"Iddo," said Amer, "where is your mother?" The child was too sad even to show pleasure at the sight of her old friend. "Mother is in the Valley of Pain," she answered, "and the valley sometimes leads to the dark river, and I am afraid." "Fear not little sister," said Amer, "wherever your mother is she is not out of the keeping of the Great King. Neither are you. Do you know that an angel is guarding you while your mother is away. Do not you feel his wings?" "Ah!" said Iddo, "I do not deserve the guardianship of the good angel. I wandered out of my path into the Land of Achshaph, and nearly forgot my King there, and it was only a short time after I left it that mother had to go into the Valley of Pain; and I cannot bear to think that I made some of her days unhappy while I was wandering away. I am so miserable that I feel to have no strength to fight my enemies." "What enemies, have been worrying you?" asked Amer. "A little family clad all in grey, called the Morbids, have been dodging my path and have done all they could to impede me; and no sooner had they left than I found that one who is near of kin to them was following me, a much worse enemy, called Depression." "I know the fellow," said Heman. "I could only get rid of him by crying perpetually to the King for help. And then no sooner had he left me than a worse enemy still beset me." "What was his name?" inquired Amer. Iddo shivered. "Oh! I dare scarcely think of him," she said, "he had a terrible face, and the first moment I saw him I felt sure he would overcome me. His name was Doubt, and he began by asking me if I thought the King could possibly love me as He had sent mother into the Valley of Pain." "And what did you say?" "I did not answer at first, but began to wonder if the King had forgotten me. And then we had a talk and all that the enemy said frightened me so that I lost courage, and when he hit me I fell to the ground and did not try to hit him back." "But did you not cry to the King for help?" "No, I forgot to do that. But that kind old man Chisleu passed by my way and cried to Him for me. I cannot think how I could ever have disliked Chisleu or talked evil of him. He could not have been kinder if he had been my father, and if you say there is an angel walking beside me I owe that I expect to his cries. And I owe much to you too, dear Amer," she added looking up at him with a brighter face, "for already I feel happier. But I do not deserve to have you or to have the angel." "Little sister," said Amer, "where is your Guide Book?" Iddo fumbled in her pocket and at last drew it out. It did not look as if it had been much used. "Mother has always used hers," she said, somewhat shame faced, "and I have never looked much at my own."