200 THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS.

Mer. Yes; and, as my Lord sees, [ am come. And if there is any grace and
forgiveness of sins to spare, I beseech that I, Thy poor handmaiden, may be partaker
thereof.

Then He took her again by the hand, and led her gently in, and said, “I pray for
all them that believe on me, by what means soever they come unto me.’ Then said
He to those that stood by, “ Fetch something, and give it to Mercy to smell on,
thereby to stay her fainting.” So they fetched her a bundle of myrrh, and a while
after she was revived.

And now was Christiana and her boys and Mercy received of the Lord at the head
of the way, and spoke kindly unto by Him. Then said they yet further unto Him,
“We are sorry for our sins, and beg of our Lord His pardon and further information
what we must do.”

“T grant pardon,” said He, “ by word and deed: by word, in the promise of for-
giveness; by deed, in the way I obtained it. Take the first from my lips with a kiss,
and the other as it shall be revealed.” ”

Now, I saw in my dream, that He spake many good words unto them, whereby
they were greatly gladded. He also had them up to the top of the gate, and showed
them by what deed they were saved; and told them withal that that sight they would
have again as they went along the way, to their comfort.

So He left them a while in a summer parlor below, where they entered into a talk
by themselves ; and thus Christiana began :

“QO Lord, how glad am I that we are got in hither!”

Mer. So you well may; but I of all have cause to leap for joy.

Cur. I thought one time as I stood at the gate, because I knocked, and none did
answer, that all our labor had been lost, specially when that ugly cur made such a
heavy barking against us.

Mer. But my worst fear was after I saw that you were taken into His favor, and
that I was left behind. Now, thought J, it is fulfilled which is written, “Two women
shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left."* I had much
ado to forbear crying out, “Undone! undone!” And afraid I was to knock any more:
but when I looked up to what was written over, the gate, I took courage. J also thought
that I must either knock again or die; so I knocked, but I cannot tell how, for my
spirit now struggled betwixt life and death.

Cur. Can you not tell how you knocked? Iam sure your knocks were so earnest,
that the very sound of them made me start. I thought I never heard such knocking