

a sin gl e syllable There were wounded l ove z an d wo u n ded
.
,
p rid e an d de sp air and coming m adness a ll i n that piteou s

, ,
cry . Clem ent heard and it froz e h i s he art with terror and ,
remorse wors e than the icy water chill e d the m arro w of his
,
b ones .
'
felt he ha d driven her fro m him f or ever a nd in th e

He ,
midst of his dismal triumph th e greate st he h ad won there , ,
cam e an alm o st incontroll abl e impul se to curs e th e Church ,
to curse religio n itself for exa cting su ch savage cruelty from

,
mortal man A t last h e crawl ed half d ea d out of th e water

.
,
an d staggere d to his den I a m safe here h e gro aned ; .

'
she wil l n ever com e n ear m e again ; unmanly un g rateful ,

”
wretch that I a m An d h e flun g his emaciate d frozen
.
,
b o dy down on t h e fl oor n ot without a s ecret h e p e that it

'
might n ever r i s e then ce alive

‘ ‘
—
.
But presently h e a w b y th e hour glass that it was p ast

s ‘
midnight On this h e ro s e slowly and to ok off his wet

.
,
thin gs an d m e aning all the tim e at th e p ain h e ha d cau se d

,
-
her h e l oved put on th e ol d hermit s cilice of bristles an d

,
’
over that his b reastplate H e ha d n ever worn eith er of these

-
.
b efore doubtin g him self worthy to do n th e arm s of that trie d

,
soldier But now h e mu st give him self every aid ; th e

.
,
bri stl es mi ght distract his earthly remors e by b o dily p ain ,
an d there might b e holy Virtu e in th e b reastpl ate .
Th en h e kneel e d down an d p rayed Go d humbly to release

him that very night from th e burden of th e fl esh Then h e '
lighte d all hi s candle s an d recite d his p salter do ggedly each

,
word s eem ed to com e lik e a lump of lead fro m a leaden heart .
an d to fall leaden -to th e groun d ; and in thi s m ech ani cal

o th ee every n ow and then h e mo ane d with all his soul In .
th e mi d st of which h e su ddenly ob served a littl e bun dl e in

th e corner h e ha d not seen b efore in th e fe ebl er light an d at ,
on e en d of it so m ethin g l ik e gol d spun into silk .
H e went to s ee what it coul d b e ; an d h e had n o so oner

Viewed it clo ser than h e threw up his ha n ds with rapture
, .
”
It is a s eraph h e whisp ered , a lovely se r aph Heaven , .
hath witn essed my b itter trial an d approves my cru elty ; ,
and this fl ow er of th e skies i s s ent to cheer m e faintin g und er ,

”
my burden
'
.
H e fell o n his knees an d gaze d with ecstasy on its golden

,
hair an d its tender skin and cheeks lik e a p each

, , .
Let m e feast my s a d eye s on the e ere tho u l ea v e s t m e

‘
f or thin e ever -
blessed ab o de and my cell darken s a gain at ,
thy p artin g a s it did at hers

, .
With al l this th e h ermit disturb e d th e lovely Vi sitor

,
'
.
H e op ene d wid e t w o ey e s th e colour of heaven ; an d seeing ,
a stran ge fi gu r e kneelin g over him h e crie d p iteou sly , ,
MUM MA ! MUM MA !
- -
An d the tears b egan to run
d own h i s littl e ch eek s .
Perhap s after all Cl ement who for m ore than s i x

, , ,
months had not lo oked on th e human face d ivi n e estimated ,
chil dish b eauty more j ustly than we can ; and in truth this ,
fair northern child with its lon g golden hair wa s far more
, ,
604 THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HE A RTH
an gelic than any of our imagine d an gel s But now the sp ell .
was b roken .
Yet n ot unhapp i ly Cl em ent it m ay b e rem emb ered

.
, ,
wa s fon d of ch il dren and tru e m onasti c life fo sters this

,
s entim ent Th e inno cent distres s o n th e ch erub ic face the

.
,
tears that ran s o sm o othly from tho se transp a rent Viol ets ,
his eyes an d his p retty dismal cry for his o nly friend h i s
, , ,
’
m other went throu gh th e hermit s he art
, H e empl oyed a l l .
his gentlenes s and all h i s ar t to so othe him ; an d a s th e l ittl e

s o ul wa s wo n derf u lly intel li gent for h i s age p resently ,
su cce ede d s o far that he ceas ed to cry ou t and wo nder to ok ,
th e place of fe a r ; whil e in sil ence b roken onl y in littl e , ,
gu lp s h e scanned with great te ar f u l eyes th is stran ge fi gu r e

, , ,
th at lo ok ed s o wi l d b ut sp ok e s o ki ndly an d wo re armo ur
, , ,
yet did no t kill littl e b oys b ut co a xe d them Cl ement wa s , .
e qu ally p erpl exed to know h ow thi s l ittle human fl ow er cam e

t o li e sp ar klin g and blo oming in h i s gl o omy cave But he .
rem emb ere d he had l eft the do or wid e op en an d h e was ,
driven to con clu d e th at owi n g to this n e gligence s om e u n , ,
fortun ate creature of high or low d e gre e h ad seiz ed thi s

1
opp ortunity to get rid of her chil d fo r ever A t this his .
b owel s yearn ed s o over th e p o or de sert ed cherub that th e ,
te a rs of pure ten dernes s sto o d in his eyes an d still b eneath , ,
the cri m e of th e m o th er he s a w th e di vin e go o dn ess which, ,
ha d s o d i recte d h er he artlessness a s to comfort H i s servant s ’
b re akin g heart .
Now bl ess the e bl ess thee bles s th ee swe et inno cent I

, , , ,
” ’
woul d no t change th ee for e en a cherub in heaven .
”
A t s p o oty
’
replied th e infant i gn orin g c on t em p t u
, ,
ou s l y after th e m anner of i nfants al l rem ark s that did n ot

, ,
intere st him .
Wh at i s p retty here my l ove b eside s thee ? , ,

” 2
Ook u m g a rs s a i d th e b oy p o i nting to th e hermit s ’
-
, ,
b reastpl ate .
Quo t l i b eri to t s en t en t i u n c u l w i
, Hecto r s ch i l d ’
’
scream ed at h i s fath er s glitter i n g ca squ e and no d di n g cre st ;
an d h ere was a m e d i eeva l b ab e charm ed with a p olished
cuirass an d his griefs a ssu aged
, .
Th ere are prettier things h ere than that said Cl ement , ,
there are littl e b irds ; lovest thou b irds ?

Nay Ay . E n um i t t l e ery i t tl e ?
. No t ik e t or k s , .
”
Hate t or k s ; um b igger an b ab y .
H e th en c on fi d e d in ve r y broken lan gu age that th e storks

, ,
with their g reat fl app in g wings scared him and were a gr eat ,
troub l e and worry to h i m darkening his existence m ore or ,
less .
1
Mor e t h a n on e h e r m i t h a d r ece i ved a pr es en t of t hi s k i n d
Q u e r y , l ook i n g g l a s s
2 -
”
.
6 06 TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HEAR T H ‘
Oh ! h e i s well where h e i s My h eart i s t u r n ed a gainst .

’
my very chil d H e c ares n ou gh t j or him ; woul dn t see him

’
.
,
nor hear sp e ak of him ; an d I to ok him th er e s o p rou d an d ,
m ad e his h air so nice I did an d put his n ew fro ck an d cowl , ,
on him Nay t h r n ab out : i t s h i s chil d a s well a s mine ;

.
,
’
l et hi m ke ep it a w hil e : m ayhap that w ill l earn him to think

m ore of its m oth er a n d hi s ow n .
High word s off an emp ty st om a ch said R eicht , .
Tim e will sh ow Co m e th o u hom e . .
Th ey d ep ar ted an d Tim e di d s how q uicker than h e ,
l evel s ab b eys for at th e s econ d step Margar et st e pp e d an d

,
'
,
coul d n eith er g o on e way nor th e e th er b ut s to o d sto ck s t ,
R eicht sai d sh e piteou sly

, wh at el s e h ave I on ,
”
earth ? I cannot .
Wh o ever s aid you coul d ? Think you I p ai d attention ?

Word s are wom an s b reath Com e b a ck f or h i m withou t
’ ' ‘
’ ”
m ore ad o ; tis tim e w e were in our b ed s mu ch more h e , .
R eicht le d th e way an d Marg a ret foll owe d read i ly enou gh ,
in th at directi on ; b ut a s th ey drew n e ar th e cell sh e stop p ed ,
a gain
R eicht g o yo u an d ask him w
.
, ill h e giv e m e b ack my ,
b oy ; f or I coul d not b ear th e sight of him .
Al as ! mi stress thi s do seem a so rry endin g after all

that h ath b e e n b etw ix t you twain
,
B ethink th ee n ow doth
'
.
,
thi n e h eart whi sp er n o excu s e for him ? d ost Verily hate him
‘ '
f or whom tho u h ast wai t ed s o l on g ? Oh w e ar y worl d !

‘
, .
w
Hate h i m R eicht ? I oul d not harm a h air of hi s
"
,
hea d for all that is in nature ; b ut lo ok on him I cann ot ; I

h ave tak en a h o rror of him Oh ! wh en I t hi nk of al l I have .
suff ere d for him an d w hat I Cam e here this night t o do for
,
'
him an d brou ght my own d arlin g to kiss him an d call him

,
fath er Ah Luk e my p o or ch ap my wou nd sh e weth m e

.
, , ,
thine I h ave th ou ght to o littl e of t h y p an g s who se tru e

.
,
a ff ectio n I desp ise d ; an d now my own i s desp ised R ei cht .
i i th e p o or l ad w a s h ere n ow h ew oul d have a go o d chance

'
, .
Well h e i s no t far off said R eicht H ey n es ; b ut som e

, ,
how s h e did not s a y it wi t h al acrity .
Sp eak not to m e of any

’
said M a rg aret b itterl y
I hat e th em al l
For th e s ak e o
.
f on e?
’
Fl out m e not b ut p rithee go forw ar d an d get m e what, ,
i s my own my sol e j oy i n th e world Th ou knowest I am on

'
.
,
th orn s till I have him to m y b o som a gain .

’
R eicht we nt fo rward ; Ma r garet sat by th e ro adsid e an d

covered her face with h er apron an d ro cke d hers el f after the ,
m ann er of her country f or h er soul was ful l of b itterness a n d ,
grief .S e severe indeed was th e intern al c on fl i c t that sh e

, , ,
d i d not hear R eicht ru nnin g b ack to h er and started ,

THE C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH 6 07
Viol ently when th e yo un g woman laid a hand up on her

shoulder .
Mistress Margaret ! said Reicht qui etly take a fo ol s ,

’
a d V i ce that l oV e s y e G o softly to yo n cave W 1 all the e ars .

, ,
”
an d eye s yo ur m other ever gave you .
— —
Why 2 what Reicht ? stamm ere d Margaret
‘
.
I thou ght th e cave wa s a fi r e twas so light inside ; ,

’
an d there were voices .
V o ices ?
A y not on e b ut twain and al l u nlike — a m an s and a ,
’
, ,
littl e child s talking a s pleasant a s you an d m e

’
, I am no .
’
great hand at a k eyhole for my p art tis p altry work ; but ,
if s o b e v oi c es were a talkin g in yon cave an d them that

.
,
owne d tho s e V oices were s o near to m e as tho s e are to th ee ,

’
I d g o on all fours like a fo x and I d crawl on my b elly like
’
-
,
’
a s erp ent ere I d lo s e on e word that p asses a twi xt th os e
,
”
t wa i n .
Whisht Reicht ! Bless thee l Bid e tho u here , B us s .
m e ! Pray for m e !
An d almo st ere the a gitate d words had left her lip s
M argaret was flying toward s the h ermita ge a s noisel essly a s
a lapwing Arrived near i t s h e cro uch ed and there was
.
, ,
something truly serp entine in th e gliding fl exi b l e no iseless , ,
m ovements b y which s h e reache d the very do or and there ,
s h e found a chink and listened An d o ften it co st her a , .
stru ggle n ot to burst in up o n them ; b ut warned b y d efeat ,
sh e was cautiou s and resolut e to let well al on e An d after

, .
a while slowly and noiselessly s h e rea re d her head l i ke a

, ,
snake i t s crest to where s h e s a w th e b ro adest chink of a ll

, ,
and lo oked with all her eyes and soul a s well as listene d , .
The littl e b oy then b eing a ske d wh ether h e had no d addy ,
at fi r s t sho ok his head and woul d s a y nothing ; b ut b eing ,
pressed h e su d denly s eeme d to rem emb er s om ething and ,
said h e D ad da ill mau ; run away and left p o or mum -ma

,
-
.
She who heard th is winced It was as new to her as to .
Cl em ent S om e interfering foolish woman had go ne and sai d

.
this to the b oy and now ou t it cam e in Gerard s very face ,

’
.
His answer s u r p r i s e d h er ; he b urst o ut The V ill ain ! the ,
monster ! he must b e b orn without b owels to des ert thee ,
sweet on e Ah ! he littl e knows the j oy he has turned his

.
,
b ack on Well my littl e dove I mu st b e father and mother

.
, ,
’
to thee since the one runs away an d t other ab andons th ee
, ,
to my care N ow to -morrow I shal l a sk the go o d p eopl e

.
that b ring m e my fo o d to fetch some nice e ggs and m ilk for

the e a s well ; f or b read is go o d enou gh for p o or ol d g ood f or e
nothing me b ut no t for thee An d I shall teach thee to

, .
r ea d f
’
I can yead I can yead , .

THE CL O I S T E R AN D THE HEARTH
'
608
Ay , verily s o youn g ? al l th e b etter ; we will read go o d

,
b o oks to gether an d I sh a ll sh ow thee the way to heaven

, .
Heaven i s a b eautiful place a thousan d tim e s fairer an d ,
b etter th an earth and there b e littl e cherub s like thyself in

, ,
white gla d to wel com e thee an d love thee

, Woul dst lik e .
to g o to h eaven on e d ay ?
Ay al on
, g w i — my m ammy ’
-
.
What not without her th en ?

,
N ay I on t my m ammy
. Wh ere is my mammy ? .
( O h ! what it co st p o o r Margaret not to b urst in and clasp

him to her he a rt ! )
Well fret n ot sweeth eart m ayhap s h e wil l com e when
, , ,
thou art asleep Wil t thou b e go o d now an d sleep ?

.
”
I not e ep y Ik es to talk . .
Well tal k we then ; te l l m e thy pretty name

, .
B ab y An d h e op ene d h i s eye s with am azem ent at

.
this great hulkin g creature s i gnorance ’

.
Hast n on e o ther ?
”
Nay .
Wh at shall I do to pleasure th ee b ab y ? Shall I tell ,
the e a sto ry ?
I ik es tories said th e b oy clapp ing h i s hand s
, , .
Or sing th e e a son g ?
I ikes ton gs and he b ecam e excited , .
”
Cho o s e then a son g o r a story , .
Tin g I a ton g N a y tell I a to ry .N ay ting I a ton g, .

