taunts. But take the road that leads up to the field gate
which stands in the head of the way; and I wish you all good speed. I
would have thee wear this note in thy breast, that it may be read
by thee till thou must give it up at the last gate that leads to The
Celestial City.

Then Christiana spoke to her boys, and said: My sons, I have of late
been sad at the death of Christian, your dear sire. But I feel sure now
that it is well with him, and that he dwells in the land of life and
peace. I have, too, felt deep grief at the thoughts of my own state and
yours; for we were wrong to let our hearts grow cold, and turn a deaf
ear to him in the time of his woe, and hold back from him when he fled
from this City of Destruction.

The thought of these things would kill me, were it not for a dream which
I had last night, and for what a guest who came here at dawn has told
me. So come, my dear ones, let us make our way at once to the gate that
leads to The Celestial City, that we may see your sire and be there with
him and his friends.

Then her first two sons burst out in tears of joy that Christiana's
heart was set that way.

Now while they put all things right to go, two friends of Christiana's
came up to her house, and gave a knock at the door. To them she said,
If you come in God's name, come in. This mode of speech from the lips of
Christiana struck them as strange. Yet they came in, and said, Pray what
do you mean by this?

I mean to leave my home, said she to Mrs. Timorous--for that was the
name of one of these friends.

Timorous:--To what end, pray tell me?

Christiana:--To go to my dear Christian. And with that she wept.

Timorous:--Nay, can it be so? Who or what has brought you to this state
of mind?

Christiana:--Oh, my friend, if you did but know as much as I do, I doubt
not that you would be glad to go with me.

Timorous:--Pray what new lore have you got hold of that draws your mind
from your friends, and tempts you to go no one knows where?

Christiana:--I dreamt last night that I saw Christian. Oh, that my soul
were with him now! The Prince of the place has sent for me, through one
who came to me at sun rise, and brought this note to bid me go there;
read it, I pray you.

Timorous:--Ah, how mad to run such risks! You have heard, I am sure,
from our friend Obstinate, what Christian met with on the way, for he
went with him; yea, and Pliable, too, till they, like wise men, came
back through fear. Y