" He tottered, and would have fallen, but the Friar caught
him in his arms. A moment he stood irresolute, the boy on his
breast, then flung away his staff and lifted him to his shoulder.
With unerring, confident step he went forward through the snow, a
white figure bearing a white burden in a white world. All at once
the wind dropped, the blinding shower ceased, and Hilarius, rested
and comforted, spoke:-
"Is it thou, my Father?"
"It is I, my son, but angels are on either hand and go before to
guide. The snow hath ceased, canst thou walk?"
He set Hilarius gently on his feet, and lo! he found the stars
alight!
The boy gave a cry, and forgetting his companion's darkness,
pointed to the left where lay a snow-clad village.
"A miracle, a miracle, my Father!"
"A miracle, i' faith, my son: the Lord hath given guidance to the
blind as He promised. Let us go down."
They went by the white way under the stars; and Hilarius was full
of awe and comfort because of the angels of God which attended on a
poor friar.
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