, .
Nay An d the co rne r s of h i s littl e m outh turne d do wn

an d h e h a d hal f a mind to weep b ecau se h e coul d not hav e
b oth and coul d n ot tell which to forego
,
S ud d enly his littl e .
”
face cleare d : Tin g I a to ry said h e , .
S ing th ee a sto ry b ab y ? Well after a l l why n ot ? , , ,
An d wilt thou sit 0 my kne e an d he ar i t ? ’
Yea .
’ ’
Then I mu st e en do f f this breastpl ate Ti s to o har d .
f or thy soft ch eek Se And now I mu st d ofi this b ri stly

. .
cilice ; th ey woul d prick thy te n der skin p erhap s m ake it ,
bleed as th ey have m e I s ee
,
Se And now I put o n my
, . .
b est p elisse in honour of thy worshipful Vi sit

.
, S ee how soft .
an d warm it i s ; bl es s th e go o d soul that s ent i t ; and now

I s i t m e d own ; s e An d I tak e the e o n my left knee an d
.
,
put my arm un der thy littl e head ; s e An d then th e

'
”
p saltery and play a littl e tune ; s e not t oo lou d
, , .
”
I i ke s dat .
I a m ri ght glad on t N ow list th e story

’
. .
H e ch ante d a chil d s story in a s ort of recitative sin gin g

’
,
a littl e m oral refrain n ow an d then Th e b oy listen ed wi th .
rapture .
I ik e s 0 0 said h e , Ot i s 0 0 ? i s 0 0 a m an ?.
61 0 THE C L O I STER AND THE HEARTH
Gerard to pretend ! nay tho u ar t t oo wise to o g ood n ot to
, , , ,
'
h a V e —why I watche d thee ;

'
, and e en no w lo ok at yo u ’
twai n ! Tis thin e own flesh and blo o d tho u hol dest to thine
’
heart .
Cl em ent trembled What words are these . he ,
stamm ered this an gel mine ?

,
Who s e el se ? since h e i s m in e .
Cl em ent turn e d on the sl eep in g chil d with a lo ok b eyo nd ,
the p o wer of th e p en to describ e an d tremble d all o ver a s , ,
his eyes s eem e d to ab sorb th e littl e love .
H e is not a b it lik e m e
’
M a rg a ret s eye s foll owe d h i s .
,
sai d s h e prou dly ; b ut oh at whiles h e i s thy very im age in ,
littl e ; an d s ee this gol den ha i r Thine was the very colo ur .
at his age ; a s k m other else An d s ee this m ol e on h i s little .
fi n ger ; no w lo ok at thine own ; there !

’
Twas thy m other
l et m e weet tho u wast m arke d s o b efore h i m ; an d oh
'
Ger a rd ; twas t h is ou r ch i l d foun d thee for m e ; for b y that

’
littl e m ark o n thy fi n g er I knew thee for h i s father wh en I ,
watched a b ove thy window an d s a w thee fee d th e b irds .
Here s h e s eiz ed th e chil d s hand and kiss ed it ea gerly and ’

, ,
got h al f of it into her m outh H eaven knows how Ah ! ,

.
bless the e tho u didst fi n d thy p o or daddy for h er an d now

, ,
tho u hast m a d e u s frien ds agai n af ter our littl e qu arrel ; -the

’
fi r s t th e l ast
, Wa st very cru el to m e b ut now my p o or
.
,
”
Gerard an d I forgive thee ; for l ov in g of thy ch i ld
, .
Ah ! ah ! ah ! a h ! ah ! s ob b e d Cl em ent choking , .
An d lowere d b y fasts an d unnerved b y solitu d e the o nce , ,
s tron g m an w a s hysterical a n d n ea r l y fai nting ,

. .
M argaret w a s al arm e d b ut ha ving exp erience her p ity , ,

”
wa s gr eater than her fear N ay tak e n ot on s e sh e .
, : ,
murmur e d so othingly and p ut a gentl e h a n d up o n hi s b row , .
B e b rave ! Se se D ear heart tho u art no t the fi rst m an

, .
,
that hath gon e ab ro a d a nd com e b ack rich er b y a lovely little

s e l f th an he went forth Bein g a m an o f Go d tak e co urage .
, ,
and s a y H e sends the e this to comfort thee for what tho u

hast l o st in m e ; and that i s n ot s o very mu ch my la mb ; ,
’
for sure the b etter p art of love sh al l n e er co ol here to the e
tho u gh it m ay i n thin e and ou ght b eing a priest and , ,
”
p arso n of Gou da .
I ? priest of Goud a ? Never ! murmured Cl em ent in a

faint vo ice ; I a m a friar of S t D ominic : yet sp eak on .
,
s weet music tell m e all th at h a s happ ene d thee b efore we

, ,
are p ar te d again .
Now s ome woul d o n this have exclaim ed against p arting

at al l a n d rais ed the tru e qu estion in dispute
, But su ch .
wom en a s M arg a ret d o not rep eat their mist a kes It i s

, .
very h a rd to defeat them t wi ce wh ere their heart s are s et o n ,

Sh e assented an d turn ed h er b a ck on Goud a m anse as a

,
thing not to b e recurre d t o ; an d sh e tol d him her t al e ,
dwellin g ab ove all o n th e kindness to her of h i s p a rents ; a n d

whil e s h e related her troubles h i s han d stol e to h ers an d , ,
often s h e felt him wince an d trembl e with ire an d often ,
pres s h er hand symp athizin g with h er in every vein

, .
Oh p iteou s tal e of a tru e heart b attling al on e against

,
su ch b itter o dds sai d h e , .
It all se em s sm all when I s ee the e here a gain an d nurs

, ,
ing my b oy We have had a warnin g Gerard Tru e friends

.
, .
like you and m e are rare an d they are m ad to p art ere death , ,
divideth them .
An d that i s tru e s aid Clem ent off his gu ard , , .
An d then sh e woul d have him tell h er what h e ha d

su ffere d for her an d h e b e gge d her to excu se him and sh e
, ,
consente d ; b ut b y qu estio ns quietly revoke d h er con sent

and elicited it all ; an d m any a sigh s h e h eave d for him an d ,
m ore than once sh e hid her fac e in her hand s with terror at
hi s p erils thou gh p ast
, .
And to consol e him for all h e had go ne throu gh s h e ,
kneeled down and put her arm s und er the littl e b oy and ,
”
lifte d him gen t ly u p Kiss him softly sh e whisp ered
.
, .
Again again ! kiss thy fi l l i f thou can st ; h e is soun d

, .
’
Ti s all I can do to comfort th e e til l th ou art out of this foul
d en an d in thy sweet m anse yond er .
Cl em ent sho ok hi s head .
”
Well said she
, l et that p ass Kn o w th at I have
, .
b een sore a fl r on t e d for want of my lines .
Wh o hath dare d affront thee ?

No m atter tho se that will do it a gain if thou hast lo st
,
”
them which th e saints forb id
, .
I lo se them ? nay there they lie clo se to t h y han d , , .
Where where oh wh ere ?

, , ,
Clem ent hung his h ead L o ok in the V ul gate Heaven . .
fo r give m e : I th ou ght thou wert dead an d a saint in ,

”
heaven .
Sh e lo oked and on th e blank leaves of th e p o or soul s

,
’
V ul gate she foun d her m arriage lines .
Thank Go d ! s h e cried thank Go d ! Oh bl ess thee , , ,
Gerard bles s thee ! W h y what i s h ere Gerard ?

, , ,
On the other l eave s were p inned every scrap of pap er she

had ever sent him and their two nam es sh e had once written
,
to gether in S p ort an d the lo ck of h er hair s h e had given him

, ,
and h alf a silver coin she had b roken with him and a straw ,
s h e had su cke d her soup with the fi r s t d a y h e ever saw her .
When Margaret s a w these pro ofs of l ove an d sign s of a

gentl e h eart b ereave d even her exultatio n at gettin g b ack h er
,
m arriage lines wa s overp owere d by gu shing tendernes s She .

almo st staggered and her h an d went to h er b o som and s h e
, ,
leaned her b row again st th e ston e cell and wept s o sil ently
that he di d not s e e s h e was weep ing ; indee d s h e woul d not
l et h i m for s h e felt that to b efrien d him now s h e mu st b e the
,
stro nger ; and em otion w eakens .
Gerard said she I know you are w is e an d go o d

, , .
You mu st have a reason for what you ar e doin g l et it s eem ,
ever s o u nreaso nable T al k we l ik e ol d friends Why are . .
you b urie d al ive ?

Margar et to e scap e temptatio n
, My imp iou s ire .
a gainst tho se two had its r o ot in the heart ; that h eart then
I mu st d ead en and D ei gratia I shall
, Sh al l I a s ervant
, , .
,
of C h rist and of th e Church court temptatio n ? Shall I ,

’
pray daily to b e l e d ou t o n t an d walk into it with op en ,
eye s ?
That i s go o d s ense anyw ay sai d Marg a ret with a , ,
consummate affectatio n of candour

‘
”
T i s unanswerabl e s ai d Clem ent with a sigh
’
.
, ,
We sh al l s e e Tell m e have you e scap e d temptatio n

.
,
here ? Why I ask i s when I a m al on e my tho ughts are far , ,
m ore wil d an d fo olish than in comp any Nay sp e ak so oth ; .

,
com e !
I mu st n eeds own I have b e en wors e tempte d here with
”
ev i l im aginations th an in th e worl d .
”
Th ere n o w .
A y b ut s o w ere Anthony an d Jerom e Ma c a r i u s an d

, ,
’
Hil arion B ene dict B ern ard and a l l the saints
,
Tw i ll wear
, , .
O ff
How do y ou know ?
”
I fe el sure it will .
’
Gu essin g against knowled ge Here tis m en folk are .
sil lier than u s th at b e but wom en Wise in their ow n .
conceits th ey w i ll no t l et them selve s s ee ; their stom ach s

,
are to o high to b e tau ght by th eir eyes A wom an if she .

,
went into a hol e in a b ank to escap e temptation an d there ,
foun d i t woul d j u st lift her farthin gal e an d ou t on t an d

,
’
n ot e en know h ow wi s e sh e was till s h e watche d a m an in

’
,
”
l ike pli ght .
N ay I grant humility an d a teachabl e spirit are th e

,
ro ads to wisdom ; b ut when all is said h ere I wrestl e but ,
with imagination A t Gou d a s h e I love as no priest or m onk

.
mu st lo ve any b ut the an gel s s h e will tempt a weak soul , ,
unw i llin g yet n ot loth to b e tempted

, .
A y that is another m atter ; I sho ul d tempt thee then ?

,
’
to what i Go d s nam e ?
,
’
Wh o kno ws ? Th e nesh i s weak .
Sp eak for yourself my lad Why you are thinkin g of ,

.
,
s om e o ther M a rgaret n ot Margaret a Peter W a s ever my , .

61 4 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEART H -
last . Sh e smil e d in p ain to o A well then thu s twas : .

, ,
s h e was to ok w i a l an gu or an d a lo s s of al l her p ains

’
.
A lo ss of her p ains ? I understan d y ou n ot .
A y you are not exp erience d ; indee d e en thy m o th er ’
, ,
almo st blinde d hers elf an d s aid Tis m ayb e a chan ge for th e ,

’
’
b etter But Jo an K etel which is an un derstandin g wom an
.
, ,
s h e lo ok e d at her an d s aid
‘
D own s u n down win d ! An d , ,
th e go ssip s side d an d s aid B e b rave y ou that ar e her ,

‘
,
’
m other f or sh e i s hal f way to the s aints
, And thy m oth er .
wept s or e b u t Kate woul d n ot let h er ; an d o n e very ancient

,
wom an s h e s ai d to thy m other

, Sh e will di e a s ea sy a s ,
‘
_
s h e live d h ard An d sh e l a y p ai n l es s b es t p art of thre e d ays

.
‘ ,
a sipp i n g of h eaven aforehand An d my d ear wh en s h e w a s .

, ,
’
j u st p ar tin g s h e ask ed for Gerar d s littl e b oy an d I
,
‘ ’
b rou ght him an d s et h i m on th e b ed and the littl e thin g ,
b ehaved a s p ea ceably a s h e do es n ow B ut by thi s tim e s h e .
was p ast sp eakin g ; b ut s h e p ointe d to a drawer an d her ,
m other kn ew what to l o ok fo r : i t was two gol d ang els th o u ‘
ha dst given her ye ars a go P o or soul ! s h e ha d k ep t th em .
till thou shoul dst com e hom e An d s h e no dde d toward s t h e .
littl e b oy an d lo ok ed anxi ou s ; b ut w e understo o d her an d

, ,
p ut th e p i ece s in his two han d s an d when h i s l ittl e fi n ger s ,
clo se d on them s h e s m i le d co ntent And s o s h e gave her

, .
littl e ear thly treasure s to her favourite s chil d— for you wer e ’
—
her favo urite an d h er i mm ortal j ewel to Go d a n d p as se d s o ,
sweetly we n o n e of u s kn ew j u stly wh en s e left u s

h Well a-
.
d ay well a -day !
,
-
Gerard wept .
Sh e h ath n ot l eft her lik e on earth he sob b ed Oh , .

,
h ow th e affe ctions of earth curl softly round m y h e art ! .
I cannot help i t ; Go d m ade them after al l Sp eak on swe et .

,
Margar et ; at thy Voice th e p ast roll s its tide s b ack up on m e ;

th e love s an d the hop es of youth com e fair an d gli ding into
my d a rk cel l an d d arker b o som o n waves of mem ory and
, ,
”
music .
Gerard I a m l oth to g ri eve yo u b ut K ate cried a littl e

, ,
wh en she fi r s t to ok ill at yo u n ot b ein g th ere to cl o se h er

”
eyes .
Gerard sighe d .
You were with i n a lea gu e but hid your face from her , .
H e gro aned .
There forgive m e for naggin g ; I a m but a wom an ;

,
y ou wo ul d not h ave b een s o cru el to your own fl es h an d

,
blo o d knowingly woul d y ou ? ,
Oh n o , .
Well t h en kno w th at t h y brother S y b r a n d t lies in my

, ,
charge with a broken b ack fruit of thy curse , .

THE C L O ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
Mea culp a ! m ea culp a !
H e is Very p enitent ; b e yours elf and forgive him this
I have forgiven him lo ng a go .
Think y ou h e can b elieve that from any m outh b ut

’
yours ? Come ! h e is b ut ab out two b utts len gth hence .
S e near ? Why where ? ,
1
At Go u da m anse I to ok him there yestreen . For I .
know yo u th e curs e was scarce col d o n yo ur lip s wh en y ou

,
rep ente d it ( Gerard no d de d assent ) an d I said to myself , ,
Gerard will thank m e for taking S y b r a n d t to di e under his

ro of ; he will not b eat his b reast and cry m ea culp a yet ,
gru d ge thre e fo otstep s to quiet a withere d b rother on his l ast

bed . H e may have a b ee in his b o nnet b ut h e i s not a ,
hyp o crite a thing all p iou s words and unch aritabl e d eeds
, .
Gerard literally sta ggere d where h e s a t at this trem endou s

thru st .
For give m e for na ggin g said she Thy m oth er t oo

'
.
,
i s waitin g for the e Is it well done to keep h er on thorns so

.
l on g ? She will not sl e ep this night B ethink thee Gerard .

, ,
s h e i s all to the e that I a m to this sweet chil d Ah I think .

