Indolence more than once attacked her, specially when he saw her becoming interested in her Guide Book; for after Heman's advice not to depend upon her mother's study of the Book, but to study it for herself, Iddo had often consulted it: nevertheless she was by no means well versed in it, and Indolence so constantly attacked her with success that she made but poor progress. Neither did Discontent and his comrade Irritability leave her alone; sometimes Belthiah looked with anxiety at her child when she saw how easily she gave way to these enemies.
They were about half-way across the plain when their paths met those of another mother and daughter, with whom they joined company.
Iddo was delighted to have a companion, and the two girls for many a mile followed their parents hand in hand.
Adin,* for such was her name, had much to tell, having met many more people on her journey than had Iddo, and the latter learnt much from her of which she had been ignorant. Among other things, Adin told her that there were people who were apparently journeying towards the Radiant City with views quite contrary to her mother's.
* Dainty.
"Times have changed," she said, "since our mothers started on their journey. People have come to the conclusion that much in which they believed is mistaken; that for instance it is not necessary to be so different to those who are not servants of the King; that certain things are lawful which in those days were considered dangerous, and that there are many ways after all to the Radiant City. The old-fashioned views with which our mothers started their journey are being more and more questioned and pushed on one side. We must move with the times," she added.
Iddo listened astonished. Loving and reverencing her mother, the girl resented the idea that her views could be anything but correct, and expostulated with Adin indignantly when she termed them old-fashioned. But by degrees she became accustomed to what she heard and began to wonder if there might not be some truth in it.
"Do many people agree with these views?" she asked.
"So many that it is really quite peculiar to think like our mothers," was Adin's answer; then with a laugh she added, "there are a few however who think my friends and I are very far gone in the wrong way. We met an old man on the road, who walked some distance with us, and when he heard one of these new thinkers discussing the subject with mother, he cried out indignantly,"
"'Madam, I hear the enemy's voice in that of your friend. Beware, I beseech you.' And then he turned round on our friend and rated him soundly for what he had been saying, crying,"