"Because they don't worry about things they cannot understand," she answered lightly, "what is the good of worrying?"
"But don't they ever think of the possibility of not reaching the Radiant City if they stay too long in this place?" she asked.
"But why should you think that even now they are not on their way?" answered her companion. "I take for granted when I think of it at all that I am going there. We do nothing very wrong in this city. I do not think that the enemy is particularly busy here. We are thoroughly steady and respectable and good-natured. What more can you expect of us? Pray don't get it into your head that we are going to be left for ever outside the Radiant City."
"But," said Iddo, perplexed, "I thought every one who journeyed there had to put on armour. And you have none."
"This is such a peaceable place my dear, that we do not need armour. Indeed, some time ago a man passed through this town fully armed, he would not turn to the right hand or to the left. His path he said lay right across, and though we could not but respect and reverence him, as the light of the Radiant City was full on his face, when he had gone, we could not help smiling. What good was his armour to him here? No enemy was likely to attack him. We told him this, and his answer was, 'It is written in the Guide Book, "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."' We asked him what guise the enemy was likely to put on to entrap unwary travellers."
"What did he say?" asked Iddo.
"He told us the name of our land would answer that question, and then opening his Guide Book as he walked, he read aloud, '"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked; I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; . . . . Behold, I stand at the door and knock."'"
"Do you know the name of this man?" said Iddo, "it sounds like my friend Heman."
"I do not know his name, as he would not stop; even while he was consulting his Guide Book he was moving on for fear the enemy should attack him and keep him longer in the land. One could not but admire him as he was in such deadly earnest, and one could not but reverence him as he walked, as his whole bearing made one recognise that his King was great, and that the King's business required haste, as he told us. Moreover he had much tact, and those who spoke to him always listened respectfully, and indeed such was his influence as he passed through, that more than one followed him out of the town. I felt sure he would never be content to go out of it alone. In fact he was in it but not of it. But on thinking about it afterwards one could not but wonder that he thought it all of such vital importance. There are other ways of getting to the City besides his. As for me I prefer moving slowly. Enthusiasm does not appeal to me."
"Then the pilgrim did not think it right to linger here?" asked Iddo.