,
s o mu ch more of m others since I ha d my littl e Gerard She .
Suffered for th ee an d nurse d thee an d tended th ee from b oy

, ,
to m an Pri est m onk hermit call thyself what tho u w i lt

.
, , , ,
”
to her tho u ar t b ut on e thin g ; her chil d .
Where is s h e ? murmure d Gerard in a quavering voice , .
”
A t Gou d a manse wearin g th e night in prayer an d care
, .
Then Margaret s a w the tim e w a s com e for that app eal to

h i s reaso n s h e had purp o sely reserved till p ersu asio n shoul d
have p aved the way f or co nviction S o th e smith fi r s t .
softens th e iro n b y fi r e and then brings down th e sledge ,
hamm er .
,She showe d him b ut in h er ow n go o d strai ghtforward

,
D utch that his present life wa s only a highe r kin d o f s el fi s h

,
ness sp ir itu al e gotism wherea s a priest had n o more right to

,
care o nly for his own soul than only for his ow n b o dy That .
”
wa s no t h i s p ath to heaven But said sh e who ever .
, ,
y et lo st his s oul b y s aving th e s oul s of others ! th e Almighty

loves him who think s of others ; an d when H e shall s ee thee
ca r ing for th e soul s of th e folk th e du k e hath put into thine
hand H e will care ten tim es m ore for thy soul than H e do e s
,
”
now .
1
Ger a rd was stru ck by thi s remark Art shrewd in .
”
dispute s aid h e , .
F a r from i t w a s the reply, o nly my eyes ar e n ot ,

1
b andaged with co nceit S e lon g a s S atan walks th e whole
.
1
I t h i nk sh e m e a n s pr e j u d i ce .
61 6 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HE ART H
earth temptin g m en and s o lo n g a s th e s ons of B elial d o
, ,
n ever l o ck them selve s in caves but run like ants to an d fro ,
corrup tin g o thers th e go o d m an that skulks ap art pl ays the

,
d evil s gam e or at least give s him th e o dds : th o u a sol dier of

’
C h rist ? a sk thy comrad e D enys who is b ut a soldier of th e ,
duk e a sk him if ever h e skulk ed in a hol e an d shunne d th e

,
b attl e b e cau s e fors o oth in b attl e is d anger as well as glory

an d duty For thy s ol e excu se is fear ; tho u m ake st n o
.
s ecret o n t G o to n o duk e n or king h ath such co w a rdly

’
.
,
sol diers as Christ hath Wh at wa s that you s ai d in th e .
church at Rotterdam ab o ut the m an in the p arabl e that

burie d his tal ent in the earth and s o o ff ended th e giver ? ,
T h y wonderful g i ft for p re achin g i s it not a t a lent an d a gif t , ,
from thy Creator ?

C ertes ; su ch as it i s .
An d hast tho u lai d it ou t ? or b urie d i t ? To whom h ast

th ou p rea ch ed thes e s even m onth s ? to b ats an d owl s ? Hast
b uried it in on e hol e with thyself and thy once go o d wits ?
’
The D ominicans are th e friars preachers Ti s f or .
pre achin g th ey were foun ded s o thou art fal se to D omini c a s ,
w ell as to his Master .
D o y ou rem emb er Gerard when we were youn g , ,
to gether which now are ol d b efore our tim e as we wal ked

, ,
h an de d in th e fi el d s did y ou b ut s ee a she ep cast a y thre e

, , ,
fi el d s 0 11 yo u woul d le ave your sweeth eart ( b y her go o d will )

,
an d run an d lift th e sh eep for charity ? Well then at Gou da , ,
is n ot one sheep in evi l plight b ut a whole fl ock ; so m e cast , ,
s om e straye d so m e sick som e tainte d s o m e a b ein g de

, , ,
v ou r e d and al l for th e want of a shepherd

, Wh ere is their .
sheph erd ? lurkin g in a den l i k e a wolf a den in his own ,
p arish ; out fi e ! ou t fi e l
I s cente d thee out in p art by thy kindnes s to the littl e , ,
b ird s . Tak e n ote yo u Gerard E l i a s s oen mu st l ove som e

,
’
thin g tis in your blo o d ; y ou w ere b o rn to t
, Shu nnin g ’
.
m an you d o b ut s eek earthly a f fe ction a p e g l ower than

,
m an .
Gerard interrupted h er Th e b irds are Go d s creatures .

’
,
His inno cent creatures an d I do well to lo ve th em b ein g , ,

”
Go d 5 creatures .
W hat are th ey creature s of th e sam e Go d that we a r e

, ,
th at h e is wh o lie s up o n thy knee ?

You know they are .
Then wh at pretence for shunnin g u s and b ein g kind to

them ? S ith m an is on e of th e anim als why p ick him out to ,
’
shun ? I s t b e cau se he is of animal s th e p a ra gon ? What ,
you court th e yo un g of b irds an d ab ando n yo ur own youn g ? ,
Birds ne e d b ut b o dily fo o d and h avin g wings deserve scant , ,
p ity if they cannot fl y an d fi n d i t B ut that sweet dove .

61 8 TH E C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH
Why en cumb er thyself with tho s e ? Th ey a r e s a fe . .
’
Oh s h e had a reason
, .
An d with this th ey to ok the ro a d to Gou d a p ar son age .
Th e m o on an d stars w ere s o bright it seem e d al mo st as ,
light a s day .
Su d denly G erard stopp ed My p oor li ttl e b irds ! . i
Wh at of th em ?
They wi ll mis s th eir fo o d I fe e d them every day . .
Th e chil d h ath a p ie ce of brea d in h i s cowl Tak e that .

,
”
an d fee d them now a gainst th e m orn .
I wi ll N a y I will not . H e i s a s inno cent an d n ear er

, .
,
t o m e an d to th ee .
Margar et drew a l on g b reath Tis well Hadst tak en .

’
.
i t I might h ave hate d th ee ; I a m b ut a woman

’
, .
When th ey ha d go n e ab out a qu ar ter of a mil e Gerar d ,
sigh ed . Mar gar et said h e I mu st e en r est ; h e i s t oo

, ,
’
heavy for m e .
’
Then give h i m m e an d tak e th ou thes e Al a s i al as ! , . ,
I min d wh en thou wo uldst h ave run with the chi l d o n on e

”
sho ul d er an d the m other on t o ther
,
’
.
An d M argaret c ar r i ed t h e b oy ;
”
I tro w s aid Gerar d lo okin g down
, o vermu ch fasting , ,
is n ot go o d f or a m a n .
’
A m any die of it each ye ar winter time replie d , ,
Margaret
Gerard p ondere d th e
.
se S i m p le w or d s an d eye d her askant

When th ey h a d gon e
, ,
carryin g th e ch i l d with p erf ect ea se .
n early a m il e h e sai d with consi d erabl e surprise You ,

”
thou ght it wa s b ut two b utts l en gth ’
.
N ot I .
XVh y y ou said s e , .
'
That i s another m atter Sh e then turn e d on him the .
fac e of a M ado nn a I lied sai d s h e sweetly . An d to , . .
s ave your soul an d b o dy I d m ayb e tell a wors e l ie th an th at ,

’
at n ee d I a m b ut a w om a n Ah well it i s b ut two b utts ’

.
.
, , ,
”
len gth from here at any rate .
Without a lie ?
Hump h ! Three wi tho ut a lie , .
An d sure enou gh in a few min ute s th ey cam e up to t h e ,
manse .
A candl e wa s b urnin g in th e Vi car s p arlo ur ’
wakin g still whisp ered Margar et, .
B eautiful ! b e auti ful ! said Cl em ent , an d stopp e d to

lo ok at i t .
Wh at in He ave ns n am e ? ,
’
That littl e candl e se en throu gh th e wind ow a t night ,
L o ok an it b e not like so m e fair star of siz e p ro di gio u s : it de ~

li ghteth the eyes an d warm eth th e he art of tho s e ou t s i d e
, .
C ome
and I ll show thee som ething b etter
,
’
Margaret and led h i m on tipto e to the window

,
.
They lo oke d in an d there was Catherine kneeling o n the

hasso ck with h er hours b efore her
'
.
,
”
Folk can pray ou t of a cave whisp ere d Margaret , .
A y and hit heaven with th eir prayers ; f or tis for a sight of

’
thee s h e prayeth and tho u art h ere Now Gerard b e

, .
, ,
prep are d ; s h e 1 s n ot the woman y ou knew her ; h er chil dren s ’
trouble s have greatly broken t h e b risk light h earted soul ,

-
.
And I s ee s h e has b een weeping e en now ; s h e will h ave ’
given thee u p b eing s o l ate , .
”
L et m e get to h er s ai d Clem ent hastily trembling all , ,
That do or ! I w i ll hide here .
Wh en Gerard was gone t o the do or Margaret fearin g th e , ,
su dden surprise gave on e sharp tap at the window an d cried ;

,
Mother ! in a lou d expressive vo ice th at Cath erine read , ,
at o nce S h e clasp e d her han d s to gether an d had half risen

.
fro m her kneeling p o sture When th e do or burst O p en and

Clement flun g himself wil d ly o n his knees at h er kn ees with ,
his arm s out to emb race h er Sh e uttered a cry su ch a s onl y .
a m other coul d Ah ! my darling my darlin g ! and

'
.
,
clun g sob b in g round his neck An d tru e it wa s sh e saw .

,
neither a hermit a priest nor a m onk b ut j ust her chil d

, , , ,
lo st an d desp aired of and in her arms

, And after a little, .
whil e Margaret cam e i n with wet eyes and cheeks an d a holy , ,
c al m of affection settle d b y degrees on thes e sore troubled

ones A n d they s a t all three to gether han d in hand
.
,
murmuring sweet and lo vin g co nverse ; an d h e who s a t in

,
the middle drank right an d l eft th eir tru e a f fection and their
humble b ut genuine wisdom an d wa s forced to eat a go o d ,
nourishing m eal and at d ayb reak wa s p acke d off to a snowy

,
b ed and by and by awoke as from a hideou s dream friar

, , ,
an d hermit no m ore Clement no more but Gerard E l i a s s oen , , ,
p arson of Gouda
‘
.
CHAPTER X CV I
M A R G A R ET went b ack to R otterdam lon g ere Gerard awoke ,
an d actually left her b oy b ehind her Sh e sent the fai t hful ,

,
sturdy R eicht off to Gou da directly with a vicar s g rey fro ck ’
an d large felt hat an d with minute instructions how to ,
govern her n ew master .
Then s h e went to Jorian K etel ; for s h e s aid to herself

h e 1 8 the clo sest I ever m et s o h e 1 s the m an for m e
,
'
” '
and in , ,
concert with him s h e did t w o mortal s l y things ; yet not in ,

6 20 THE CL O ISTE R AND THE HEARTH
my O pinion virul ent th ou gh
, tho ught they were ; but if , sh e
I a m aske d what w ere thes e d e eds witho ut a nam e the answer ,
is that a s s h e who was b ut a woman kep t them secret ,

’
till her dyin g day I who a m a m an —

, , ,
V erb um non a m p l i u s
, , ,
a ddam .
Sh e k ep t away from Gou da p arsonage .
Things th at p ass littl e no tice d in th e heat of argument

s omet i m es rankl e a fterward s ; an d when s h e cam e to g o o ver
al l that had p ass ed s h e was off ended at Gerar d thi n king s h e
,
coul d ever forget th e priest in the som e tim e l over For .
what di d he tak e m e ? said s h e An d t h i s r ai sed a great .
shyness which re al ly s h e woul d no t oth erwis e have felt ,
b eing downright inno cent An d p ride side d with mo desty .

,
”
an d whisp ere d G o no m o re to Gou da p ars onage
, .
Sh e l eft littl e Gerard there to compl ete the conqu est her
m atern al h e art as crib ed to him n ot to her own elo qu ence an d ,
sa gacity an d to anchor his father for ever to hum anity

, .
B ut th i s generou s strok e of p oli cy co st her heart de a r .
She had n ever yet b een p arted from her b oy an hour and ,
s h e felt s adly strange a s well as desol ate without him After .
the fi r s t day it b e cam e intol erabl e ; an d what do es the p o or

s oul d o b ut creep at d a rk up to Gou da p ars onage and lurk
, ,
ab out th e p remises lik e a thief t i ll sh e s a w R eicht H ey n es in

th e kitchen al on e Then s h e tapp e d softly at the win dow
.
’
an d said R eicht f or p ity s sak e b ring him ou t to m e
, ,
unb eknown With M a rgaret th e p erson who o ccup ie d

.
her thoughts at th e tim e cease d to have a nam e an d sank ,
to a pronoun .
R eicht so on foun d an excu s e f or t aking littl e Gerar d ou t ,
an d there was a scen e of mutu al rap ture foll owe d b y mutual ,
te ars when m oth er an d b oy p arte d a gai n .
An d it was arranged that Reicht shoul d tak e him h al f

way to Rotterdam every day at a s et hour and M a rgar et , ,
m eet them And at thes e m eetings after th e raptures and

.
, ,
after m oth er an d chil d h a d gamb oll e d to gether l ik e a youn g

cat an d her fi r s t kitten th e b oy wo u l d som etim es amus e ,
himself al on e at th eir fe et and th e two wom en gener al ly ,
seize d this op p o rtunity to t al k very seriou sly ab out Luk e

P eterson This b egan thu s :
.
”
R ei cht said Margaret , I as go o d a s p rom ise d h i m to ,
m arry Luk e P eterson S ay y ou the word q uoth I ’

and.
, ,
I l l wed hi m
’ ’
.
P oor Luk e !
Prithee why p o or Luk e ? ,
’
To b e b andie d ab out s o twixt yea a n d nay , .
Why R eicht y ou have not ever b een s o s im pl e a s to

, ,
ca st an eye of a fi ect i on o n th e b oy that you tak e h i s p ar t ? ,
M e ? said R eicht with a to ss of her head , .

6 22 THE C L O IST E R AN D THE HEARTH
'
ever thou ghtfu l of o th ers I have h al f a min d to g o to .
Gou da m ans e for your s ayin g that , .
’
Com e then wit h h al f thy m i n d tis worth t h e whol e of
, ,
other folks .
Well I d ar e s a y I wi ll ; b ut th ere is n o su ch mighty

,
”
hurry ,s ai d s h e co olly ( s h e was lite rally b urning to g o) .
”
T e l l m e fi r s t how y ou a gre e with your folk .
W h y al ready my p o or have tak en ro ot in my h ear t

, .
I thou ght as mu ch ”
.
And there a r e su ch go o d creatures am on g them ;

'
”
s i rn p l e and rou gh an d sup erstitiou s b ut won d erfully go o d
, , .
Oh l leave y ou al on e for s eeing a gr ain of go o d am on g a

”
b ushel of ill .
W h i s h t l whisht ! An d M argar et two of th em have ,
b een i ll friends for four years an d c a m e to the m ans e each ,
to get on my bl i n d side But give th e gl ory to G od I got on.
their bri ght side an d m ad e th em fri ends an d lau gh at , ,

”
them selves for their folly .
But a r e you in v er y d e ed th eir vicar ? answer m e that

'
C ertes ; have I no t b e en to th e b isho p an d taken the

o ath an d rung th e church b ell and tou ched th e al tar the
, , ,
missal a n d th e holy cup b efore the churchwardens ? And

,
th ey have hande d m e th e p ar ish s e al ; s ee here it i s Nay , .

,
t i s a real V i car invitin g a tru e frien d to Gou da m an se

’
.
Then my m i n d i s at ease Tell m e o ce an s m ore . .
Wel l sweet on e nearest to m e of a l l my p arish 1 3 a p o o r

, ,
crippl e that my g u ardian angel an d h i s (her n am e thou

kno west even b y this turnin g of thy head away ) hath placed
b eneath my ro of S y b r a n d t and I are that we never were
.
’
t i ll now b rothers , Two u l d gl adden thee yet sadden thee
.
,
to hear how we kisse d an d forgave on e another H e is full .
of thy p raises an d wholly i n a p i d u s mind ;

, h e s ays h e is
h app ier sin ce h i s troubl e than e er he wa s in th e days of h i s
'
’
strength O h ! ou t of my hous e h e n e er shall g o to any place

.
’
b ut heaven .
Tel l m e som ewhat that happ ene d thyself p o or s oul ! ,
Al l th is is go o d but yet no tidin gs to m e , D o I no t know .
thee of ol d ?
Well let m e s ee A t fi r s t I w a s mu ch daz zle d b y the
, .
sunlight an d coul d not g o ab ro ad ( owl l ) b ut that i s p assed ;

, ,
a n d go o d R eicht H ey n e s — h umph l
”
Wh at of her ?
Thi s to thin e ear only for s h e is a diamo nd Her voice , .
go es throu gh m e l ik e a kn i fe and a l l voice s s ee m lou d b ut ,
thine whi ch is s o m el low sweet

, Stay now I ll fi t y e with .
,
’
tidi ngs ; I sp ake yesterday with an old m an that co nce i ts he

i s ill -temp ered and sweats to p as s for su ch with o th e rs b ut
, ,
”
oh ! s o thr ea db a r e a n d the b est g o o d he a rt b en ea th
-
, .
Why t i s a p arish of angel s said Margaret ironically

,
’
, .
Then why do st thou keep out on t ? retorted Gerard ’

.
Well he wa s telling m e th ere was n o p arish in Holl an d

,
where th e devi l hath such p ower a s at Gouda ; and am ong

his instan ce s says h e We ha d a h ermit the holiest in
, , ,
Holland ; but b ein g Gou da t h e d evil cam e for him thi s week , ,
’
and to ok him b ag an d b a ggage ; n ot a ha p orth of him l eft
,
but a go o dish p iece of hi s skin j u st f or all the worl d lik e a ,

’
hedgeho g s an d a p iece 0 ol d i ro n furb ishe d u p
’
, .
’
Margaret smil ed .
”
A y but continu e d Gerard
,
th e stran ge thing is th e
, , ,
cave h a s verily fall en in an d ha d I b een s o p erverse a s

resist thee it ha d assuredly burie d m e dead there where I
,
had burie d mys elf alive Th erefore in this I s ee th e fi n g er of.
Provid en ce cond emnin g my late approving my present

, , ,
way of life What s ayest thou ?

