"You'll be a thorough success in Achshaph," she said gaily, "come, put away those scruples and enjoy yourself," and after helping Iddo to hide away her armour in the grass, and to arrange her sword within the folds of her skirt so that it did not show, she took her hand and led the way.
And for the next few hours Iddo almost forgot that she was a pilgrim.
"This is my cousin," said Madam Vanity, and as she spoke another small person came towards Iddo with a smile. Her name was Love of Admiration, and she, like Madam Vanity, looked so small and unformidable, that it never struck Iddo that they were enemies that had prevented many a one from starting on the journey to the Radiant City, and had hindered and worried real Pilgrims with their suggestions and temptations.
Love of Admiration took her into a lovely glade where there were a number of youths and girls playing games, and no sooner were they aware of Iddo than they came round her exclaiming at her beauty, and begging her to play with them. Iddo, flushed and excited, was only too pleased to join them, and she was made so much of and admired so greatly that she was perfectly happy, and was quite unconscious of the flight of the hours. Her companions vied with one another in getting her beautiful fruit to eat, in presenting her with the rarest flowers, and in choosing her for their partner in the games.
There was one girl called Aimee, to whom Iddo took a special fancy, she was older than herself, and had a more thoughtful face than her companions. Thinking that Iddo might be shy among so many strangers, she took great notice of her, and Iddo rewarded her kindness by a wholehearted devotion. How swiftly the hours flew by the girl did not know; it seemed to her like a happy dream; and conscious of her popularity and of the admiration she attracted, she began to think herself of some importance, and contrasted herself very favourably with the other girls with whom she came into contact. The expression of her face was gradually altering, for Madam Vanity and her cousin were often at her side holding conversation with her.
During a lull in the games, Iddo found courage to tell her special friend that she was a pilgrim to the Radiant City. She was not prepared for the effect of her words. A look of disdain crossed her companion's face.
"I was told that you were," she answered, "but I would not believe it. You are quite unlike every other pilgrim I have met."
"How am I unlike them?" asked Iddo, feeling rather uncomfortable.
"The other pilgrims have worn their armour all the time they have passed through our land. But you don't seem to have any."
"Oh yes I have," exclaimed Iddo, "look, here is my sword."