AlargenumberofpassengerswerealreadyattheStation-house，
awaitingthedepartureofthecars。Bytheaspectanddemeanorof
thesepersons，itwaseasytojudgethatthefeelingsofthecommunity
hadundergoneaveryfavorablechange，inreferencetothecelestial
pilgrimage。ItwouldhavedoneBunyan’sheartgoodtoseeit。
Insteadofalonelyandraggedman，withahugeburthenonhisback，
ploddingalongsorrowfullyonfoot，whilethewholecityhooted
afterhim，herewerepartiesofthefirstgentryandmost
respectablepeopleintheneighborhood，settingforthtowardsthe
CelestialCity，ascheerfullyasifthepilgrimageweremerelya
summertour。Amongthegentlemenwerecharactersofdeservedeminence，
magistrates，politicians，andmenofwealth，bywhoseexamplereligion
couldnotbutbegreatlyrecommendedtotheirmeanerbrethren。In
theladies’apartment，too，Irejoicedtodistinguishsomeofthose
flowersoffashionablesociety，whoaresowellfittedtoadornthe
mostelevatedcirclesoftheCelestialCity。Therewasmuchpleasant
conversationaboutthenewsoftheday，topicsofbusiness，
politics，orthelightermattersofamusement；whilereligion，
thoughindubitablythemainthingatheart，wasthrowntastefullyinto
theback-ground。Evenaninfidelwouldhaveheardlittleornothingto
shockhissensibility。
Onegreatconvenienceofthenewmethodofgoingonpilgrimage，I
mustnotforgettomention。Ourenormousburthens，insteadofbeing
carriedonourshoulders，ashadbeenthecustomofold，wereall
snuglydepositedinthebaggage-car，and，asIwasassured，wouldbe
deliveredtotheirrespectiveownersatthejourney’send。Another
thing，likewise，thebenevolentreaderwillbedelightedto
understand。Itmayberememberedthattherewasanancientfeud
betweenPrinceBeelzebubandthekeeperoftheWicket-Gate，andthat
theadherentsoftheformerdistinguishedpersonagewereaccustomedto
shootdeadlyarrowsathonestpilgrims，whileknockingatthedoor。
Thisdispute，muchtothecreditaswelloftheillustrious
potentateabove-mentioned，asoftheworthyandenlightened
Directorsoftherailroad，hasbeenpacificallyarranged，onthe
principleofmutualcompromise。ThePrince’ssubjectsarenowpretty
numerouslyemployedabouttheStation-house，someintakingcareof
thebaggage，othersincollectingfuel，feedingtheengines，and
suchcongenialoccupations；andIcanconscientiouslyaffirm，that
personsmoreattentivetotheirbusiness，morewillingtoaccommodate，
ormoregenerallyagreeabletothepassengers，arenottobefound
onanyrailroad。Everygoodheartmustsurelyexultatsosatisfactory
anarrangementofanimmemorialdifficulty。
“WhereisMr。Great-heart？”inquiredI。“Beyondadoubt，the
Directorshaveengagedthatfamousoldchampiontobechief
conductorontherailroad？”
“Why，no。”saidMr。Smooth-it-away，withadrycough。“Hewas
offeredthesituationofbrake-man；but，totellyouthetruth，our
friendGreat-hearthasgrownpreposterouslystiffandnarrowinhis
oldage。Hehassooftenguidedpilgrimsovertheroad，onfoot，
thatheconsidersitasintotravelinanyotherfashion。Besides，
theoldfellowhadenteredsoheartilyintotheancientfeudwith
PrinceBeelzebub，thathewouldhavebeenperpetuallyatblowsor
illlanguagewithsomeofthePrince’ssubjects，andthushave
embroiledusanew。So，onthewhole，wewerenotsorrywhenhonest
Great-heartwentofftotheCelestialCityinahuff，andleftusat
libertytochooseamoresuitableandaccommodatingman。Yonder
comestheconductorofthetrain。Youwillprobablyrecognizehimat
once。”
Theengineatthismomenttookitsstationinadvanceofthe
cars，looking，Imustconfess，muchmorelikeasortofmechanical
demonthatwouldhurryustotheinfernalregions，thanalaudable
contrivanceforsmoothingourwaytotheCelestialCity。Onitstop
satapersonagealmostenvelopedinsmokeandflame，which-notto
startlethereader-appearedtogushfromhisownmouthandstomach，
