“Why, he begins by taking something for granted,” said the Doctor.
“But is that a sure way of going to work?”
“ ’Tis the only thing he can do,” replied the Doctor, after a pause, and rubbing his forehead as if he was not altogether satisfied that his foundation was a solid one. My grandfather might have posed him with another question, but he poked the fire and let him go on.
“Metaphysics, to speak exactly—”
“Ah,” interrupted the schoolmaster, “bring it down to vulgar fractions, and then we shall understand it.”
“ ’Tis the consideration of immateriality, or the mere spirit and essence of things.”
“Come, come,” said Aunt Judy, taking a pinch of snuff, “now I see into it.”
“Thus, man is considered, not in his corporeality, but in his essence or capability of being; for a man metaphysically, or to metaphysical purposes, hath two natures, that of spirituality and that of corporeity, which may be considered separate.”
“What man?” asked Uncle Tim.
“Why any man; Malachi there, for example, I may consider him as Malachi spiritual or Malachi corporal.”