.
Nay can I p ierce th e like mysterie s ? I a m b u t a

,
wom an .
S om ewhat m ore m ethink s Thi s very tal e proves thee, .
my guardian an gel and all els e avou che s i t s o com e to , ,

”
Gou d a m anse .
’
Well g o y ou on I ll follow
, , .
”
N a y in th e cart with m e
, .
”
Not so .
Wh y ?
Can I tell why an d wh erefore b ein g a wom an ? All I ,
know i s I seem to fe el to wish to com e al one

— — — ”
.
S o b e it then I leave the e th e cart b ein g as thou

.
, ,
sayest a wom an an d I ll g o a fo ot b eing a m an a gain with

,
-
,
’
the j oyful tidings of thy coming .
Wh en Margaret reache d th e m ans e the fi r s t thin g sh e saw

W a s th e two Gerard s to gether th e so n p erformin g his ,
capri ccio s on th e plot an d th e father slou chin g on a chair in, ,
his great hat with p encil an d p ap er tryin g very p a t iently

, ,
to sketch him .
After a warm welcom e h e showe d her his attempts .
But in vain I strive to fi x him said h e ”

for h e is i n ca r , ,
nate quicksilver Yet do b ut note hi s changes i n fi n i t e

.
, ,
b ut n on e ungracious ; all i s suppl e and easy ; an d how h e

m elteth from on e p o sture to another H e added presently .
,
Wo e to i l l u m i n a t or s l lo oking on thee s i r b aby I s ee what , ,
awkward l op side d ungainly toad s I and my fellows p ainted

, ,
missal s with and calle d th em ch erub s and

,
F i n al l y
he threw th e p ap er away in desp air and Margar et co nveye d ,
it secretly into h er b o som .
A t night when they s a t roun d th e p eat fi r e h e b ad e th em

ob serve how b eautiful th e brass can d l estick s an d other
glittering metal s were in the glow from the hearth .
6 24 T HE C L O IST E R A ND THE HEARTH
C atherine s ’
eyes sp arkl e d at this ob servation An d oh .
th e sheets I lie in here said h e often my conscience

, ,
p r i c k e t h m e an d s aith Who art thou to lie in,lint l ik e web

’
of snow ? D ive s wa s ne er s o fl a x e d as I An d to think .
that there are folk in th e worl d that h ave al l th e b eautiful

things which I h ave here yet not content
'
L et them p ass
, .
s i x m o nths in a hermit s cell seeing n o face of m an th en will

’
, ,
they fi n d how l ovely and pleasant this wicked worl d i s and ,

’
ek e that m en and wom en are Go d s fairest creatures .
Marg a ret w a s always fair but never to my eye so bright a s ,

”
now . Marg aret sho ok her hea d incre dulou sly Gerar d .
co ntinu ed ,
My m other was ever go o d an d kind b ut I noted ,
n ot h er exce e din g com eline s s t i ll n ow

N or I either a score years a go I
”
sai d Cath erine, ,
might p ass in a cro wd b ut not n ow , .
Gerard d ecl a red t o her that each a ge h ad i t s b eauty .
S e e this m il d grey eye sai d h e that hath lo oked , ,
m otherly l ove up o n so m any of u s all that l ove hath l eft i t s ,
shadow and that shadow is a b eauty which d efi et h Time

, .
S e e this delicate lip th es e p ure white teeth , S ee this well .
shap e d b row where com elines s j u st p asseth into reverence

, .
”
Art b eautiful in my eyes m other de a r , .
’
An d that is enou gh for m e my d a rlin g T i s time y ou , .
were in b ed ch i l d , Ye have to preach the m om

.
”
.
And R ei cht H ey n e s and Catherine interchan ge d a lo ok

which s aid We two have an amiabl e m ania c to sup er
,
”
intend ; cal l s everythin g b eautiful .
Th e next day was Sunday an d th ey heard him preach in ,
h i s own church It was cramm e d with p erson s who cam e

.
,
curiou s b ut remaine d d evo ut

, N ever was hi s wo nderful .
gif t displaye d m ore p owerfully ; he wa s himself deeply

m ove d b y th e fi r s t sight of al l his p eopl e and his b owel s ,
yearne d over thi s fl ock h e had s o l on g neglected In a singl e .
s erm on which l aste d two hours and seeme d to l ast b ut

,
twenty minutes h e declared the whol e s cripture : he t er r i fi e d

,
the imp enitent an d t h ou gh t l es s c on fi r m e d th e waverin g x ,
consol e d th e b ereaved and th e a ffl i ct ed uplif te d the h ear t s oi , .
th e p o or and when h e ended left th e multitu de standin g

, ,
rapt an d u nwill in g to b elieve th e divine mu sic of hi s voice

,
and soul had ceased .
N ee d I s a y that two p o or women in a corner s a t e n

tran ced with streamin g eyes
, .
Wh erever gat h e it all ? whisp ered Cath er ine with her ,

”
apron to h er eyes B y ou r Lady not from m e
. .
As so on a s they were by themselve s Margar et threw her

arm s round Cath erine s neck and kissed h er ’
.
Moth er m oth er I a m not quite a happy woman but

, , ,
oh I a m a prou d on e .
6 26 THE C L O I ST E R A N D THE HEARTH
However early n ext year 1 4 7 1 the D u ch es s of Bur g undy
, , ,
with th e op en di ss ent b ut s ecret co nni vance of th e Duke

, ,
raised force s to enab le h er d ethro ne d b ro th er E dward th e ,
Fourth of En gland to invad e that kingdom ; ou r ol d friend

,
D enys thu s enl isted an d p assin g throu gh Rotterdam to t h e

,
ship s heard o n h i s way that Gerard wa s a priest and

, ,
Margar et al on e Ou this h e tol d M argar et that m ar ri age

.
wa s not a h ab it of h i s b ut th at a s h i s comra de had p ut it ou t

,
of his o wn p ower to keep troth he felt b ound to o f fer to ,
k eep it for h im ; for a comra d e s honour i s dear to u s a s our ’ “
”
ow n , sai d h e .
Sh e star ed then sm i led

”
, I cho o s e rather to b e st i ll
.
thy she comrad e said s h e ;

-
, clo ser acqu ainted w e might ,
no t a gre e s o well An d in h er char a cter of s h e- comrade

.
sh e e quipp e d h i m with a n ew sword of Antwerp m ak e ,
an d a doubl e han dful of silver

’
I give the e n o gol d ”
.
,
sai d sh e for tis thrown away as quick a s silver an d h a rd er

, ,
to win b ack Heaven s en d the e s af e ou t of a ll thy p er i l s

.
there b e fam ou s fai r wom en yo nd er to b e gu il e the e with the i r

’
fa ces a s well a s m en to b ash the e with their a xe s
, .
H e wa s hurrie d o n b o ar d at L a V ere an d n ever s a w ,
Gerard at that tim e .
In 1 4 7 3 S y b r a n d t b egan to fai l His p iti a bl e exi stence .
ha d b e en sweetene d by hi s broth er s inventive ten derness ’
an d h i s own contente d sp ir it whi ch ; h i s ante ce dents c on ,
s i d er e d wa s truly remar kab l e

, As for Gerar d the day n ever .
,
p asse d that he di d n ot d evot e two hours to h i m ; rea ding

or sin gin g to him prayin g with h i m and dra w in g h i m ab out
, ,
in a soft carriage Marg a ret an d h e ha d m ad e b etween th em .
Vxh en th e p o or soul foun d his en d n e ar h e b egge d Margaret

’
,
might b e sent for Sh e cam e at o nce an d al mo st wi th hi s

.
,
last breath h e sou ght on ce m ore that forgivenes s s h e had

lon g ago accorded Sh e rem a ine d b y h i m till th e last ;
.
an d h e died bl essin g an d b le ssed in th e arm s of th e two

, ,
tru e l overs h e had p arte d for li fe Tantum rel i gio scit . .
suadere b oni .
’
1 4 7 4 there was a wedding in Margaret s hou s e Lu k e .
P eterso n and R eicht H ey n es .
This m ay s eem l ess stran ge if I give th e pu rp ort of th e

di al o gu e interrupte d som e tim e b ack .
“
Mar gar et went o n to s a y Then in that case yo u can ,
easily m ak e h i m fan cy you an d for my s a k e yo u mu st for , ,
my conscien ce it p r i ck et h m e an d I mu st n ee d s fi t h im with ,
a w i fe th e b est I kn ow
, Margaret then instru cted R eicht
.
to b e al ways kind and go o d humoure d to Luk e ; an d s h e -
wo ul d b e a mo del of p eevi shness to him But b e not th ou

”
s o simpl e as run m e down said s h e L eave that to m e
, . .
Mak e thou excu ses for m e ; I wi l l m ake mysel f black enow "
.
Reicht received these instructions lik e an order to sweep

a ro om and ob eyed them p unctu ally
, .
Wh en they had subj ected p o or Luke to this double

artillery for a couple of years he got to lo ok up on M argare t ,
a s his fo g and wind and R eicht a s his sunshine ; an d his ,
affectio ns transferred them selves h e s carce knew how or ,
when .
On th e wedding day Reicht emb raced Margaret and ,
thanked her almo st with tears H e wa s al ways my .
”
fancy said s h e
, from the fi r s t hour I clapp ed eye s on him
, .
Heyday y ou n ever tol d m e th at

, Wh at Reicht .
, ,
are y ou a s s l y a s the rest ?

~
Nay n ay said R eicht eagerly

, , b ut I n ever thou g h t
y ou woul d re al ly p art with him to m e In my country t h e
'
”
mistre ss l o oks to b e s erved b efore the m aid .
Margaret settled th em in her shop and gave them half ,
the p r ofi t s .
1 4 7 6 and 7 were years of great troubl e to G erard who se

consci ence comp elled h i mto opp o se th e Pop e
,
His Holiness .
,
siding with the Grey Friars in thei r d etermination t o swamp

every p al p abl e distinction b etween th e V irgin Mary and her
S on brib ed the Christian world into his crotchet b y pro f fer
,
ing p ardo n of all sins to su ch a s would add to th e Ave Mary

this cl au se and blessed b e thy Mother Anna fro m whom , ,
”
without blot of s i n pro ceede d thy Virgin fl esh , .
Gerard in common with m any of th e northern clergy

, ,
hel d this sentence to b e flat heresy H e not o nl y refused to .
utter it in his church b ut warned his p arishioners a gainst ,
u sing it in private ; an d he refu sed to cel ebrate the n ew feast

th e Pop e invente d at the s am e tim e v i z th e feast of th e .
,
miraculous conceptio n of the V irgin .
But this drew up on him the b itter enmity of the

Franciscans and they were stro ng enou gh to put him into
,
more than on e seriou s d i ffi c u l t y and i n fl i ct m any a lit t l e ,
m or t i fi c a t i on on him
'
In em ergencies he consulted Margaret and s h e al ways did ,
on e of two things either s h e s aid I do not see my way

, , ,
and refused to gu ess ; or el s e s h e gave him advice that

proved wonderfully sagacio us H e had geniu s b ut she had .
,
m arvellous tact .
And where aff ectio n cam e in an d annihilated th e woman s ’
j udgment he stepp ed in his turn to her aid

,
Thu s thou g h .
s h e knew s h e was spoilin g little Gerard and Catherine was ,
ruinin g him f or life she would not p art with him but kep t, ,
him at hom e an d his ab ilities uncultivated

, And there wa s .
a shrewd b oy of nine years instead of learning to work and ,
ob ey playing ab o ut and learning s el fi s h n e s s from th eir i h

,
fi n i t e u n s el fi s h n es s and tyrannizing with a ro d of i ro n over

,
6 28 THE C L O ISTER AN D THE HEA R TH
two wom en b oth of th em sagaciou s an d sp irite d b ut
, ,
redu ce d by th eir fon dness for him to th e exact l evel of i di ots .
Gerar d s a w this with p ai n an d interfere d with m il d ,
b ut fi r m rem o nstrance ; an d af ter a co nsiderab le stru ggl e

p rev ai l ed and got littl e Gerard sent to th e b est scho ol in
,
E u rop e kep t b y on e H a a gh e at D eventer : this w a s in 1 4 7 7

, .
Many t ear s were sh ed b ut th e g reat pro gres s th e b oy m ade

,
at that fam ou s s cho ol re concil ed Margaret in s om e d e gr ee ,
an d the fi d el i t y of Reicht H ey n e s n o w h er p artner in b u si ,
n ess enabl e d her to sp end weeks at a tim e hoverin g o ver her

,
b oy at D eventer .
An d s o th e years glid ed ; an d th ese two p ersons subj ecte d ,
to a s stro ng and constant a temptatio n a s can well b e co n

’
c ei v e d w ere e a ch o th er s gu ar di an an gel s and not each
, ,
other s tempters
’
.
To b e sure th e wel l grease d m or al ity of th e n ext century

-
,
whi ch tau ght th at s olemn vows to G od ar e s acred in p r o

p ortio n a s they are reas onable h ad at that tim e entered no ,
singl e mind ; and th e alternative to thes e two min d s was

self —deni al or sa crilege
, .
It was a strang e thin g to h ear them t al k with unr estraine d

tendern ess t o on e another of their b oy and an icy b arrier ,
b etween th em selves all th e tim e .
Eight year s h ad now p a ss ed thu s an d Gerard f a irly , ,
comp ar ed with m en in gener al was h appy , .
But Margaret wa s not .
Th e hab itu al exp ressio n of h er face was a sweet p ensive

n ess b ut so m etim es s h e was irrit ab l e an d a littl e p etul ant
, .
Sh e even snapp e d Gerard now an d then And when s h e .
went to s ee him i f a m onk was with him s h e woul d turn her

,
b ack an d g o hom e .
Sh e hate d th e m o nk s for havin g p arte d Gerard and h er ,
and s h e in o culate d her b oy with a co ntempt for them which

lasted him till his dying d ay .
Gerar d b ore with her li k e an an gel H e kn ew h er hear t .
of gol d an d hop e d this 1 11 g ust woul d bl ow o ver

, .
H e hi mself b ein g no w th e ri gh t m an in th e ri ght place

this m any year s lo vin g his p arishioners and b eloved by
, ,
th em and o ccup ie d from m orn ti l l night in go o d works

, ,
re covered th e n atur al ch e er f u l n es s of his disp o sition To .
tell th e tru th a p art of h i s j o co s en es s was a blind ; h e was th e

,
greatest p eacemak er excep t Mr Harm ony in th e pl ay that

, .
,
ever w a s b orn H e reconcil ed m ore enemi es in ten years than

.
his predecessors had don e in thr ee hun d re d ; and one of h i s

m an oeuvr es in th e p eacem aking art w a s to mak e the
qu arrell ers l au gh at th e cau se of quarrel S o di d he under .
mine the d em o n of disco rd But ind ep en dently of that .
h e re al ly lo ved a harmle ss j oke

,
H e w a s a won d erful tam er .

