my dear sons. So He took her by the hand and led her in; and when
her four sons had gone through, He shut the gate. This done, He
said to a man hard by, Sound the horn for joy.

But now that Christiana was safe through the gate with her boys,
she thought it time to speak a word for Mercy, so she said, My
Lord, I have a friend who stands at the gate, who has come here
with the same trust that I did; one whose heart is sad to think
that she comes, it may be, when she is not sent for; while I had
word from Christian's King to come.

The time did so lag with poor Mercy while she stood to be let in,
that though it was but a short space, yet through fear and doubt
did it seem to her like an hour at least; and Christiana could
not say more for Mercy to Him who kept the gate for the knocks,
which came so fast, and were at last so loud that they made
Christiana start.

Then He said, Who is there?

Quoth Christiana: It is my friend.

So He threw back the gate to look out, but Mercy was in a swoon,
from the fear that she should not be let in.

Then He took her by the hand and said, Fear not; stand firm on
thy feet, and tell me whence thou art come, and for what end?

Mercy:--I do not come as my friend Christiana does, for I was
not sent for by the King, and I fear I am too bold. Yet if there