aswellasfromtheengine’sbrazenabdomen。
“Domyeyesdeceiveme？”criedI。“Whatonearthisthis！A
livingcreature？Ifso，heisownbrothertotheengineherides
upon！”
“Poh，poh，youareobtuse！”saidMr。Smooth-it-away，witha
heartylaugh。“Don’tyouknowApollyon，Christian’soldenemy，with
whomhefoughtsofierceabattleintheValleyofHumiliation？Hewas
theveryfellowtomanagetheengine；andsowehavereconciledhimto
thecustomofgoingonpilgrimage，andengagedhimaschief
conductor。”
“Bravo，bravo！”exclaimedI，withirrepressibleenthusiasm，“this
showstheliberalityoftheage；thisproves，ifanythingcan，that
allmustyprejudicesareinafairwaytobeobliterated。Andhowwill
Christianrejoicetohearofthishappytransformationofhisold
antagonist！Ipromisemyselfgreatpleasureininforminghimofit，
whenwereachtheCelestialCity。”
Thepassengersbeingallcomfortablyseated，wenowrattledaway
merrily，accomplishingagreaterdistanceintenminutesthan
Christianprobablytrudgedoverinaday。Itwaslaughablewhilewe
glancedalong，asitwere，atthetailofathunderbolt，toobserve
twodustyfoot-travellers，intheoldpilgrim-guise，withcockle-shell
andstaff，theirmysticrollsofparchmentintheirhands，andtheir
intolerableburthensontheirbacks。Thepreposterousobstinacyof
thesehonestpeople，inpersistingtogroanandstumblealongthe
difficultpathway，ratherthantakeadvantageofmodern
improvements，excitedgreatmirthamongourwiserbrotherhood。We
greetedthetwopilgrimswithmanypleasantgibesandaroarof
laughter；whereupon，theygazedatuswithsuchwofulandabsurdly
compassionatevisages，thatourmerrimentgrewtenfoldmore
obstreperous。Apollyon，also，enteredheartilyintothefun，and
contrivedtoflirtthesmokeandflameoftheengine，orofhisown
breath，intotheirfaces，andenvelopetheminanatmosphereof
scaldingsteam。Theselittlepracticaljokesamusedusmightily，and
doubtlessaffordedthepilgrimsthegratificationofconsidering
themselvesmartyrs。
Atsomedistancefromtherailroad，Mr。Smooth-it-awaypointedtoa
large，antiqueedifice，which，heobserved，wasatavernoflong
standing，andhadformerlybeenanotedstopping-placeforpilgrims。
InBunyan’sroad-bookitismentionedastheInterpreter’sHouse。
“Ihavelonghadacuriositytovisitthatoldmansion。”remarked
I。
“Itisnotoneofourstations，asyouperceive。”saidmy
companion。“Thekeeperwasviolentlyopposedtotherailroad；andwell
hemightbe，asthetracklefthishouseofentertainmentononeside，
andthuswasprettycertaintodeprivehimofallhisreputable
customers。Butthefoot-pathstillpasseshisdoor；andtheold
gentlemannowandthenreceivesacallfromsomesimpletraveller，and
entertainshimwithfareasold-fashionedashimself。”
Beforeourtalkonthissubjectcametoaconclusion，wewere
rushingbytheplacewhereChristian’sburthenfellfromhis
shoulders，atthesightoftheCross。ThisservedasathemeforMr。
Smooth-it-away，Mr。Live-for-the-world，Mr。Hide-sin-in-the-heart，Mr。
Scaly-conscience，andaknotofgentlemenfromthetownof
Shun-repentance，todescantupontheinestimableadvantages
resultingfromthesafetyofourbaggage。Myself，andallthe
passengersindeed，joinedwithgreatunanimityinthisviewofthe
matter；forourburthenswererichinmanythingsesteemedprecious
throughouttheworld；andespecially，weeachofuspossesseda
greatvarietyoffavoriteHabits，whichwetrustedwouldnotbeoutof
fashion，eveninthepolitecirclesoftheCelestialCity。Itwould
havebeenasadspectacletoseesuchanassortmentofvaluable
articlestumblingintothesepulchre。Thuspleasantlyconversingon
thefavorablecircumstancesofourposition，ascomparedwiththoseof
pastpilgrims，andofnarrow-mindedonesatthepresentday，wesoon
foundourselvesatthefootoftheHillDifficulty。Throughthevery
