the Lost Brother 249

forest, they were startled as they approached
the gate to hear the weeping and moaning of
one who lay forsaken on the cold earth;
and when the Prior called out through the
darkness, “ Be of good cheer, Christian soul,
we are coming to your aid,” the sufferer re-
plied by rattling the lid of his clap-dish and
at once they knew it was some poor leper
who had fallen helpless by the way.

“ Patience, brother,” said the Prior; and
bidding his companion open the wicket, he
lifted the wretched outcast from the ground
and carried him in his arms into the great
hall. ‘Rest here a little,” he said, “till we
can bring you light and fire and food.”

The Prior and Bede hastened to call the
brethren who had charge of these matters,
but when they returned with the other
monks they found the great hall shining
with a wonderful light and filled with a mar-
vellous fragrance of flowers, and on the seat
where the leper had been placed there lay a
golden rose, but the leper himself had
vanished.

Then a great joy cast fear out of the hearts
of the brotherhood, and they laboured with-
out ceasing in the stricken villages. Many of