“Dare we trust thee, beloved brother, with this youth?” and sternly he said to Brother Gorlois:
“Slept ye not, nor had left our holy brother when this sickness increased upon him?”
Then Brother Gorlois lied; and Brother Pacificus smiled very tenderly upon him and said:
“Nay, ye shall leave me, my father, with the babe I found.”
When the brethren were gone, Brother Pacificus said:
“Come near to me, my child, and lift me in thy arms, for I breathe hardly.”
Brother Gorlois obeyed, and Brother Pacificus said:
“Wherefore left ye me, my son and little brother? The pain was sore as I lay yonder; and that ye might have spared me. But in truth I sinned in lack of patience; nevertheless, the thirst which was upon me was great when I strove to fetch the water, that I might drink a little to cool my tongue.”
The old man spoke very feebly, a word or two and then a long pause; but when he had spoken Brother Gorlois knew Brother Pacificus had perceived his absence. He said no word, but hung his head. He perceived there was no fear that Brother Pacificus would betray him. And yet he hung his head; there grew up about his heart a feeling new and strange, and he felt very wroth with the swineherd’s brown daughter.
“See thy penance, child,” said Brother Pacificus. “Hold me in thy arms; thus I breathe more freely.”