630 TH E C L O I ST E R AN D THE HE AR TH
happ y an d s ai d to h er,
'
Yo ur b oy is g on e i f r om y ou I ,
‘
.
wo ul d no t l ive al o n e al l my days if I w ere 1
”
H e is m ore al o ne than I si ghe d Margar et , .
Oh a m an is a m a n b ut a wom an is a wom an
,
You , .
‘
mu st no t thi n k al l of h i m an d none of yoursel f

’ '
N ear i s .
yo ur kir tl e b ut n earer is your smo ck ,

B esides he is a .
,
p ri est an d can d o n o b etter

,
B ut you ar e no t a priest . .
H e has go t hi s p a rish an d his heart is in that B ethi n k

, .
th ee ! Tim e fl i es ; o verstay not thy m arket Wo ul dst .
not l ik e to h ave three or fo u r m ore littl e darlin gs ab out thy

kne e now they have rob b ed the e of p o or littl e Gerar d an d ,
s en t h i m to y on n asty s ch o ol ?
.
'
An d s o s h e work ed up on a “
m in d already irritat ed .
M ar g a ret ha d m any suito rs ready to m arry her at a word

or even a lo ok and amo n g them t w o m erch ants of th e b etter
,
cl as s V an S ch el t and Oos t w a g en
,
Tak e on e of tho se two ”
,
s ai d C atherine .
Well I will a s k Gerar d if I m ay, s ai d Mar gar et on e ,
day with a fl ood of tears ;

,
for I canno t g o on th e way I
”
am .
Why yo u wo ul d n ever b e s o simpl e a s ask h i m

,
Think yo u I wo ul d b e s o wi ck e d a s m arry without hi s

leave ?
Accordi ngly s h e actu all y went to Gou da and al ter h ang ,
ing b er h ead an d blushi n g an d cryin g an d sayi ng s h e was

, , ,
m iserab l e tol d hi m h i s m other wishe d her to m arry on e of

,
tho s e two an d i f b e approve d of her mar ryin g at al l wo ul d ,
h e u s e his wis dom an d t el l h er which h e thou ght wo ul d b e ,
the kin dest to th e li ttle Gerard of tho s e two ; f or hersel f ,
s h e di d not car e what b ecam e of her .
Gerar d felt as if s h e had p ut a soft h an d into h i s b o dy and

torn h i s hear t out with i t But the p riest with a mighty .
e f fort m astere d the man In a vo ice s car cely au di ble .
h e declin e d th i s resp onsib i lity I a m not a saint or a .
prophet ”
s ai d h e ; I mi ght adv
,
”
i se thee i ll I sh a ll read .
the m arria ge s ervi ce for thee f al tere d h e ; it is my ,
right N o o ther would p ray for th ee a s I sho u l d

. B ut .
thou mu st cho o s e for thys elf ; an d oh ! l et m e s ee thee

”
h appy This fo u r mo nth s p ast tho u hast n ot b een happy
. .
”
A dis contented m in d is n ever happ y s ai d Mar garet , .
Sh e l eft h i m an d he fell o n h i s knees and p r a y ed f or help

, , .
from ab ove .
M argar et went h om e p al e an d a gitate d M other s ai d .

,
”
n ever m entio n it to m e a gai n or we sh all q uarrel , .
H e forb ade yo u ? Well m ore sh am e for h im that i s , ,
forb id m e ? H e did not condescend s o far

He H e wa s .
as noble a s I wa s p alt r y H e woul d not cho o se for m e for .

fear of cho o sing m e a n ill hu sb an d But h e woul d read th e .
service f or my gro om an d m e ; that was his right Oh .

,
mother wh at a heartl es s creature I was !

,
Well I th ou ght not h e ha d that mu ch sen se

,
.
Ah y ou g o by th e p o or soul s word s b ut I rate wo rds as

,
’
air when th e face sp eaketh to min e eye I s a w th e priest an d .
th e tru e lover a fi gh t i n g in hi s dear face an d his cheek p al e

-
,
with th e strife an d oh ! his p o or lip tremble d as h e said th e

,
—
stout hearted words Oh l oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! oh ! oh !
-
An d Margaret b urst into a Viol ent p assio n of tears .
Catherine gro ane d Th ere give it u p without m ore

.
,
a do, said s h e You two are chaine d to gether for life ;

.
’
an d if Go d is m erciful that won t b e for long ; for what are
,
y ou ? neither m aid wife n or widow , , .
Give it u p ? said Margaret ; that was don e l on g ago .
All I think o f now is co mfortin g h i m ; for n ow I have b een

and mad e him unhappy t oo wretch and mon ster that I a m ,
”
.
S o th e n ext day they b oth w ent to Gouda An d Gerard .

,
who had b een p rayin g for resi gnatio n all this tim e re ceive d ,
her with a p eculiar ten dernes s as a treasure h e wa s to lo se ;

b ut sh e wa s agitated an d eager to let him s ee with out word s
that sh e would n ever m arry and she fawne d on him l i ke a ,
littl e do g to b e forgive n An d as sh e was goin g away s h e

.
murmured , Forgive ! an d forget ! I a m but a woman .
H e misu n dersto o d her an d said All I b argain for is l et

, , ,
’
m e s e e th ee content ; for pity s sake let m e not s ee thee ,
unhappy as I have this whil e .
My darling you never shall a gain said Ma r g a r et w i t h

, , ,
streaming eyes an d kisse d hi s hand

, .
H e misundersto o d thi s to o at fi r s t b u t when m onth after

month p assed an d h e he ard no more of her m arriage and
, ,
s h e cam e t o Gou da comp aratively cheerful an d was even ,
civil to Fath er Ambro se a mil d b en evolent m onk from the

,
—
D ominican co nvent hard y th en he un dersto o d her ; an d
b
on e day h e invite d her to walk alone with him in the sacred
p ad do ck ; and b efore I relate what p asse d b etween them
I mu st give i t s history When Gerard ha d b een four or fi ve
,
da y s at the manse lo okin g ou t of window h e uttered an

,
excl am ation of j oy Moth er Margaret here is on e of my

.
, ,
b irds : another another : four s i x nine

, A miracle ! a , , .
miracl e !
Why h ow can y ou tell your b ird s from their fe l l ows ?
,
said C ath erin e .
I know every feather in th eir w ings An d see ; there i s .
th e l ittl e darlin g wh os e cl aw I gilt bless i t i ,
An d presently his rapture to ok a seriou s turn an d h e s a w ,
H eaven s approb ation in this co nduct of th e birds as he did

’
in the fall of the cave This wonderfully kept alive h i s

.
63 2 THE C L O I ST E R AND T H E HEA R TH
frien dship fo r an im al s ; an d h e encl o se d a p addo ck an d ,
drove all th e so n s of Cain from it with threats of ex c om

m u n i c a t io n Ou thi s littl e sp ot of earth we l l have no
’
.
murder s aid h e
, H e tam e d leverets and p artrid ges and.
,
littl e b ird s an d hare s an d ro e de er H e foun d a s qu irrel

'
-
, , .
with a b roken le g ; h e s et it with i n fi n i t e di ffi culty an d p ati

ence ; and durin g th e cure sho we d it rep o sitories of acorns ,
nuts che stnuts etc

, An d this squ i rrel got well an d went
, .
off, b ut V isite d him in h ard weather an d brou ght a m ate , ,
and n ext ye ar littl e squir rels were foun d to have i m b ib e d

’
their p arents s entiments an d of a ll these animal s each ,
generation was tam er than th e last This s et th e go o d p ar s on .
think in g an d gave him th e tru e clu e to th e great successe s of

,
m e d i asval h erm its in taming wil d anim al s .
H e kep t th e k ey of this p addo ck an d n ever let any man ,
b ut him self enter i t ; n or woul d h e even l et littl e Gerard g o

there with out h im or M argar et Chil dren are a l l little .
”
Cains s aid h e , .
In this o asis th en h e sp oke to Margaret an d said , , , ,
D ear M ar g a ret I h ave thou ght m ore than ever of thee of ,
late an d have aske d myself why I a m content an d th ou

, ,
unh appy .
B ecau se tho u art b etter wi ser holier th an I ; t h a t i s a ll , , ,
sai d M argaret promptly .
Our lives tell another tal e sai d Gerard thou ghtfully , .
I know thy go o dnes s and thy wisdo m to o well to reaso n

thu s p erversely Al so I kn ow that I love the e as dear a s
.
thou I think l ovest m e

, Yet a m I happ ier than thou
, . .
Why i s this s o ?
D ear Gerard I a m as happy a s a wom an can hop e to b e ,
”
this side of th e grave .
Not s o h app y as I N ow for th e reason F i r s t then . .

,
I a m a priest an d t h i s t h e on e great tri al and disapp ointment

,
, ,
Go d giveth m e al o n g with s o many j oys why I sh a re it with a , ,
multitu de For al as ! I a m n ot th e o nly priest b y thou sand s

.
’
that mu st n ever hop e fo r entire earthly happ iness Here .
”
then thy lot is harder than mine
, .
B ut Gerard I have my ch il d to love

, Tho u canst no t
, .
fi ll thy heart with h i m a s his m other can S o yo u m ay s et .
this ag a inst you .
And I have ta en him from the e ; it wa s cru el ; b ut h e ’
woul d h ave b rok en thy h eart on e d ay i f I had not Well

then sweet on e I com e to where th e sho e p i n ch et h m ethi n ks
.
, ,
I have my p arish an d it k e ep s my heart i n a glo w from m orn

, .
till night There i s s carce an emotion that my folk stir n o t

.
U p in m e many tim es a day Often th e i r so rrows m ak e m e .
weep som etime s th eir p erversity kindl es a littl e wrath and

, ,
t he i r ab surdity m akes m e lau gh and som etime s their flashe s ,

634 TH E C LO ISTER AND T H E HEARTH
And I coul d not think of that ; bless thee sweet ,
”
Margaret thy m in d i s stron ger than mine and readier
, , .
Nay n ay a woman lo oks b ut a littl e way therefore s h e

, , ,
see s cl ear 1 1 co m e over myself to morro w

’
I .
- .
.
An d o n this th ey p ar te d with mutual bl essin gs .
Jo an glide d ho me rem orsef ul .
An d after th at s h e u se d to check all surmises to th eir

”
discredit . B ewar e s h e woul d s a y , l est s o m e angel ,
shoul d blister thy to n gu e Gerard and M argar et p ar am ours

. .
I tell y e they are two saints whi ch m e et in s ecret to plo t

”
charity to th e p o or .
In th e summ er o f 1 4 8 1 Ger a rd determine d to p rovid e

a gainst simil ar d isasters recurring to h i s p o or A ccordingly .
h e m ade a great h ol e in his inco m e a n d ble d hi s friends ,
( z e al ou s p a r s o n s al ways do that ) to b uil d a lar ge X eno do chium

to re ceive th e Vi ctim s of fl o o d or fi r e Gil es an d all h i s .
friends were kind b ut all was not enou gh ; wh en lo ! th e

,
D ominican m onk s of Go u da to whom h i s p arlour an d hear t ,
had b een O p en f or years c am e ou t nobly and put down a , ,
han dsom e s u m to ai d the ch aritab l e vi car .
”
Th e d ear go o d s ouls s aid M argar et ; , who wo ul d have
thou ght i t ?
Any o ne who knows th em sai d Gerard Wh o m o re
, .
ch ar itabl e than monk s ?

Go t o ! Th ey d o b ut g ive th e laity b ack a pig of their
”
own s ow .
An d wh at m ore do I ? Wh at m ore doth th e duk e ?

'
Then th e amb itiou s vi car must b u il d al m shou ses for

d e caye d tru e m en in th eir ol d a ge clo s e to the m anse ; that h e
‘
might k eep an d fee d th em as well a s lo dge th em : And hi s ,
m on ey b ein g go ne h e a ske d Margaret for a few thousand

,
b ricks an d j ust to ok off his co at an d turn ed b u i l der ; and a s

,
h e ha d a go o d he a d an d th e stren gth of a Herc ul es with

, ,
the z eal of an artist up ro se a coupl e of almshous es p ars on

,
b u flt
An d at this work Margaret wo ul d s om etim es brin g hi m
his dinner and a dd a go o d b ottl e of Rhenish
, An d o nce .
'
s eeing him run up a plank with a wh eelb arro w f u l l of b ricks

which re al ly m o st b ricklayers woul d have go ne staggering
under s h e s aid
, Tim es are chan ged since I ha d to carry
,
littl e G erard for thee .
A y d ear one thank s to thee

Wh en th e fi r s t hom e w a s fi n i s h ed th e qu estion wa s wh o
, , .
th ey shoul d put into i t ; an d b ein g fastidi ou s o ver it lik e a

n ew t oy there was much hesitation
, B ut an ol d frien d .
ar rive d in tim e to settle this qu estion .
A s Ger ard wa s p assin g a p ublic hou s e i n R otterdam one -
day he hear d a well kno wn voice

, H e lo oke d u p and there .
,
THE C L O ISTER AN D T H E HEARTH
wa s D enys of Burgun dy b ut sadly changed ; his b eard ,
stained with grey and his clothes worn an d ra gged ; he had a

,
cuirass still an d gauntl ets b ut a sta ff instea d of an arb al e st

, , .
To the comp any h e app eare d to b e b ra ggin g an d b o astin g ,
but in reality he was givin g a tru e relation of E dwar d th e

’
Fourth s invasio n of an arm ed kingdom with 2 0 00 men an d ,
his march throu gh th e coun t ry with armie s cap able of

swall owin g him lo okin g on hi s b attles at Tewkesbury and ,
B arnet and reo ccup ation of his capital and kin gdom in
,
three month s after landing at th e Humb er with a mixe d

handful of D utch English and Burgundians , , .
In this th e greatest feat of arm s th e century ha d s een

, ,
D enys had shone ; an d whil st sneering at th e warl i k e

pretension s of Charl es th e B old a duke with an itch b ut no ,
talent for fi gh t i n g an d pro claiming th e En glish king th e

,
fi r s t captain of th e age did n ot forget to ex al t him self

, .
Gerard listen ed with eye s glitterin g a f f ection an d fun .
”
And now said D eny s
, after all the se feats p atte d o n
, ,
the b ack by th e gallant young Prince of Glou cester an d ,
smile d on b y the great captain himself here I a m lame d for ,
life ; by what ? by th e kick of a horse and this night I know

‘
n ot where I shal l lay my tire d b ones I had a comrad e once .
in these p arts that would not have l et m e l ie far from him ;

b ut h e turned priest and deserted his sweetheart s o tis not ,
’
likely he woul d rem emb er hi s comrade An d ten years play .
s a d havo c with our h earts an d limb s and all Po or D enys

, , .
si gh ed and Gerard s b owels yearned over him

,
’
.
Wh at words are these ? he said with a great gu lp in ,
his thro at . Who grudge s a b rave soldier supp er and

b ed ? Com e hom e with m e !
Much obliged but I a m no lo ver of priests
, . .
N or I of soldiers ; but wh at is supp er and b ed b etween

two tru e men ?
Not mu ch to you but somethin g to m e , I will com e . .
In on e hour said Gerard an d went in high S p irits to

, ,
Margaret and tol d h er the treat in store an d she mu st com e

, ,
and share i t She mu st drive his m other in his little carria ge

.
u p to the m ans e with all sp eed and m ake ready an excellent ,
supp er .
Th en h e himself b orrowe d a cart and drove D enys up ,
rath er slowly to give the wom en time , .
On th e ro ad D enys found out this priest wa s a kind so u l ,
s o tol d him his trouble and confessed his heart was pretty,
n ear b roken The great u se ou r stout h earts and arms

.
, ,
and lives till we are worn ou t and then ning 1 1 s away lik e ,
broken to ol s H e sighe d deeply a n d it co st G erard a great

.
,
stru ggle not to hu g him then and there and tell h i m

'
But , .
he wante d to do it all lik e a story b o ok Who has not had .

