- HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG!
THE Monastery by the forest pursued an even existence, with no great event to trouble its serenity, for it lay too far west for the Plague to be more than a terrible name.
True, there had been dissension when Prior Stephen, summoned to Cluny by the Abbat, had perforce left the dominion to the Sub-Prior. For lo! the Sub-Prior, a mild and most amiable man in his own estate, had proved harsh and overbearing in government. Ay, and in an irate mood he had fallen upon Brother William, the Sacrist, in the Frater, plucked out his hair and beaten him sore; whereat the Convent was no little scandalized, and counselled Brother William to resign his office. He flouted the Chamberlain also, and Brother Roger the Hospitaller, and so affronted the Brethren that when he began to sing the Verba mea on leaving the chapter, the Convent - yea, even the novices - were silent, to show their displeasure.
When Prior Stephen returned he was exceeding wroth, but said little; only he took from the Sub-Prior his office, and all that appertained thereto, and made him as one of the other monks; and Brother William, who was a gentle and devout servant of God, he made Sub-Prior in his stead; and the Convent was at peace.
Brother Ambrose, he to whom the vision was vouchsafed, had slipped through the grey veil which once hid Jerusalem from his longing gaze; Brother Richard was now in the land where the blind receive their sight; and Brother Thomas the Cellarer - but of him let us say little and think with charity; for 'tis to be feared that he greatly abused his office and is come to judgment.
Two of the older monks, Brother Anselm and Brother Paul, who had spent fifty years in the sheltered peace of the Monastery walls, sat warming their tired old limbs in the south cloister, for the summer sunshine was very pleasant to them.
"Since Brother Thomas died - " began Brother Paul.
"The Lord have mercy on his soul!" ejaculated Brother Anselm.
"Since Brother Thomas died," said Brother Paul again - a little impatiently, though he crossed himself piously enough - "methinks the provisions have oft been scanty and far from tempting, Brother."
"Ay, and the wine," said Brother Anselm. "Methinks our Cellarer draws the half of it from the Convent's well."
They shook their heads sadly.
"No doubt," said Brother Anselm after a short silence, "our Cellarer is most worthy, strict, and honest in the performance of his office - while Brother Thomas, alack - "
"Methinks Brother Edmund is somewhat remiss also in his duties," said Brother Paul. "The Prior, holy man, perceives nothing of these things. On Sunday's feast one served him with a most unsavoury mess in the refectory, the dish thereof being black and broken; yet he ate the meat in great content, and seemingly with appetite."
"He is but young, he is but young - sixty come Michaelmas - sixty, and twenty-two years Prior - 'tis a long term," and Brother Anselm nodded his head.
"Ay, he is still young, and of sound teeth," said Brother Paul, "whereas thou and I, Brother, are as babes needing pap-meat.
