Noah commences construction of the ark. Some of the laborers include Emma’s brothers, with whom Dr. Noyes has forbidden her to speak. Mrs. Noyes is fond of Emma’s family and goes against her husband’s orders to bring Emma to see her father. She thinks it is “crazy” that she and Emma cannot visit them openly, but feels she must be obedient to her husband out of self-preservation, if nothing else. Mrs. Noyes enjoys watching the happy reunion of family and finds that the great risk she took in disobeying her violent husband was worth it, “just to have sat these few brief moments beside this tall, sane, loving man” (118). Mrs. Noyes is disheartened by the fact that she knows that they will all soon drown, while Emma remains blissfully ignorant of the fact.

Ham and Lucy are married, despite the disapproval of Dr. Noyes, who grudgingly allows it due to the wording of Yaweh’s decree—that “Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives” would board the ark (120). Japeth is envious of their wedded bliss, resenting them for the joys absent from his own life. Meanwhile,

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