63 6 THE C L O I ST E R AN D THE HEAR TH
this fancy once in h i s life ? Wh y Jo seph ha d i t ; al l th e ,
b etter f or u s .
They l an de d at th e l ittl e h ou se It wa s a s clean a s a .
p enny th e h earth bl az in g an d supp er s et

, , .
D eny s b rightene d u p I s t hi s yo ur hou se reverend .

,
S ir ?
’ ’
Well t i s my work an d wi th the se han ds b ut tis your
, , ,
”
h ou se .
Ah n o su ch lu ck s ai d D enys with a sigh

, , , .
B ut I s a y a y shoute d Gerar d
”
An d what is m ore
, .
,
I ( gul p ) s ay ( gu lp ) CO U RA GE C AMARA D E , ,
LE D IA B LE E ST M O RT !
D enys st a rted an d alm o st sta ggered Why wh at ?
, .
,
h e stamm ere d —
w wh — who art thou that b rin gest m e
, ,
b ack t h e m erry words an d m erry days of my youth ? an d

h e w as greatly a gi tate d .
My p o or D enys I a m on e who se face i s changed b ut , ,
no u ght el se ; to my he art dear tru sty comrade to my , , ,

”
he art .An d h e o p ene d his arm s with th e tears in his eyes .
But D enys cam e clo se to him and p eere d in h i s face an d , ,
d evoure d every feature ; and wh en he was sure it was real ly

Ger a rd h e uttered a cry s o vehement it bro u ght th e women
,
’
running fro m th e hou se an d fell up o n Gerar d s neck an d , ,
kisse d h i m a gain an d again and sank on h i s knees an d , ,
l au ghe d and s ob b e d with j oy s o terribly that Gerard ,
m ourne d h i s folly in do in g dr amas But the wo men with .
th e i r gentl e s o othin g ways so o n comp o se d the b rave fell ow ,
an d h e s a t smilin g an d holdi n g Margaret s h an d an d Gerar d s

,
’ ’
.
An d th ey all supp ed to gether and went to their b eds wit h ,
h earts w a rm a s a to ast ; a n d the brok en sol di er was at

p eace and in h i s own h ou se and under h i s comra de s
, ,
’
wm g .
His
natur al gaiety return e d a n d h e resum e d h i s co nsi gn e ,
after ei ght ye a rs di su se an d hobbl ed ab out the place eu

’
livenin g i t ; b ut off en de d the p a rish m ortal ly by cal lin g the

adored Vicar comrad e an d nothin g but comra de , .
Wh en they m ad e a fu ss ab out this to Gerard he j ust ,
l o oke d in their face s an d s aid Wh at do e s it m atter ? ,

”
Break him off swearing and you shal l have my thanks , .
Thi s ye a r Margaret went to a l awyer to m ak e her will ,
for without this s h e wa s told her b oy might have troubl e

, ,
som e day to get his own not b ein g b orn i n lawful we dl o ck , .
The l awy er h ow ever in co nversatio n expressed a di ff erent

, ,
Op i m on .
This i s the b a bbl e of churchmen s ai d h e Yo urs i s , .
a p erfect m arria ge thou gh an irre gular one , .
H e then inform ed h er that t h roughout Europ e except ,
ing only th e south er n p a rt of Britain there w ere thre e ,

63 8 TH E C L O IST E R AN D THE HE ART H
co ole d a little b ut the i r affection increas ed
, From thi s .
tim e Margar et entere d heart an d soul into Gerard s p iou s ’
ch arities that a ff e ction p urge d itself of al l m ortal dro ss

, .
An d as it ha d now lo n g o utl ived s candal an d m i s a p p r eh en

sio n on e wo ul d h ave thou ght th at s o bright a n exampl e
,
of p ur e s el i denyin g a f fectio n wa s to rem ain lo n g b efore the

-
world to show m en h o w n e arly reli giou s f ai th even when

, ,
n ot quite reaso n abl e an d rel i giou s char ity whi ch i s always

, ,
’
reasonabl e co ul d rais e two tru e l overs h earts to th e lovi n g
,
h ear ts of the an gel s of he aven B ut th e great D isp o ser .
of events ordere d oth erw i se .
Littl e Gerard rej o ice d b oth h i s p arents hearts b y th e ’
’
extraordin a ry p ro gress h e m ad e at Al exan der H a a gh e s
f a m ou s scho ol at D eventer .
Th e l ast t i m e M argaret returne d fro m visitin g hi m s h e ,
cam e to Gerar d flu she d with prid e Oh Gerar d h e will .

, ,
b e a great m an on e d ay thank s to thy wi sdom in takin g ,
h i m fro m u s sill y wom en A great s chol ar on e Z i n t h i u s .

, ,
’
c a m e to s ee th e s cho ol an d j u dge th e s chol ars an d didn t ,
our Gerar d stan d u p an d n ot a l i n e in Horace or Terence

,
co ul d Z i n t h i u s cit e b ut th e b oy woul d follow him with th e

’
rest . Why tis a p ro di gy says th at great s chol ar ; an d
,
’
th ere was hi s p o or m oth er sto o d b y a n d h eard i t And h e .
to ok o ur Gerar d in h i s arm s an d ki sse d him ; an d what think ,
you h e s ai d ?
Nay I know not , .
Ho l l a n d w ill h e ar of the e on e day ; an d not Holland

o nly b ut a ll th e world
, Wh y wh at a s a d b row ! .
,
Sweet on e I a m a s gl a d a s thou yet a m I unea sy t o

, ,
h ear th e chil d i s wise b efore h i s t i m e

.
I love him dear .
b ut h e 1 5 th i n e i dol an d He aven doth often b reak ou r idols

, .
M a k e thy min d ea sy s ai d Mar garet H eaven will , .
never rob m e of my ch il d Wh at I wa s to s u fi er m th i s worl d

.
I h ave su ff ere d F or if any ill happ ene d my chi l d or thee

.
,
I sho ul d not live a week Th e Lord H e knows thi s an d H e ,
W ill leave m e my b oy .
A m onth had elap se d af ter this ; b ut M a rgaret s words ’
were yet rin gi n g in h i s e ars when go in g on h i s dai ly roun d , ,
of vi sits to hi s p o or h e wa s tol d qu ite i n cidental ly and a s

, ,
m ere go ssip th at th e pla g u e w a s at D eventer ca rrie d

, ,
thi ther by two s ai lors from Hamb urgh .
H i s he art turne d col d withi n h i m N ews d i d not g a ll op .
in tho se days Th e fatal disease must have b een there a

.
lon g tim e b efore the tidin gs woul d reach Gouda H e sent .
a lin e by a messenger to M argaret telling her that b e was ,

'
gon e to fetch littl e Ger a rd to stay at th e m anse a li ttl e whil e ,
an d wo ul d s h e see a b ed prep ared for h e shoul d b e b ack ,
next day An d s o h e hop e d sh e woul d not h ear a word of th e

.
TH E C L O ISTER AN D THE HEARTH 63 9
d anger till it was all happily over H e b orrowed a go o d .
hors e and scarce drew rein till he reache d D eventer quite

, ,
late in the afterno on H e went at o nce to the scho ol

. .
Th e b oy had b een taken away .
A s h e l e f t the scho ol h e cau ght sight of Margaret s face

’
at the window of a neighb ourin g hou se s h e al ways lo dged

at when s h e cam e to D eventer .
H e ran hastily to scold h er an d p ack b oth her and the

b oy out of the place .
T 0 his surprise th e servant tol d him with som e hesita

'
tio n that Margaret ha d b een there b ut was gone , .
Go ne woman ? ,
said Gerard indignantly art no t ,
asham ed to s a y s o? Why I s a w h er b ut n ow at the window , .
Oh i t you s a w her
,
A sweet vo ice ab ove s aid Stay him not let him , ,

”
enter . It wa s Margaret .
Gerard ran u p the stairs to her and went to tak e her

.
,
hand .
S h e drew b ack hast i ly .
H e lo oke d astounded .
”
I a m displeased
‘
s h e said coldly ,
What m ake s .
y ou here ? Know yo u n ot the plague is in the town ?
A y d ear Mar g aret ; and cam e straightway to take ou r

,
”
b oy away .
Wh at had he n o m other ?
,
How you S p eak to m e ! I hop ed y ou knew n ot .
What think y ou I leave my b oy unwatched ? I p ay

,
a trusty wom an that notes every chan ge in his cheek when

I a m not here and lets m e know , I a m his mother . .
Wh ere i s h e ? ‘
In Rotterdam I h op e ere this , , .
Thank Heaven ! And why are y ou not there ?

I a m not fi t f or the j ourney ; never heed m e ; g o you
home on the instant ! I ll foll ow F or shame of y ou to
’
.
c om e h ere risking your p reciou s life .
It is not s o p reciou s a s thine s aid G erard But , .
”
l et th at p ass ; we will go hom e to gether and on the instant , .
Nay I have som e matters to d o in th e town

, G o thou .
at o nce and I will follow forthwith

, .
L eave thee alone in a plague stricken town ? To -
whom sp eak you dear Margaret ? ,
Nay then we shal l quarrel Ge rard

, , , .
Methinks I s ee Margaret and Gerard quarrell ing !

Wh y it takes two to quarrel an d we are b ut on e
,
”
, .
With this Gerard sm i led on her sweetly But there was .
no kind resp onsive glance Sh e lo oked cold glo omy an d .

, ,
troubled H e sigh ed an d s a t p atiently down opp o site her

.
with h i s fa ce all puzzled and saddened H e said no thing .

,
64 0 THE C L O ISTER AN D T HE HEARTH
for h e felt sur e s h e w oul d expl ai n h er c a p r ici o u s conduct ,
or it wo ul d expl ain itself .
Presently s h e ro se hast i ly an d tri e d to r ea ch h er b ed ,
ro om b ut on th e way s h e staggered and p ut ou t her hand

, .
H e ran to h er with a cry of al ar m Sh e swo o ne d in hi s arm s . .
H e lai d her gently o n the gro und an d b eat her col d hands , ,
and ran to her b e dro o m an d fetche d water and spr i nk le d , ,
h er p al e face H i s o wn w a s sc a rce l ess p al e for i n a b asin

.
,
h e h ad seen water st a ined with b lo o d ; it alarm e d h i m h e ,
knew n ot why Sh e w a s a lon g tim e ere s h e revived an d

.
,
wh en s h e di d s h e foun d Gerar d h ol din g her hand and b end ,
i n g o ver h er with a lo ok of i nfi ni t e co ncern an d tenderness .
S h e seem e d at fi r s t a s i f s h e res p o n de d to i t b ut the n ext ,
m om ent her eyes dil ate d and s h e crie d ,
Ah wretch l eave my h an d ; how d ar e yo u tou ch m e ?

, ,
Heaven h elp her ! s ai d Gerard Sh e i s not herself . .
Yo u wi ll no t l eave m e th en Gerar d ? s ai d s h e faintly , ,

.
Al as ! why d o I a s k ? Wo u l d I le ave the e i f thou wert

A t l east tou ch m e not an d th en I will l et the e hide an d s ee
, ,
th e last of p o or Marg a ret S he n e er S p ok e h arsh to thee

.
’
”
b efore sweetheart an d s h e n ever wi ll a gain
, , .
Al as ! what m ean th es e d ark words thes e w il d and ,
troub l e d lo ok s ? s ai d Gerar d clasp ing his hands ,

.
My p o or Gerard s ai d M argar et forgive m e that I

, ,
sp ok e s o to thee I a m b ut a wom an an d wo ul d h ave sp are d

.
,
”
th ee a sight wi ll m ak e the e we ep S he b u rst into tears . .
Ah m e ! , s h e cried we ep ing that I cannot keep grief

, ,
from the e l there is a gr eat so rrow b efore my darl i n g an d thi s ,

”
tim e I shal l no t b e ab le to come an d dry h i s eyes .
L et it com e M a rgar et s o it to u ch not thee

, , ,
Gerar d tremb lin g , .
”
D e arest s ai d Mar gar et solemnly
, c a l l no w reli gio n ,
to thine ai d an d mi n e I mu st have d i e d b efore the e on e

.
d ay or els e o utlive d th ee an d s o die d of grief

, .
D ied ? thou di e ? I will n ever let the e die Wh ere i s .
thy p ai n ? Wh at i s thy troubl e ?

Th e pla gu e s h e said c al ml y
, Gerard utter e d a cry .
of horror an d starte d to h i s feet ; s h e rea d h i s thou ght

, .
”
U sel ess said s h e qu ietly
, My no s e hath bled ; non e .
ever yet survived to who m th at cam e al on g with th e pla gu e .
B rin g no fo ols hith er to b a b bl e o ver th e b o dy th ey cann o t

s ave I a m b ut a wo m an ; I love not to b e stare d a t ; l et
.
”
non e s ee m e die b ut th ee .
And even with this a co n vul sion seize d h er a n d s h e ,
rem ai n ed s ensibl e b ut sp eechl ess a lon g time .
And n ow f or the fi r s t tim e Gerar d b egan to re al iz e th e

frightful truth and h e ran wil dl y to an d fro an d crie d to
, ,
Heaven for help a s dro wni ng m en cry to their fell ow

,
642 THE C L O I ST E R A ND THE HE A R TH
Th ey follow ed th e e n ot t o Gou da b y miracl e b ut b y m y

.
,
treason I said he will n e er b e quite h a p p y w i t h ou t h i s

.
,
’ '
b ird s th at visite d him in h i s cell ; an d I was j eal o us of th em ,
and cried an d s ai d th es e fo ul littl e thin gs th ey ar e my

,
'
,
.
chil d s rival s
’
And I b ou gh t l oa ve s oi b read an d J orian
.
'
'
,
-
an d m e we p ut crumb s at the cave d oo r and th e m e w ent ,
sprinkl in g th em al l t h e way to th e m an se an d th ere a heap , .
And m y w i l e s succeeded an d they ca m e an d th o u wast gla d

r
, , ,
and I w a s pl ea se d to s e e the e gl a d ; a n d wh en th ou s awest in

my g uil e the fi ng er of H eaven wick ed di d h ol d
’
'
.
, ,
my ton gu e B u t d i e deceivin g the e ? ah n o

. I coul d n ot , . .
F orgive m e i f thou can st ; I w a s b ut a w oman } : I knew n o

b etter at th e tim e Twa s writ i n my b o som w i th a wver y
.
’
.
:
T i s go o d for him to h ide a t Gou d a m an s e

’
sunb eam ,
’
' '
Fo rgive th e e ; swe et i nno cent ? s obb ed G era r d ; .
what h ave I to for give ? Th ou h adst a fo olish frowar d

ch i l d to gu i d e t o h i s own w e a l an d didst all this f or th e b est , .
I than k th ee an d bless thee B ut a s thy confess or all deceit '
.
,
i s i l l in H eaven s p ure eyes Th erefore thou h ast d on e w e1 1

’
. .
»
to confes s an d rep ort i t ; an d even o n thy co nfes sion an d '
p eniten ce th e Church thro u gh m e a b solve s thee Pas s t o .

‘
”
thy graver faul ts .
My graver f aults ? Al as ! al as ! W h y wh at h ave I ,
d on e t o comp ar e ? I a m n ot an il l wo ma n n ot a very ill On e , .
I f H e can forgive m e d eceivin g thee H e can well forgive m e ,
a ll th e rest ever I did .
B ein g gently p res se d s h e said s he was t o blam e n ot to ,
h ave done m ore go o d in th e w orl d I have j u st b egun to .

