“It doesn’t say anything of the sort,” answered Mercy cheerfully and firmly. “You have got it all wrong, Umbrage! It does say that Esau sold his birthright for one morsel of meat, and then afterwards, when he was sorry that he had done so and would have liked to inherit the firstborn son’s blessing after all, it belonged to Jacob. And though he repented with tears that he had despised the birthright blessing of the elder son, it was too late for him to get it back.

“But that is quite a different thing from saying that though you are now sorry you disobeyed the Shepherd he will not forgive you. Do you not see, dear Umbrage, the real meaning of the verse? Like Esau you did despise the Shepherd’s offer to take you to the High Places because you did prefer and choose to marry Resentment. And that you cannot alter. What is done cannot be undone even though I find you weeping your heart out here in the garden and repenting of the wrong choice which you made in bitterness and despair. You are married to Resentment, and you are the daughter-in-law of poor old Mrs. Sullen, and there is no getting away from the fact, however much you now regret it. In that sense what is done cannot be undone in spite of your repentance. But that is not to say that the Shepherd no longer loves and owns you, or that he will refuse to help you. It means that you need him more than ever before in these terribly difficult and tragic circumstances into which you have got yourself.

“Oh, my dear, dear Umbrage, will you not realize this at last and lose not a moment longer in seeking his help? For you know quite well that he can change everything completely and bring victory out of defeat, which is the thing he loves to do most of all.”

“Oh, if only it were so!” sobbed Umbrage, clasping her hands. “If only I could go to him and tell him how sorry I am, and implore his forgiveness and help! Nothing would be too awful to endure if only I could be back in fellowship with the Shepherd again!”

“I am here,” said a strong but gentle voice close behind her, and as the two women looked up joyfully there was the Shepherd himself. Umbrage threw herself at his feet, and Mercy, lifting her kind, loving eyes to his, smiled at him and slipped away.