At the entrance to the Enchanted Ground, a well-dressed woman sat in a soft chair. Fruit juice and fresh bread waited beside her. Several beds were ready with blankets. A board read: Tired mothers may rest here.
Her name was Madam Bubble. On seeing Christiana, she rose as though she had been waiting a long time. “You have cared for so many people,” she said. “Surely it is time someone cared for you.”
Christiana’s heart softened. She was tired. Her daughter had kicked off her blankets the night before. Much-afraid had woken from another bad dream. Christiana had risen several times. Her husband had taken over later, but she still had not slept enough.
Madam Bubble called for juice and offered to arrange a home, easy work for her husband, and the finest clothes for the children. The conditions were simple. They need not keep reading all those words about sin and judgment. They should stop making trade and friendship difficult by being so particular about honesty.
“You have suffered so much already,” she said gently. “If the King really loves you, surely he should make everything go your way from now on.”
Christiana looked at the beds. Her daughter was yawning. Mercy was too tired to talk. Could she not sit a moment and simply refuse the conditions afterward?
Great-heart asked everyone to look at the map. They were already at the edge of the Enchanted Ground. The beds stood just beyond the warning marker. Valiant-for-Truth took his place at the back and reminded them to stay together.
Madam Bubble laughed. “Is a piece of wood more trustworthy than someone willing to help you?”
Christiana looked down at her reflection trembling in the juice cup. She remembered the lights of the City of Destruction, and her own words: “Wash your face first. There will be honey cakes tonight.” She had once used a little comfort to stop her child speaking an uncomfortable truth.
“Someone who cares for me should not ask me to leave the Savior’s words,” she said. “I need rest. I also need him.”
“Have you no pity even for your children?”
Her husband came forward and divided the luggage again. “We will care for the children and for her together. We are going somewhere safe to rest.”
Christiana nodded to him. Refusing the temptation did not suddenly make her less sleepy. Great-heart drew the company close and placed the most tired walkers where others could support them. Together they read the warning that gaining the whole world was no profit if a person lost their soul.
Madam Bubble’s chair disappeared behind them. The sweet scent followed for a while. Christiana held her daughter’s hand and did not look back.