This time, so miserable was he, and so full of fear that he might be shut out of the Radiant City, that he thought it was worth bearing scorn and laughter, if only he might start out on his journey. The one thing he now shrank from was losing Gabrielle, for he could not deceive himself for a moment about her. She was set against all mention of the Radiant City, and he knew right well that when he started on his journey he would have to give her up. He spent nights of anguish over the thought of this, but his fears lest he was too late to be accepted as a citizen of the Blessed City were growing so great, that even the thought of Gabrielle could not make him swerve from his resolution. Remembering however, his former conduct, and fearing lest his parents might not take his decision seriously, he determined to start on his journey without talking it over with them. But to Gabrielle he boldly mentioned it. Her answer was a derisive laugh. "I shall believe it when you have started," she said, "and when you start we part for ever." Saddened and almost despairing, Amer made his way towards the East Gate, which he remembered he had been told was the gate through which he would have to start. But on nearing it he noticed that it was closed. Anxiously he looked around him and saw a man coming towards him. "Sir," said Amer, "can you tell me if this is the way to the Radiant City, and how the gate is to be opened?" "Why do you want to know, my lad?" asked the stranger. "Because I am in great trouble of mind, and am bent on escaping from this dark place. But I do not know how I can be sure that I shall be allowed to make the journey, as I have so long put it off." "What is your trouble," asked the stranger. "I am my own trouble," he replied, "I have resolutely shut my ears to the Voice, and have spent much of my short life in folly and sin; and now my heart will not let me rest. My sins are such that I am unable to look up. Sir, are you able to give me comfort?" The stranger pointed to some words carved on the stone above the gate which Amer had not noticed:— "'Come unto Me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.'" "That is the message of the Great King to you, my lad," he said. "To me!" murmured Amer, astonished. "Yes, to you. To all that need Him, to all who have sinned and want His forgiveness, to all that hope in His mercy, to all who feel themselves to be miserable sinners and to need a Saviour." "I am that sinner," cried Amer, "'I have gone astray like a sheep that is lost.' Let me through that I may start at once for the Radiant City, so that I may fall at the feet of my King and thank Him for His mercy." "You cannot go through that gate without the King's Mark," said the stranger, "It is a Cross, a Cross of Blood, which you will wear always on your forehead.* This is the key which alone will open the gate for you, and it is your talisman for your journey." "What does it mean?"