"The increase of God's kingdom on earth," answered the priest after some reflection.
"Let us consider!" said his wife. "It is said that only the saved shall dwell in God's Kingdom. Then the Church is to save men."
"In the higher sense, yes!"
"In the higher sense; are there then two?"
"A little foolish woman can ask more questions than seven wise men can answer," said the priest, and pressed his wife's hand.
"Then it is a bad look-out for the wisdom of the wise, for what will they answer when an intelligent person asks—when all the intelligent people in the world come and ask?" continued the foolish little woman.
"They will answer that they do not know," whispered the priest.
"You ought to say that aloud, and should have said it to-day in the church. Your conscience is not pleased with you to-day."
"Then I will silence my dear conscience," said the priest, and kissed his wife, who was standing in the porch of their house.
"That you cannot," she answered, "as long as you love me; and certainly not in that way."