"I've left a hole amongst the stones at the back, and I can cover it up by fixing in a loose stone. So I thought my red bag would go in beautifully, and then it would really be taken care of by God Himself. It couldn't be in a nicer place, could it? It would be like the ark in the tabernacle—in a holy place. And I'm not going to tell Bumps or Jack. Jack tells Bumps everything, and Bumps tells everybody else!"
Miss Falkner looked rather doubtful over the wisdom of this, but Jill seemed in such delight over the idea that she had not the heart to damp her spirits.
But before leaving her, she said very gently—
"How has your walk been to-day, Jill? A few stumbles, I am afraid."
"Yes," whispered Jill. "I've told God I was sorry, only I was what the Bible calls 'righteously angry.' I would like to have called down fire from heaven upon those men. I told Mona so."
"But Jill, that was not 'righteous' at all. The men made a mistake. You should have spoken gently to them."
"No," said Jill, "they meant to do it, and they laughed at it, and I believe Sam's father is as bad. Since his cabbages are gone, he won't pay up his tenth, and he says we have a heathen altar!"
Jill's cheeks began to get hot and red. Miss Falkner stooped down and kissed her.
"If your Bethel is going to make you get angry—if it makes you trip and stumble on your way to the Golden City, it had better be destroyed at once."
Jill looked up with big eyes.