then (like Christian) two more; but no one came.

Now they heard the fierce bark of a dog, which made them shake
with fear, nor did they dare for a while to knock a third time,
lest the dog should fly at them. So they were put to their wits'
end to know what to do: to knock they did not dare, for fear of
the dog; to go back they did not dare, lest He who kept the gate
should see them as they went, and might not like it. At last they
gave a knock four times as loud as the first.

Then He who stood at the gate said, Who is there? The dog was
heard to bark no more, and the gate swung wide for them to come
in.

Christiana sank on her knees, and said, Let not our Lord be wroth
that we have made this loud noise at His gate.

At this He said: Whence come you, and what is it that you would
have?

Quoth Christiana: We are come from the town whence Christian
came, to beg to be let in at this gate, that we may go on our way
to The Celestial City. I was once the wife of Christian, who now
is in the land of bliss.

With that, He who kept the gate threw up His arms and said, What!
is she on her road to The Celestial City who, but a short time
since, did hate the life of that place?

Then Christiana bent her head, and said, Yes, and so are these,