But while they were thus about to be gone, two of the women that were Christiana's neighbors came up to the house, and knocked at the door. To whom she said as before, "if you come in God's name, come in." At this the women were stunned; for this kind of language they used not to hear, or to perceive to drop from the lips of Christiana. Yet they came in; but, behold they found the good woman preparing to be gone from her house. So they began, and said, "Neighbor, pray what is your meaning by this?" Christiana answered and said to the eldest of them, whose name was Mrs. Timorous, "I am preparing for a journey." This Timorous was daughter to him that met Christian upon the Hill Difficulty, and would have had him go back for fear of the lions. TIM. For what journey, I pray you? CHR. Even to go after my good husband. And with that she fell a weeping. TIM. I hope not so, good neighbor. Pray, for your poor children's sake, do not so unwomanly cast away yourself. CHR. Nay, my children shall go with me; not one of them is willing to stay behind. TIM. I wonder in my very heart what or who has brought you into this mind! CHR. Oh, neighbor, knew you but as much as I do, I doubt not but that you would go with me. TIM. Prithee, what new knowledge hast thou got that so worketh off thy mind from thy friends, and that tempteth thee to go nobody knows where? CHR. Then Christiana replied, "I have been sorely afflicted since my husband's departure from me, but especially since he went over the river. But that which troubleth me most is my unkind treatment of him when he was under his distress. Besides, I am now as he was then: nothing will serve me but going on pilgrimage. I was a-dreaming last night that I saw him. Oh that my soul was with him! He dwelleth in the presence of the King of the country; he sits and eats with Him at His table; he has become a companion of immortals, and has a house now given him to dwell in, to which the best palaces on earth, if compared, seem to me but as a dunghill. The Prince of the place has also sent for me, with promises of entertainment if I shall come to Him; His messenger was here even now, and has brought me a letter which invites me to come." And with that she plucked out the letter, and read it, and said to them, "What now will you say to this?" [Sidenote: MERCY ALSO DESIRES TO GO]