That pleased Walter, and Femke and Walter began:
“God created the world——”
“What did he do before that, Femke?”
“I don’t know. But the people were made wicked by a snake; then the Pope pronounced a curse upon the snake, for the Pope lives in Rome, you know. And then Jesus was crucified to make the people good again. That was a long time ago.”
“Yes, I know,” Walter said, “Jesus changed the number of the year. At his birth he began at nought.”
Femke didn’t know again. In this way each supplemented the knowledge of the other; and Walter was proud that he knew something about the creed, even if Femke did think it the wrong creed.
“And so Jesus made the people good again, and if you will pray out of such a book you will be saved. Do you understand, Walter?”
“Not quite. What is an ivory tower?”
“Why, that’s only a name for the virgin. It’s as if you were to call the pastor father. Now you understand.”
Femke hunted for another illustration.