Faithful did not get a fair trial. The jury, who had taken great offense at the bold and fearless way in which he had confessed his Lord and Master, did not take long to make up their minds that he was not to be allowed to leave the town alive, and the Chief Justice, Lord Hate-Good, put on his black cap and pronounced sentence of death upon the prisoner, who was taken back to prison and a few days later, by a violent death, reached his heavenly home.
But how did it fare with Christian? He was taken back to prison for a time, and then he was released and allowed to leave the town and go on his journey.
Although at first he felt keenly the loss of his friend and brother in the faith, he soon proved the tender care and compassion of the Lord in providing him with a fellow-pilgrim to whom he could speak freely of the things that grace had made dear to the hearts of both.
Christian had only journeyed a short distance from the town of Vanity when he was joined by a young brother whose name was Hopeful, who had been induced to become a pilgrim by overhearing the godly conversation Faithful and Christian had with each other and observing their ways, so unlike those of the townspeople.
He told Christian that as they were both going to the Celestial City, he would be glad to travel in his company. Christian gave him the right hand of fellowship, and from that moment they were friends and fellow-travelers.
They had not gone far before they overtook a pilgrim who was a little in advance of them and whose name they soon afterward learned was Mr. By-Ends. "What countryman may you be, sir," the pilgrims asked, "and how far may you be going on our way?"
The stranger, who did not seem inclined to tell his name, said that he came from the large and well-to-do town of Fair-Speech, where he had many rich relations.
"If I am not making too bold, sir," said Christian, "perhaps you will tell us the names of some of your kindred?"
"Nearly the whole town is related to me," replied Mr. By-Ends, "but I will only name two or three. You may have heard of my Lord Time-Server, also of my Lord Turn-About, not forgetting my Lord Fair-Speech, from whose ancestors the town took its name.
"You will see that I am a gentleman of good family. We have also among our leading men Mr. Smooth-Man, Mr. Facing-Both-Ways, Mr. Anything, and Mr. Two-Tongues, who is my mother's own brother, all of whom are well-known and greatly respected."
"May I ask, sir, if you are a married man?" said Christian.
"Yes, my wife, who is the daughter of Lady Feigning, belongs to an old and honorable family and is herself a perfect model of good breeding. We are both very religious, though perhaps not so strict as some. We find it most convenient to row with but never against wind and tide. We are always most zealous when everything is going well, but if anything like persecution is felt or feared, we think it best and safest to keep out of danger."
By the time By-Ends had got to the end of his speech, Christian, who had heard quite enough to convince him that the stranger was not a true pilgrim, had fallen a little way behind and took the opportunity of whispering to Hopeful, "If I am not greatly mistaken, the stranger with whom we have joined company is none other than By-Ends, of the town of Fair-Speech, one of whom I have heard many things that are not at all to his credit."
"Ask him his name," suggested Hopeful. "An honest man ought never to be ashamed of his name."
Then Christian, again joining By-Ends, said to him, "Though I do not think we have ever met before, I have a guess that you are Mr. By-Ends, of the town of Fair-Speech." By-Ends, looking somewhat confused, said, "That is not my real name; it is only a nickname that has been given me by some who do not like me or my ways. However, as we are all going one way, if you care for my company, I am willing to travel with you; if not, I must be content to do as I did before we met-go on alone, until I come up with some who will be glad of my company."
"If you wish to go with us," said Christian, "you must be willing to go by the same road that we do, and that will often be to row against wind and tide."
Not liking the terms the pilgrims had proposed, By-Ends, after some further conversation, took leave of them, and for some distance they continued their journey along the king's highway. But the road was rough, and the stones lying about made walking difficult and often painful. The day, too, was sultry, and the sky was overcast with heavy thunderclouds. Feeling very weary, they began to wonder if it would not be possible to find some smoother path. Looking over a stile on their left-hand, they saw green fields, bright with many colored flowers. They got over the stile, little thinking that by so doing they had entered By-Path Meadow.