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54 . How long did you stay in the city of Destruction before you set out after me on your pilgrimage?

. Till I could stay no longer; for there was a great talk presently after you were gone out, that our city would, in a short time, be burnt down to the ground with fire from heaven.

. What, did your neighbors talk so?

. Yes, it was for awhile in everybody’s mouth.

. What, and did no more of them but you come out to escape the danger?

. Though there was, as I said, a great talk thereabout, yet I do not think they did firmly believe it; for, in the heat of the discourse, I heard some of them deridingly speak of you and of your desperate journey, for so they called this your pilgrimage. But I did believe, and do still, that in the end our city will be destroyed; and therefore I have made my escape.

. Did you hear no talk of neighbor Pliable?

. Yes, Christian, I heard that he followed you till he came to the Slough of Despond, where, as some said, he fell in; but he would not be known to have so done: but I am sure he was completely bedaubed with that kind of dirt.

. And what said the neighbors to him?

. He hath, since his going back, been held greatly in derision, and that among all sorts of people: some do mock and despise him, and scarce will any set him to work. He is now seven times worse than if he had never gone out of the city.

. But why should they be so set against him, since they also despise the way that he forsook?

. Oh, they say, Hang him; he is a turncoat: he was not true to his profession! I think God has