The pilgrims spent the day in crossing the plain, and after walking for several hours they saw the walls and gates of Vanity Fair in the distance before them. The great towers rose darkly against the clear sky, and Christiana began to feel timid as she drew near the city of the Wicked Prince.
“It is such a dreadful place!” she said.
“Did not poor Faithful die there?” asked Mercy.
“Yes,” answered Phoebe. “The people treated him very cruelly, and they kept little Christian in prison for some time.”
“Do you think that we shall be put in prison?” said Mercy.
Christiana’s face grew white, and she clasped Innocence more closely in her arms. “If we are separated from each other,” she said, “do not let us forget all that has happened while we have been together. The King has been very good to us, and we know that He is always watching over us. If we have to suffer, we must be brave and patient because we love Him.”
Feeble-Mind and Ready-to-Halt were walking just behind the girls and could hear all they said.
“Are you afraid?” asked Feeble-Mind.
“I think we are,” replied Christiana.
“Shall we be obliged to pass through the city?” said Mercy. “Is there no other way?”
Ready-to-Halt looked kindly at the trembling little girl. “We might go round,” he said, “but then we might not find our way into the right path again.”
“I think we must go straight on,” said Phoebe. “I have heard my father say that the people are less rough than they used to be. The Prince has told them to make things seem pleasant in the city, so that the pilgrims may feel inclined to give up their journey.”
Great Heart and Mr. Honest turned around at this moment and waited for the rest of the little party to overtake them.
“We shall have to spend the night in Vanity Fair,” said Great Heart, “for if we pass straight through the city, we shall not be able to reach another safe resting place before the darkness comes on.”
“Where can we sleep?” asked Christiana. “Will not the people ill-treat us?”
“I think not,” replied Great Heart. “I have brought many pilgrims safely through the city, and I know an old man who will give us a lodging and be very pleased to see us.”
“Does he love the King?” asked Mercy.
“Yes. The King has commanded him to live here, so that he may keep an inn for the use of pilgrims.”
“Why did not Christian and Faithful go there?”
“The city was more dangerous then, and it was not safe for any of the King’s servants to live in it. But now that the people have grown quieter, they have allowed a few good men to build houses in the fair.”
“What can they do in such a place?” said Matthew. “Is it not wrong of them to live there?”
“No. The King has given them work to do for Him even in this wicked city. They help and protect the pilgrims who are passing through it, and when any of them are tempted to stay here, these servants of the King search for them and try to persuade them to continue their pilgrimage.”
“Oh,” said Christiana, “it is comforting to hear of this! We were feeling so frightened, for we thought that the people might put us in prison or even kill us, as they killed Faithful.”
“They will not kill you,” said Great Heart, “and if we pass quietly through the streets they will not try to hinder us.”