THE INTERPRETER’S HOUSE. 207

When he had thus said, he went back to his place, and the pilgrims went on their
way.

Mer. Then said Mercy, “ What a sudden blank is here! JI made account we had
peen past all danger, and that we should never see sorrow more.”

Cur. “Thy innocence, my sister,” said Christiana to Mercy, “may excuse thee
much ; but as for me, my fault is so much the greater, for that I saw the danger before
I came out of the doors, and yet did not provide for it when provision might have been
had. Iam, therefore, much to be blamed.”

Mer. Then said Mercy, “ How knew you this before you came from home? Dray,
open to me this riddle.”

Cur. Why, I will tell you. Before I set foot out of doors, one night, as I Jay in
my bed, J had a dream about this; for methought I saw two men, as like these as ever
any in the world could look, stand at my bed’s feet, plotting how they might prevent
my salvation. I will tell you their very words. They said (it was when I was in my
troubles), “ What shall we do with this woman? for she cries out waking and sleeping
for forgiveness: if she be suffered to go on as she begins, we shall lose her as we have
lost her husband.” This, you know, might have made me take heed, and have pro-
vided when provision might have been had.

Mer. “ Well,” said Mercy, “as by this neglect we have an occasion ministered unto
us to behold our own imperfections, so our Lord has taken occasion thereby to make
manifest the riches of His grace; for He, as we see, has followed us with unasked
kindness, and has delivered us from their hands that were stronger than we, of Llis
mere good pleasure.

CHAPTER III.
THE INTERPRETERS WOUSE

{{/ HUS, now, when they had talked away a little more time, they drew near to a
house which stood in the way, which house was built for the relief of pilgrims,
as you will find more fully related in the first part of these records of the

 

Pilgrim’s Progress. So they drew on towards the house (the house of the
Interpreter) ; and, when they came to the door, they heard a great talk in the house.
Then they gave ear, and heard, as they thought, Christiana mentioned by name; for

you must know that there went along, even before her, a talk of her and her children’s