‘
”
do a littl e s h e said ; a n d n ow I mu st g o B ut I r ep ine n ot
, .
'
.
,
since tis Heaven s will

’
O nly I a m s o af eard thou wil t
’
.. .
mi s s m e An d at thi s s h e co u l d n ot restrain h er te a rs
.
,
thou gh sh e trie d hard .
G er a r d s t ru ggl e d with his a s well a s h e c oul d ; an d kn ow

'
in g h er life of p iety p urity an d ch arity an d s eein g t h a t s h é

'
'
'
, , ,
coul d n ot in h er p res en t state re al iz e a n y s i n b ut her h avin g ' '
d eceive d h i m ; gave her f ull a b s ol u t i on Th en h e p ut the x n
c r u c i fi x in h er hand and wh i l e h e consecrated t h e oi l ; b ade

h er fi x h er min d n ei t h er z on h er m erits nor her de merits b ut
,
.
,
on Him w h o die d for h er on th e tree .
Sh e ob eye d him with a l o ok of c on fi d i n g l ove -an d s u b

’ '
An d h e tou ch e d h er ey es with th e conse crate d oil an d ,
p ray ed alou d b eside h er 1

.
S o on after sh e do s ed .
H e w a t ch e d b es i d e her m o re de a d th an alive him self ,

. .
\Vh en the day b rok e s h e awoke an d seem ed to acqu ir e ,
s om e energy Sh e b egge d him to lo ok i n h er b OX for her

.
1
’
‘
m arriage lines an d for a p icture a n d b rin g them b oth to h er , .

THE C L O I STER A ND TH E HEARTH 64 3
He did s o Sh e t hen entreated him by all th ey h ad s uffered

.
for each other to ease h er mind b y makin g a solemn vow to

,
execute h er d y i n g i e qu es t s '
'
.
H e vowed to ob ey them to t h e letter .
T h e n Gerard l et n o cre ature com e h ere to l ay m e out

, , .
I coul d not b ea r to b e s t are d a t ; my very corp se woul d blush .
Also I woul d not b e m ad e a m on ster of f or th e wo rm s to

sneer at as well a s feed oh Also my ve r y cloth es are tainted
‘
.
,
an d shall to earth with m e I a m a physician s dau gh ter ;

’
.
i
and ill b eco m es m e kill folk b ein g dea d which did so littl e , ,
go o d to m en in th e days of health ; wh e refore lap m e in l ead ,
the way I a m a n d b ury m e deep ! yet not so deep b ut wh at

,
on e d a y thou m a y st fi n d th e way an d l ay thy b on es by mine , .
Whiles I l ive d I we nt to Go u da b ut once or twice a

week I t co st m e n ot to go each day I et m e gain this by
.
’
.
dyin g to b e a lways at dear G ou da— i n the green kirkyard

,
~
.
Also th ey d o say th e spirit h overs where th e b o dy l ie s

I woul d have m y sp irit h over ne ar t h ee a n d t h e kirkyard i s ,
'
n ot far from th e m ans e I a m s o afeard s eme ill will h app en

.
thee Marg aret b ein g gone

, .
An d s e e with mine own hands I place my m arriage

,
l i n e S i n my b os orri
'
L et n o l i vin g h an d m ove t h em on p ain
u ,
of thy curs e and m ine Then wh en th e an gel co mes for m e

.
at th e l ast d a y h e shall s a y this i s an h onest wo man sh e

, , ,
hath h er m arr i ag e lines ( for y ou kn ow I am your l awful wife ,
th ou gh Holy Chur ch h ath com e b etw ee n u s ) an d h e will set ,
m e where th e honest wo men b e I will n ot s i t amon g il l .
wo men no n ot i n h eaven ; for their mind is n ot my min d

, , ,
n or th eir soul my I h ave sto o d unb eknown at my , ,

”
w i n d ow z an d h eard their tal k .
F or som e tim e sh e was u nabl e t o say any m ore b ut mad e ,
signs to him that s h e h ad n ot don e .
A t l ast sh e recovered her b reath and b ade him lo ok at ,
t h e p icture .
It Wa s t h e p ort rait h e h a d m ad e of h er wh en th ey were

youn g t o geth er an d littl e th ou ght to p art so so on
, H e hel d .
it in his h ands and looked at i t but coul d scarce s ee i t He , .
had l eft it in fra gm ents b ut now it was whol e , .
Th ey cut it to pieces Gerard ; but s ee L ove m o cke d at , ,
their knives .
I implore thee with m y dyin g b r ea t h 1 et this p icture ,
han g ever i n thin e eye .
I h ave h eard that su ch as die of th e plagu e unsp otte d , ,
yet after death sp o t s h ave b een known to com e out ; and oh ,
I coul d n ot b ear thy last m emory of m e to b e s o Therefore

'
.
,
a s s oon as th e b reath i s ou t of my b o d y cover my face with

’
‘
this h andkerchief and lo ok at m e no m ore till we me et again ,

,
’ ”
t wi l l n ot b e s o very lon g 0 promise . .
T HE C L O I ST E R AND T HE HEARTH
I p ro mise s ai d Gerard s ob b in g
, , .
B ut lo o k on this p icture instea d F orgive m e ; I a m

b ut a wom an I coul d not h ear my face t o li e a fo ul thin g 1 n
.
thy m emo ry N ay I must h ave th e e st i ll think m e a s fair a s

.
,
I wa s tru e . Hast call e d m e an a ng el o nce or twice ; b ut b e

j ust ! did I not s t ill tell the e I wa s n o an gel b ut o nly a p o o r _ ,
simpl ewom an that wh il es s a w cl e arer than thou b ecaus e s h e

,
lo oke d b ut a li t tl e way an d th at l ove s thee dearly an d n ever

, ,
l oved b ut thee an d n ow with h er dying b reath p rays the e

,
ind ul ge h er 1 n this tho u th at art a m an , .
I will I will
. E ach word each wish i s ; s acre d
.
, , .
B l ess thee ! Bl ess th ee l S o th en t h e eye s th at now can

s c a r ce s ee th ee they are s o troubl e d b y t h e p est a n d th e lip s
, ,
t hat sh all n o t tou ch the e to ta i nt t h ee will stil l b e b ef ore thee” , ,
as th ey were wh en we wer e y ou n g an d thou d idst l o ve m e .
W h
th e e a s now
en I di d l o
.
v e th ee M a rg a ret ! Oh ; n ever love
, d I ,
Hast not tol d m e s o of late .
Al as ! hath l ove n o vo ice b ut wor ds ? I w a s a p r i est ;

I h ad charge of t h y so ul ; th e swe et offi c e s of a p u r e love were
l a wf u1 ; w or d s o f love impru d ent at t h e least B ut no w th e .
go o d fi gh t i s won ah m e ! O h my lov e if th ou hast live d

.
, ,
d oub tin g of thy Gerard s h eart di e no t s o ; for n e ver wa s

’
w
wom an l oved so te nderly a s tho u t his ten years p ast . .
C al m th ys el f d ear said th e dyi n g wo man ith a ,

‘
h eave nly smi l e I know i t ; o nly b ein g b ut a woman I

.
,
coul d no t die happy t i ll I h a d h eard the e s a y s o Ah ! I h ave .
p ine d t en ye ars for th o s e sweet words Hast s a i d them and .

,
this i s th e h a p p i es t h ou r of my l ife I h a d to die to g et them ; .
well I gru d ge not t h e price

, .
Fro m thi s mom ent a gentl e compl acen cy res te d o n h er

fadin g features B ut s h e did no t sp e a k
. .
Then Gerard wh o h ad l oved h er s oul s o m any years

, ,
feare d lest s h e should exp ire with a mind to o fi x ed o n e arthly

a f fectio n . O h my d au ghter h e cried my dear d au ghter
”
, , ,
if ind ee d t h o u lovest m e as I l ove th ee g i ve m e n ot t h e p ai n , .
of s e eing t h e e die with thy p iou s s oul fi x ed on mortal things .
D ear est l amb of al l my fold for who se so u l I mu st ,
answer oh think n ot now of mortal love b ut of H i s who died

, ,
for th ee o n th e tree Oh 1 et thy last lo ok b e h eavenwards

.
, ,
thy last word a w ord o f prayer .
S h e turned a l o ok of grati t u d e and ob e di ence on him .
Wh at saint ? s h e murmured : m eanin g do ub tless : what ,
s a i nt sho ul d s h e invok e as an i n tercessor .
H e to whom the s aints themselves d o pray .
Sh e turned o n him one m ore sweet lo ok of love an d

s ub mission and put h er p retty hands to gether in a prayer
,
l i ke a chil d .
646 TH E C L O I ST E R A ND T H E HE AR T H
h wa s , and the i r faces and trie d to sp e a k to them

e h, , . O
my chil dren ! my ch il dren ! h e cried ; b ut ch oke d with
an gu ish coul d s a y no more
,
.
Yet th e n ext day S p ite of all rem onstrances h e b uried, ,
her him self and read th e service with a vo i ce that only

,
tremb l e d now an d then Ma n y t ea r s fe l l up o n h er g rave . .
An d when the service ende d h e staye d there stan ding l ik e a

statu e and th e p eopl e l eft th e churchyard ou t of re sp e ct
,
.
H e sto o d lik e on e in a dream till t h e s exto n who was a s , ,
m o st m en ar e a fo ol b e gan to fi ll i n th e grave witho ut givin g

, ,
him du e warnin g .
B ut at the so un d of ear th f allin g on h er Gerard uttered a

p iercin g s cream .
Th e sexto n forb ore .
Gerard staggere d an d p ut his h an d to h i s b reast Th e .
s exto n sup p orted him and c al l ed for help , .
Jo rian K etel wh o lin gered n ear m ournin g his b en e

,
f a ct r e s s ran into th e churchy a rd a n d th e two supp orte d

, ,
G erar d into the m an se .
Ah Jorian ! go o d Jorian ! sai d h e s om ethin g

'
, ,
s n app e d within m e ; I felt i t and I h ear d it here Jorian , , ,
here ; an d h e p ut his h and to his b reast .
C HAPTE R X C VI I I
A F O R T N I G H T af ter this a p al e b owe d fi g u r e entered th e
D ominican co nvent in th e sub urb s of Gouda and s ou ght ,
S p eech w ith B rother A mb ro se wh o governe d th e convent a s ,
d eputy th e p rio r havin g lately died and his su ccessor

, , ,
thou gh app o inted not h avin g ar rived , .
The sick m an w a s Gerard com e to end life a s h e b e gan i t , .
H e entered a s a novice on p r ob a t i on ; b u t t h e truth was h e , l ‘ ,
wa s a fai l i ng m an an d kn ew i t and c a m e t h er e t o d ie in
, , .
p eace ne ar kind an d gentl e Amb ro se his friend an d th e

, , ,
oth er m o n k s to who m his hou s e an d he a rt had a l ways b e en

op en .
H i s m ans e was m ore than h e co ul d b ear ; it was to o f u ll

of reminiscence s o f h er .
Amb ro se wh o kn ew his val u e and his s orro w wa s n ot

"
w ithout a kindly hop e oi curing him an d rest oring h i mto hi s

, ,
With this vi ew h e p ut him i n a co mfor t a b l e cel l

,
'
p ar ish .
o ver th e gateway an d fo rb ad e him to fast or p racti se any

,
au sterities .
B ut in a few d ays the n ew prior arrived and , proved a , ‘
very Tartar A t fi r s t he was ab sorb e d i n curin g ab u se s

.
‘
,
THE C L O I ST E R AND THE HEA R TH 64 7
tightenin g the general discipline ; but on e day hearin g th e

-
vicar of Go u d a had entered the co nvent as a novice h e said , ,

’
Ti s well ; let him fi r s t give up his Vicara ge then or g o ; ,
’
I ll no fat p arson s in my hou se T h e prior then sent for .
Gerard an d h e went t o him ; and the m om ent th ey s a w on e

.
a nother th ey b oth started .
Clem ent i
.
J cr om e l
C HAPTER X C IX
J ER O M E wa s a s m oro s e as ever in his gener al ch aract er b u t ,
he ha d so m ewh at softene d toward s Gerard All the tim e h e .
was i n En gland h e ha d mi sse d him more than he thou ght

,
p o ssibl e and since then ha d o ften wo ndere d wha t h ad

,
b ecom e of him What h e heard in Gou da raise d his feebl e

. ,
b rother in his go o d O p inio n ; ab ove all that h e had wi t hsto o d ,
th e Pop e and th e Minorite s on th e infernal heresy of t h e

”
immaculate co nception a s h e called i t But when on e of , .
his youn g m onks tol d him with tears in hi s ey es th e cau se of

G erard s illness all his co ntemp t revived
’
, D yin g f or a .
wom an ?
H e determine d to avert th e scandal ; h e visited Clement
t wi c e a day in his cell and tried all his ol d i n fl u en c e and all
,
his elo quence to in du ce him t o shake off this u nspiritual

de sp o ndency an d n ot rob th e Church of his p iety and his
,
e lo quence at s o critical a p erio d .
Gerard heard him approve d his rea sonin g a dmire d hi s , ,
strength confessed his ow n weakne ss and continu ed visibly

, ,
to w ear away to th e lan d of the leal On e d ay Jerome tol d .
him h e had heard his story and he ard it with pride But , .
n ow sai d h e
, y ou sp oil it all Clem ent ; f or this is th e
, ,
triumph of earthly p assion B etter h ave yiel ded to it an d .
rep ented than resist it wh ile s h e lived an d succumb un der

, ,
”
i t n ow b o dy and soul
,
.
”
D ear Jerom e said Cl ement s o s weetly a s to rob his , ,
r em on s t r a n ce of th e to n e o f rem o nstrance
‘
here I think , , , ,
-d o m e s om e inj u stice Passio n there i s none but a

y ou ; .
d eep a f fection for which I will not b l u s h here since I shall

,
f
not blu sh for it in heaven B ethink th ee J ero me the p o o r .

, ,
’
d o g that dies of grief on his m aster s grave is b e guilty of
“
p ass i on ? N eith er a m I Passion ha d save d my life an d .

,
lo st my soul She was my go o d angel ; s h e su stain e d m e

.
in m y duty an d charity ; her face enco ura ge d m e in the

.
pulpit ; her lip s so othe d m e un der ingratitude She inter .

C L OI STER AND THE H EA RTH
'
'
T ‘
648 TH E
twi ne d hers el f with al l th at was go o d 1 1 1 my l i fe; a nd af t er '
leanin g on h er so l o n g I coul d n ot g o on al on eY And dea r

‘ ' '
, ,
J erom e b eli eve m e I a m n o reb el against He aven I t i s

,
-
D
.
God s will to r el eas e m e

’
Wh en th ey t h r ew th e e arth up on .
her p o o r c ofi i n som ethin g s napp e d within my b o s om here

'
that m en d e d m ay not b e I h e ard i t an d I felt i t And .

, .
from that tim e Jerom e no fo o d that I put in my mouth

, ,
ha d any s avour With my eyes b and aged no w I coul d not

.
tel l the e whi ch was b rea d an d which wa s fl esh b y eatin g , ,
of it .
H oly s aint s !
An d a gain from th at sam e h our my deep dej e ctio n
,
l eft m e an d I smil e d a gain

,
I often s mil e wh y ? I read it
— .
‘
thu s : H e in wh o s e h ands are th e i ssu e s of life an d death

gave m e th at min ut e th e great summ on s ; twas som e cord of ’
l ife snapp e d in m e H e i s very p it i ful I shoul d h ave

'
'
. .
live d unhappy ; b ut H e s a i d N o ; enou gh i s d o ne enou gh '
, ,
"
i s suff ere d ; p o or fe ebl e l ovin g s ervant thy sh ortcomin gs are , ,
forgiven thy s o r rows tou ch,

=
co m e th o u to thy
rest ! I com e L ord I co m e l l
‘
Jerom e gr o an ed Th e Church ha d ever her hol y b ut

.
”
feebl e servants h e sai d N ow w oul d I give ten ye a r s of
, .
B ut I s e e i t m a y n ot b e
'
my l i fe to save thi ne
'
D i e in
.
'
’
p eace )
An d s o i t wa s th at in a few d ays mor e Gerard l ay a

dyin g m a fram e of min d s o h oly a n d h ap py th at m o r e than
'
on e a ged s aint was there to garner his dyin g wo rds In th e .
even i n g h e had seen Gil es an d b e gg e d h i m not to l et p o or ,

‘
Ja ck st arv e ; an d to se e th at littl e Gerard s tru stee s did their ’
duty an d to kiss his parents fo r h im a nd to sen d D enys to

, ,
h i s friends in B ur g u n dy : P o or thin g h e will fe el s o stran ge ,
h ere with out hi s comra de j An d after that h e h a d an inter .

