1. While climbing a steep hill Miss Church-Member is touched by Remorse.
2. Satan’s strategy in keeping her away from the Narrow Path.
3. All her trouble is lost in company with Mr. World on the Mountain Top of Apathy.
Returning to my former post of observation, and looking again through the open door, I beheld Mr. World and Miss Church-Member still riding on the gravity road. They were approaching the Shadowy Vale, and Mr. World was desirous that his friend should close her eyes until they had passed through the shadows.
She reclined her head, and soon was resting so comfortably that she fell fast asleep and opened not her eyes until they had passed beyond the darker scenes of the miserable valley.
Then did Mr. World engage her with artful and pleasant conversation, so that she might not fully observe the features that constantly make this part of the Broad Highway dark and dreary.
Satan, unseen, hovered around them during their conversation which was well pleasing to him. At length, in partial disguise, he made himself visible, much to the terror of Miss Church-Member.
“Fear not; no harm will befall you,” said Mr. World re-assuringly as he laid his hand upon her shoulder.
Satan smiled complaisantly, and spoke in soft tones: “Tremble not at my presence. I have come only to render you such assistance as may be especially helpful to you in your journey, and to disabuse your mind of such false impressions as you have evidently entertained concerning my character.”
So affable was his manner and so pleasing his address that, to her mind, he soon lost that shocking hideousness which characterized his first appearance, and evoked from Miss Church-Member this apology born of her guilty conscience: “You would not have seen me now on this path had Mr. World adhered strictly to his promises.”