"How do you do it? But then I couldn't possibly be good, so it's no use talking about it, and I like being in tempers with Julia. It frightens her."
"I s'pect God is punis'ing you for being in tempers, and I've come into it too because I'm with you."
Noel's eyes were big with awe. He remembered the story of Jonah well, how Jonah was punished, and why.
And then, sitting on the box in the sunlight, he began to tell Inez the story. She listened, for she had heard few Bible stories, and Noel told it graphically, waving his hands about and describing the storm with gusto.
They forgot they were shut into an empty room; the sun streamed through the window upon their heads, the coolness and shade was refreshing after their hot scramble through the wood.
Inez was impressed, as Noel had meant her to be.
"Do you think God sent the wind to bang the door?" she asked Noel. "And all because of me?"
"We'll ask Him to forgive you," said Noel cheerfully, "and then if you're sorry, He will. And God will easily open the door. God can do everyfing, you know." Inez was so subdued that she knelt down with Noel, and putting her hands together and shutting her eyes very tightly, she said nervously and quickly:
"O God, I'm very sorry. Please forgive me. I'm sorry. I'll try to be good. Please listen to us and forgive me. Amen."
Then they tried the door again, and they called and called, but there was no answer, and nobody came.