heartofthisrockymountainatunnelhasbeenconstructed，ofmost
admirablearchitecture，withaloftyarchandaspaciousdouble-track；
sothat，unlesstheearthandrocksshouldchancetocrumbledown，
itwillremainaneternalmonumentofthebuilder’sskilland
enterprise。Itisagreatthoughincidentaladvantage，thatthe
materialsfromtheheartoftheHillDifficultyhavebeenemployed
infillinguptheValleyofHumiliation；thusobviatingthe
necessityofdescendingintothatdisagreeableandunwholesomehollow。
“Thisisawonderfulimprovement，indeed。”saidI。“YetIshould
havebeengladofanopportunitytovisitthePalaceBeautiful，andbe
introducedtothecharmingyoungladies-MissPrudence，MissPiety，
MissCharity，andtherest-whohavethekindnesstoentertain
pilgrimsthere。”
“Youngladies！”criedMr。Smooth-it-away，assoonashecouldspeak
forlaughing。“Andcharmingyoungladies！Why，mydearfellow，they
areoldmaids，everysoulofthem-prim，starched，dry，andangular-
andnotoneofthem，Iwillventuretosay，hasalteredsomuchasthe
fashionofhergown，sincethedaysofChristian’spilgrimage。”
“Ah，well，saidI，muchcomforted，“thenIcanveryreadily
dispensewiththeiracquaintance。”
TherespectableApollyonwasnowputtingonthesteamata
prodigiousrate；anxious，perhaps，togetridoftheunpleasant
reminiscencesconnectedwiththespotwherehehadsodisastrously
encounteredChristian。ConsultingMr。Bunyan’sroad-book，I
perceivedthatwemustnowbewithinafewmilesoftheValleyof
theShadowofDeath；intowhichdolefulregion，atourpresent
speed，weshouldplungemuchsoonerthanseemedatalldesirable。In
truth，Iexpectednothingbetterthantofindmyselfintheditchon
oneside，orthequagontheother。Butoncommunicatingmy
apprehensionstoMr。Smooth-it-away，heassuredmethatthe
difficultiesofthispassage，eveninitsworstcondition，hadbeen
vastlyexaggerated，andthat，initspresentstateofimprovement，I
mightconsidermyselfassafeasonanyrailroadinChristendom。
Evenwhilewewerespeaking，thetrainshotintotheentranceof
thisdreadedValley。ThoughIpleadguiltytosomefoolish
palpitationsoftheheart，duringourheadlongrushoverthe
causewayhereconstructed，yetitwereunjusttowithholdthe
highestencomiumsontheboldnessofitsoriginalconception，and
theingenuityofthosewhoexecutedit。Itwasgratifying，likewise，
toobservehowmuchcarehadbeentakentodispeltheeverlasting
gloom，andsupplythedefectofcheerfulsunshine；notarayof
whichhaseverpenetratedamongtheseawfulshadows。Forthispurpose，
theinflammablegas，whichexudesplentifullyfromthesoil，is
collectedbymeansofpipes，andthencecommunicatedtoaquadruple
rowoflamps，alongthewholeextentofthepassage。Thusaradiance
hasbeencreated，evenoutofthefieryandsulphurouscursethat
restsforeverupontheValley；aradiancehurtful，however，tothe
eyes，andsomewhatbewildering，asIdiscoveredbythechangeswhich
itwroughtinthevisagesofmycompanions。Inthisrespect，as
comparedwithnaturaldaylight，thereisthesamedifferenceas
betweentruthandfalsehood；butifthereaderhaveevertravelled
throughthedarkValley，hewillhavelearnedtobethankfulforany
lightthathecouldget；ifnotfromtheskyabove，thenfromthe
blastedsoilbeneath。Suchwastheredbrilliancyoftheselamps，that
theyappearedtobuildwallsoffireonbothsidesofthetrack，
betweenwhichweheldourcourseatlightningspeed，whilea
reverberatingthunderfilledtheValleywithitsechoes。Hadthe
enginerunoffthetrack-acatastrophe，itiswhispered，byno
meansunprecedented-thebottomlesspit，iftherebeanysuchplace，
wouldundoubtedlyhavereceivedus。Justassomedismalfooleriesof
thisnaturehadmademyheartquake，therecameatremendousshriek，
careeringalongtheValleyasifathousanddevilshadbursttheir
lungstoutterit，butwhichprovedtobemerelythewhistleofthe
engine，onarrivingatastopping-place。