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Father； stood at my side； and his face was troubled。
〃'Arise； my son；' he cried； 'arise； for the Lord is at hand and hath need
of thee。'
〃And I； deeming it was of judgment that he spake； sprang up in shame
and fear that the Master should find me sleeping。
〃Then cried Blessed Benedict again：…
〃'If thou wilt serve the Lord； make haste； for He hath called thee these
many times；' and so saying passed from my sight。
〃Brethren； I went forth as one bewildered； and made haste to the
Church lest peradventure I should find Him； but the lamps burnt dim and
all was silent。 Then I turned aside and went out into the night； and it was
very dark； with no sound but the wind in the forest trees。
〃My heart was a…hungered； and I sought in cloister and garth； and as I
hasted to the gate I cried aloud； even as she cried who sought Him in a
garden … 'They have taken away my Lord。'
〃At the gate I stayed me； and besought the Lord for a sign； and lo； in
the darkness one came and led me by the hand away from the gate； across
the garth and up the dormitory stair； nor loosed me until I passed within
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where the Brethren lay sleeping； and the chamber was bright with
exceeding radiance。
〃I found myself by the pallet of my dear son Robert： his face was
wet with tears； and as he lay I saw upon his shoulder the mark of many
stripes。
〃Again； one took my hand and led me from one to another of our
Brethren； and on every face lay the shadow of a great need； but in every
face there was somewhat of the Christ； and the lesson burnt in my heart。
〃Then One came swiftly and laid healing hands on the boy Robert； but
I fled； for I might not see Him； and I awoke sore troubled … ay； and the
trouble is on me still。
〃My Brethren； I can but tell the vision as it came to me。 Great is the
rule of Benedict； our Father； and in it stripes； grievous and many as our
sins； have their rightful place； but mayhap we forget that love； and love
alone； should strike。 Ay； and I mind me how Prior Stephen； my Father；
said that to be monk a man must learn before all things to hunger and to
love。 Love should draw the water and build the fire； till the field and
attend the sanctuary； and hunger we should cherish in our hearts； hunger
for righteousness and for the souls of our brethren； for this is the hunger of
God。
〃Men come over lightly to the Lord's work； and lo！ pride and
emulation； jealousy and discontent； spring up and thrive； and the end is
shame and confusion。
〃I speak as to my children； it is in my heart that the Lord is at hand：
let us see that we love while there is yet time。〃
Then he turned to the novices and stretched out his hands to where
they stood amazed； and it may be ashamed … not after this manner was
Brother Adam wont to rebuke them。
〃And ye； who are； as it were； the babes of our Order； give heed to your
ways； neither bring unwilling hands to this service。 Better far go forth；
yea； even to death； than mock the Lord with froward feet and a heart that
is full of vanity。 Remember the sacrifice which Cain offered and the
Lord rejected； for he gainsayed the voice of the Lord and disobeyed His
Commandment； wherefore the wrath of God fell upon him。
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〃I who speak now； speak in love； give ear to my words； and let fear
befriend you； for the coming of the Lord is as a thief in the night； and lo！
stripes bitter and many await that servant whom the Master finds
sleeping。〃
Then the Prior； having made an end of speaking； raised his hand to
bless； and went forth in silence； and no man stirred in his place； for they
knew that the Lord had spoken and were afraid。
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CHAPTER VI … THE HUNGER OF DICKON THE
WOODMAN
JUNE was at an end； and men cried aloud for rain。 The hedges were
white； the fields scorched and brown； the leaves fell from the trees as at
autumn's touch； the fruits scarce formed hung wry and twisted on the
bough； the heavens burnt pitiless； without a cloud。
Dickon； the woodman； sat by the wayside gnawing a crust and a scrap
of mouldy bacon。 There was no sound but the howl of a dog from some
neighbouring farmstead； and he sat in sullen mood； his bill… hook beside
him； brooding over his wrongs； for the world had gone contrary with him。
His wife was dead； she had died in childbed a month gone； leaving six
hungry； naked brats on his shoulders； and now a worse thing had befallen
him； his gold was gone … his gold to which he had no right； for 'twas
blood…money； the food of his children； ay； and something beside； but
Dickon loved that gold piece above all the world … above Heaven and his
own soul … and it was gone。
A neighbour had surely done it； marked the hiding…place which he had
deemed so safe； and made off with the prize； and i' faith 'twas easy
carrying。 There was but one piece； and Dickon minded how he had
changed his petty hoard to gold scarce a month back at the fair。 Maybe it
was Thomas the charcoal burner had served him this ill turn； or William
Crookleg； the miller's man； he was a sly； prying fellow； and there had been
ill blood between them。
He was fain to seek the Monastery that lay the other side the forest；
and crave justice of the Prior； but that the Prior might say 'twas ill…got gain
and well rid of。
Dickon rose to his feet and shambled homewards； he was ragged； ill…
fed； unkempt。 The day's work was done； and on the village green he
found men and women； for the most part as ill…clad as himself； standing
about in groups gossiping。 The innkeeper lounged at the ale…house door；
thin and peaked as his fellows； there was no good living for any man in
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those parts； by reason of the over…lord who sore oppressed them。
A little man； keen…eyed and restless； holding a lean and sorry horse by
the bridle； was talking eagerly。
〃Nay； 'tis true eno'； and three crows saw I this very day on the
churchyard wall … it bodes ill to some of us。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said the innkeeper； 〃have it thine own way。 Methinks
the ill hath outrun the omen； for there will be naught for man or beast
shortly … but fine pickings for thy three crows。〃
The little man scowled at him： Dickon came up。
〃What's to do？〃 he said curtly。
〃Nay；〃 said mine host； 〃Robin will have it that some further evil is
upon us … tho' methinks we have got our fill and to spare with this drought
… ay； and 'twas at thy house； Dickon； he saw the corpse…light。〃
〃Better a corpse…light than six open mouths； and naught to fill them；〃
said Dickon surlily。 〃Whither away； Robin？ 'Tis not far this beast will
travel。〃
〃Right thou art； but my master will turn an honest penny with the
carcass；〃 answered the little man； 〃give me my reckoning； friend John。 I
must needs haste if I would see the Forester's ere nightfall。〃
He pulled out a few small coins and a gold piece。 When Dickon saw
it his eyes gleamed。 Robin paid the reckoning and put the piece in his
cheek。
〃Hard…earned money … 'tis blood out of a stone to draw wages from my
master。 Better it should light in my belly than in a rogue's pocket。 'Tis
as well for me that John o' th' Swift…foot swings at the cross…roads。
Godden； my masters！〃 And leading his weary beast； he took the road that
skirted the forest。
The moon was at full； and he had yet a good stretch of lonely way
before him； when the horse stumbled and fell and would not rise。
〃A murrain on the beast！〃 muttered Robin angrily； tugging in vain at
the c