198 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

Then said the Keeper, “ Whence come ye? and what is it that you would have? ”

Christiana answered, “ We are come from whence Christian did come, and upon the
same errand as he; to wit, to be, if it shall please you, graciously admitted by this gate
into the way that leads to the Celestial City. And I answer, my Lord, in the next
place, that I am Christiana, once the wife of Christian, that now is gotten above.”

With that the Keeper of the gate did marvel, saying, “ What! is she now become a
pilgrim, that, but a while ago, abhorred that life?”

Then she bowed her head, and said, “ Yes; and so are these my sweet babes also.”

Then He took her by the hand, and let her in, and said also, “Suffer the little
children to come unto me;” and with that He shut up the gate. This done, He
called to a trumpeter that was above, over the gate, to entertain Christiana with shout-
ing and sound of trumpet for joy. So he obeyed, and sounded, and filled the air with
his melodious notes.”

Now, all this while poor Mercy did stand without, trembling and crying, for fear
that she was rejected. But when Christiana had got admittance for herself and her
boys, then she began to make intercession for Mercy.

Cur. And she said, “ My Lord, I have a companion of mine that stands yet with-
out, that is come hither upon the same account as myself; one that is much dejected
in her mind, for that she comes, as she thinks, without sending for; whereas I was
sent to by my husband’s King to come.”

Now Mercy began to be very impatient, for each minute was as long to her as an
hour; wherefore she prevented Christiana from a fuller interceding for her, by knock-
ing at the gate herself. And she knocked then so loud that she made Christiana to
start. Then said the Keeper of the gate, “ Who is there?” And said Christiana, “It
is my friend.”

So He opened the gate and looked out; but Mercy was fallen down without in a
swoon, for she fainted, and was afraid that no gate would be opened to her.

Then He took her by the hand, and said, “ Damsel, I bid thee arise.”

“Oh, sir,” said she, “I am faint: there is scarce life left in me.”

But He answered that “One once said, ‘ When my soul fainted within me, I remem-
bered the Lord; and my prayer came in unto Thee, into Thy holy temple’ Fear
not, but stand upon thy feet, and tell me wherefore thou art come.”

Mer. I am come for that unto which I was never invited, as my friend Christiana
was. Hers was from the King, and mine was but from her. Wherefore I fear I
presume.

Kurr. Did she desire thee to come with her to this place?