‘
vi ew with Jero me al on e
' '
Wh at p as se d b etwe en th em w a s .
~
n ever di stinctly kn own ; but it mu st h ave b een so methi n g

rem arkabl e for Jero m e went from th e do o r w i t h h i s h ands
,
\
cro sse d o n h i s b rea st; his hi gh h ea d l owered an d s i g hi n g a s

‘
,
’
h e went
Th e t w
.
o m onk s that watch ed wit h him till m atin s

r elated that all throu gh the n i ght h e b roke out fro m ti m e t o
' ’ '
tim e in p i ou s ej a culatio n s a nd p r ai ses an d thanks givin gs ;

'
, ,
only o nce th e y sai d h e wan d ered an d thou ght h e S &W l h el ,

'
w a lkin g in green m ea dows with oth er s pirits cla d in w h i te ’

,
a n d b e ckonin g him ; an d they all sm ile d a n d b e ckone d h i m .
An d b oth these m o nk s said ( but it might h ave b een fan cy )

that j u st b ef ore d awn th ere c am e thre e li ght taps a gain st th e
wa ll on e after anoth er very sl ow ; a n d the d y in g m an heard
, ,
them an d said I com e l ove I co m e

‘
, , , , .
650 THE C L O IST E R AN D THE HEA R T H
U n der linen they foun d a horse h a ir sh i rt
h is
crie d th e yo un g mo nks
.
Ah ! b ehol d a s aint ! ,
U nder th e hair cloth they found a long thick tress of

a ub urn ha i r .
Th ey st art ed an d were h or r ifi e d ; an d a b ab el of voice s

,
a ro se s o m e co ndemnin g som e exc usin g

, , .
In th e mi dst of which Jerom e cam e i n an d h earin g th e ,
d i sp ute turn e d to an ardent youn g m onk called B as i l who

, ,
wa s cry i n g s can d al th e lo u dest B asil sai d h e is sh e .

, ,
al i ve o r dead that own ed thi s h a i r ?

How m ay I kn ow father ? ,
Then f or au ght y ou k n ow 1 t m ay b e th e r eli c of a saint ?

C ertes it m ay b e sai d B asil s ceptical ly
”
, .
You h ave then b roken our rul e whi ch saith Put ill ,
.
,
‘
c onstru ctio n on n o act d on e b y a b r o ther which can be con ‘
s t ru e d inno cently Wh o are yo u to j u dge s uch a man a s

.
’
,
thi s was ? g o to your cell an d stir no t o ut for a week b y ,
Wa y o f p enance .
H e then c a rri ed off th e lo ck of hair .
An d wh en th e co ffi n wa s to b e clo se d h e cl eare d th e ,
cell : an d p ut the tress up on th e dead m an s b osom There ’

.
,
”
Clem ent said h e to th e d ea d face
, An d s et him self a .
'
p enance f or doin g i t ; and n ail e d the c offi n u p h i m s el f .
Th e next day Gerar d was b uried in Gou d a churchyar d .
Th e m o nk s foll ow e d him in pro cessio n fro m th e co nvent .
J ero m e who wa s evidently car ryin g ou t th e wishes of th e

,
.
d eceas ed rea d th e service

, Th e grave w as a deep on e an d .
,
at the b otto m of it was a l e ad c of fi n P o or G erard s li ght .

’
a s a feather ( s o waste d wa s h e) was l o w ere d an d pl ace d b y , ,
t h e side of i t .
After th e s ervi ce Jerom e said a few words to t he crow d

of p arishi oners that h a d c om e t o take the last lo ok at their
b est friend When h e sp ok e of the Virtu es of zt h e d ep arte d
.
'
lou d wa i lin g an d weep in g b urst forth an d tear s fell up o n th e ,
c offi n lik e rain .
Th e monk s w ent ho m e Jerom e co l l ecte d th em in th e

’
. 1 ,
r efector an d sp ok e to th em thu s We have this day lai d

y :
a s aint i n th e earth T h e co nvent will keep h i s trental s
.
,
b u t wil l feast not fast ; for ou r go o d b roth er i s free d from

,
t h e b u rden of th e fl esh ; his l ab o urs are over an d h e h a s ,
e ntere d into his j oyful rest I al on e shall fast ; an d d o .
p en an ce ; f or to m y sham e I s a y i t I was unj u st to h i m ; an d ,
knew no t hi s wo rth til l it wa s to o

, ,
y o1 1 n g
m o n ks b e n o t curiou s to inquire whether a l o ck he b ore on
,
h i s b o som was a token of p ure a fi e ct i on or the reli cof a saint ;

b u t rem emb er th e h eart h e wore b eneath ; m o st of a1 1 ; fi x
'
y ou r eye s up o n his life an d co nvers ation an d foll ow th em an ,
y e may : f or h e 1 1 a s a hol y m an .
t
'
THE C L O IST E R AND THE HEARTH 65 1
Thu s after life s fi t f u l fever th ese tru e lo vers were a t

’
.
p eace The grave kin der t o them than the Church unite d
.
, ,
th em for ever ; an d now a man of anoth er a ge and nation ,
to uched wi t h t h ei r fate has lab o ure d to b uil d their to mb

'
stone an d rescu e them fro m lon g and unm erite d oblivio n

, .
H e asks f or them yo ur symp athy b ut not your p ity , .
No put this story to a wholesom e u se

, .
Fictio n mu st o ften give false views of l i fe an d death .
Here a s it happ ens curb ed b y history sh e give s you tru e

, ,
o nes . L et th e b arrier th at kept thes e tru e l overs ap art

prep are yo u f or this that h ere on e arth there w i ll n early
,
always b e som e ob stacl e or oth er to yo ur p erfect happ iness ;

to their e arly d eath apply your R eason an d y our Faith ,
b y way of exercis e and p rep aration Fo r if y ou cannot b ear .
to b e tol d that thes e die d youn g who ha d th ey live d a ,
hundre d years woul d still b e d ead how shall yo u b ear t o ,
s e e t h e g en t l e th e lo ving and th e tru e gli de fro m your ow n

‘
‘
, ,
b o som to th e grave an d fly fro m your hous e to he aven ?

,
Yet this is i n store for y ou In every age th e Maste r .
of life an d death who is kinder as well a s wiser than w e

,
are has transplante d to h eav en youn g e arth s sw eetes t

, , ,
’
fl ow er s .
I a s k y our symp athy then f or th eir rare constancy a n d , ,
pure aff ection an d th eir cru el sep aratio n by a v i l e h ere sy

,
in t l i e b osom of th e Church ; b ut no t your p ity for the i r

early but happy end .
B eati sunt qui in D o mino m or i u n t u r .
C HAPTER C
IN compliance with a cu sto m I desp ise b ut have not t h e ,
S pirit to re sist I linger on th e stage to pick up th e small e r

,
fra gm ents of hum anity I have scattere d ab out ; i a som e of . .
them for the wayside characters h ave n o claim on m e ; th ey

,
have s erve d their turn if they have p ersuade d th e reade r

that G erard travelle d from Holl an d to Rom e throu gh
hum an b eings a ri d not throu gh a p opulation of dolls
, .
Eli and Cath erine lived t o a great age ; lived s o lon g ,
that b oth Gerar d and M argaret grew to b e dim m emorie s .
Giles also was lon g aevou s ; h e went t o t h e court of B avaria ,
and was alive there at ninety b u t had somehow turned int o ,
b on es an d leather trump et to ned , .
Cornelis fre e fro m all r ival s and forgiven lon g ago by h i s

, ,
m other wh o clun g to him more and more now all her b ro o d

,
C el i b ac y of th e cl e r gy ,
an i n ve n t i on t r u l y fi en d i s h .
65 2 TH E C L O IS TE R
wa s scattered waite d an d waite d an d waited for hi s p arents
’
,
d e ceas e But C ath eri n e s shrewd word cam e tru e; ere Sh e

.
’
an d h er m at e wore ou t this worthy ruste d aw ay ,At sixty “
fi v e h e l ay dyin g of ol ti age i n his m oth er 5 arm s a hal e

'
’
wom an of ei ghty six -

H e h ad lain u n cons ciou s a whil e
.
,
b ut cam e to him self i n ar t i c u l om or i i s an d seein g her n ear

h i m tol d h er h o w h e woul d tran sformth e s h 0 p an d p remises
,
a s s o o n a s th ey sh oul d b e his Ye s my dar li ng sai d th e .

, ,
p o or ol d wom an s oot h m gl y a nd i n anoth er minut e h e wa s ,
cl ay an d th at cl ay was followe d to the gr ave b y a l l the feet

,
wh o s e sho es h e h a d waite d f or
'
.
‘
D eny s b rok en h e arte d at hi s comrad e 5 death was gl ad

,
’
,
t o return to B urgu ndy an d t h ere a sm all p ension th e court ,
all owe d him kep t h im until un exp e cte dly h e inh erite d a
considerabl e s u m fr om a rel atio n
'
H e was known in his

n ative pl ace for m any y ear s as a cru sty ol d sol dier wh o
.
_ ,
coul d t el l go o d stories of war wh en h e ch o s e an d a b itter ,
rail er a gain st wom en .
J er orn e dis gu ste d with no rth ern laxity ret i re d to I t aly

,
'
,
'
an d h avi n g high conn ection s b ecam e at s eventy a mi tre d

abb ot H e p ut o n th e s crew oi dis ciplin e ; h i s m onk s
'
revere d an d h at e d him H e ru l e d with i ro n ro d ten years ;

.
An d o n e ni ght h e died al on e ; f or h e h a d not foun d t h e way

,
’
'
to a singl e h eart Th e V ul gate w a s on hi s p illow ; an d th e

.
an d on his lip s s orn et h i n g m o re lik e a

'
cr u cifi x in hi s h a n d ,
sm i l e th an was ever s een th ere whil e h e live d ; s o th at ,
m ethinks at that awful h our h e wa s n ot qu i t e al on e

, .
R equiescat in p ace Th e Master h e s erve d ha s m any

.
s ervants an d th ey h ave m any m inds an d n ow an d th en a

, ,
faithful on e w i ll b e a surly on e as it is i n thes e o ur m ort al ,
m an sion s
Th e yell ow h air ed lad die Gera r
.
-
d G er a r d s on b el on gs n ot , ,
to Fiction b ut to History Sh e has re cord e d h i s b irth in .
oth er term s th an m ine O v er th e t a il or s ho u s e in t h e Bre d e

.
’
'
Kirk S t r a et sh e h a s in scri b ed ,
PAR V A D OM U S NAT US Q U A M A GNU S

“
1 1 1 1 20 1 3 5 1
‘
ERAS MU S ;
an d sh eh a s written live s of him l
ha f a doz en
B ut th ere i s
- -
.
s om ethin g left for h er y et to do Sh e has n o m o r e comp re .

.
h end ed m agnum E r a s m u m th an a ny oth e r p i g m y j c ornp r e , .
h en d s a giant, or p art is an a j u dge .
First scholar an d divin e of h i s ep o ch “ he wa s als o t h e

heaven b o rn dram atist of hi s century S o me oi n t h e b est .
scen es in this n ew b o ok a r e fro m his m ed i ae va l i p e n an d ‘

,
i llumine th e p ages wh ere th ey co m e ; f or th e w or d s of a n
geniu s s o high as his are n o t b o rn to di e ; th eir imm e diate

work u p on m ankin d f u l fi l l e d ; th ey ma y se em to li e to rp id ;
‘

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NOTE

b u t i n 1 8 3 1 h e p r oc eed ed t o O xfor d Th ere

i mmed ia t ely by C h r i s t i e j oh n s ton e a ta l e

N OT a d a y p asses over th e earth , b u t m en and wo men no of

sorrows Oi these ob scure h ero e s phil o sophers and martyrs

th e great er p art will n ever b e known till that hour when ,

m a ny that are great sh a ll b e smal l and the small great ; ,

b ut of o thers the worl d s knowl ed ge m ay b e s aid to s l eep z ’

their lives an d ch a r a cters lie hidden from nations in the

them they are presented s o cur t ly and col dl y : th ey are not

lik e b reathing stories app ealing to his h eart b ut littl e ,

nor can he understand them ; for ep itomes are not narrative s

a s skel etons are no t human ﬁ gu r es .

Thu s records of prim e truths remain a dead letter to

and imagination is s o rare a gi ft Here then th e wr iter .

of ﬁ ct i on m ay b e of u s e to th e p ublic— as an interp reter .

There is a mu sty chronicle written in intolerabl e L atin , ,

and in it a ch a p t er wh ere every s entence holds a fact

i s t ol d wi t h harsh b revity the strange history of a p ai r

who lived 1 1 r1 t r u m p et e d a n d died unsung four hundre d , ,

years a go ; a n d lie now a s unp itied in that stern p age a s

fo ssil s in a r ock Thu s livin g or dead Fate is still unj ust

to them For i f I can b ut sho w yo u what lies b elow that

dry chronicler s words m ethinks you wi ll correct th e i n

di fference of centuries and give tho se two sore -tried so u l s ,

a place in your heart

m i ddl e of th e ﬁ f t een t h century ; Louis

an d cunning disp ossess ed his cousin Jacqueline and broken ,

her heart reigned undisturb ed this m any years in Holl and

where ou r tal e b e gins .

Elias and C atherine his wife lived in the littl e town of

T orgo n . H e traded wholes al e and retail in cloth silk

b rown holland and ab ove all in curried leather a m ateri al

highly v al ued by the middl ing p eopl e b ecaus e it woul d ,

stand twenty years wear and turn an o rdinary kni fe no

small virtu e in a j erkin of th at centu r y in which folk were so ,

Th e coupl e were well to do and wo ul d h ave b een free ,

from all earthly care b ut for n i n e chil dren W hen th e s e

were coming into the worl d one p er annum each wa s hail ed , ,

th in gs invented by Heaven for the amusement j oy an d , ,

evening solace of p eopl e in bu siness .

But as the olive b ranch es shot u p and th e p arents grew ,

to a singularly wise and p rovident p eopl e : in Holl and

now when the hu g e loaf cam e i n on a gi gantic trench er ,

lo oking lik e a fortres s in its mo at and t h e tour of th e tabl e , ,

o nce made 5 emed to have m elted away Elias and

Cath erine would lo ok at on e another and s a y W h o i s to ,

ﬁ n d b read for them all when w e are gone ?

round the earth s o long m u s t th e b ro wn lo af g o round their

family circle and s et in their stomach s o nly to ris e again in

th e family oven But th e rem ark awak ened th e national

thoughtfulness of th e elder b oys and b eing often rep eated , ,

s et sever al of th e fam i ly think ing som e of th em go o d ,

thou ghts some ill thou ghts according to the nature of th e

Kate the children grow s o this table wi ll so o n b e to o

We canno t a ff ord i t Eli replied C ath eri ne answer i n g

n ot his words but his thou ghts after th e manner of women

Their anxiety for th e future to ok at times a l ess dismal

prid e as well as the nobles ; and thes e two coul d n o t b ear

S o by prudence an d s elf denial they managed to cl othe-

put by a small ho ard to m eet the future ; and a s it grew ,

and grew they felt a pl easure th e miser ho arding for him

s elf knows not .