Umbrage burst into tears again. “But I can’t,” she sobbed miserably. “One can’t force oneself to love, my Lord. I don’t feel love for them, I feel hate. Yes, actual hate. All the time I have the most dreadful feelings toward them of resentment and hate. And I can’t change those feelings, they are too strong.”

“We are not speaking about your forcing yourself to love your husband,” answered the Shepherd gently. “I know that you do not love either him or your mother-in-law. I know that you feel hate toward them. But we are now speaking about your love to me. Are you willing to be my disciple again, Umbrage?”

“Oh yes!” she exclaimed. “I long for it with all my heart.”

“Then, as my disciple, there is, of course, no question of your hating anyone. You will love them as I love them. It is true that you do hate them now. But if you will let me take you to the High Places and plant the seed of love in your heart, you will find not only that it is possible for you gladly and truly to love your husband and mother-in-law, but you will also be able to help them both in a wonderful way through your love for them.”

“How can that be possible?” whispered she. “How can I go to the High Places and still stay here, a prisoner in this house?”

He smiled. “There is a shortcut, Umbrage, from this house where you live with Sorrow and Pain to the High Places of love. I frankly confess that it is a harder way than the one by which I would have taken you if you had followed me when I first asked you to do so. But nevertheless it is a possible and a real way. Let me tell you the secret. Dear Umbrage, if you will accept the fact, honestly and sincerely, that it was your own fault that Stedfast did not find himself able to love you, but preferred your sister; if you will recognize the fact that he is blameless in this matter, and your sister too, and if you will begin to accept with joy and humility the right of both of them to love each other and to be completely happy together, even though you yourself are left in such utterly different circumstances, then, Umbrage, you will be halfway to the High Places. For here, in this home, and in your heart, you will find growing the heavenly flower of ‘Acceptance-with-Joy’ of all that is allowed to happen to you.”

“This is a hard saying,” said Umbrage in a low voice.