Then they went on their way again, leaping down the mountainside towards the valley. And in the heart of Grace and Glory there was a joy such as she had never before experienced and a completely new understanding of the purpose of their work down there in the places of sorrow and evil.

Chapter 5 Bitterness and Murmuring

CHAPTER 5
Bitterness and Murmuring

Some days after the events described in the last chapters, Bitterness and his wife Murmuring were sitting together in their private room at the back of the inn eating their midday meal. Something seemed to be troubling the thoughts of both of them, but for a little while neither mentioned it. Bitterness ate in complete silence, and his wife busied herself looking after the wants of their three children, young Grumble, the son and heir, and his twin sisters, little Sob and Drizzle, who with bibs tied round their necks, were banging their spoons on their highchairs and vociferously demanding attention. Murmuring dressed all her children daintily and was quite rightly proud of their appearance and good looks, but even at that early age all three were loud in their complaints if what they demanded was not instantly forthcoming.

At last Murmuring, as if unable to remain silent any longer, turned to her husband and asked angrily, “Well, Bitterness, what do you say to these constant visits of the Shepherd to Spiteful and her sister in the attic upstairs?”

Bitterness did not answer, but went on eating in gloomy silence.

“Well,” snapped his wife again, “did you hear what I said? Or have you suddenly gone deaf?” (One could see at once from whom dear little Sob and Drizzle had inherited their determined manner of gaining the attention they wanted!)

Bitterness spoke at last. “I suppose there is no harm in them,” he said shortly.

“Oh, you do, do you?” answered his wife stormily. “Well, let me tell you that if it gets about in the valley that the Shepherd visits here, and there is the possibility of meeting him, all our clientele will fall away and the business will be ruined. Everybody hates him.”

“There is no likelihood of people meeting him,” said Bitterness. “He does not force himself on anyone.”

“People will begin to talk about us,” retorted Murmuring. “They will suggest that we are coming under his influence. I tell you I don’t like it. We have had enough trouble already. Just think of the way he persuaded your cousin, Much-Afraid, to leave everything and go off to the mountains, and how disgusted all your connections were! We cannot afford to bring ourselves under suspicion.”

Bitterness paused for a moment before he answered. Then he said in a low voice: “I do not see how anyone can deny that it turned out to be a most fortunate thing for my cousin that she did go with him. I must admit that I think she is to be envied!”