So, she gave a knock, and 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, 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 wha