“It treats,” said the Doctor, “of matters most profound and sublime, a little difficult perhaps for a common intellect or an unschooled capacity to fathom, but not the less important, on that account, to all living beings.”
“What does it teach?” asked the schoolmaster.
“It is not applied so much to the operation of teaching,” answered the Doctor, “as to that of inquiring; and the chief inquiry is, whether things are, or whether they are not.”
“I don’t understand the question,” said Uncle Tim, taking the pipe out of his mouth.
“For example, whether this earth on which we tread,” said the Doctor, giving a heavy stamp on the floor, and setting his foot slap on the cat’s tail, “whether this earth does really exist, or whether it does not exist.”
“That is a point of considerable consequence to settle,” said my grandfather.
“Especially,” added the schoolmaster, “to the holders of real estate.”
“Now the earth,” continued the Doctor, “may exist——”
“Who the dogs ever doubted that?” asked Uncle Tim.
“A great many men,” said the Doctor, “and some very learned ones.”