I suppose, Doctor, you live in the mind ?" "My mind to me a kingdom is," was the answer.
"That's another way of saying that you live up in the air.

But you come back to earth at meal-time, I am sure, or when an earthquake happens along.

Or, tell me, Doctor, do you have no apprehension in an earthquake that that incorporeal body of yours will be hit by an immaterial brick ?" Instantly, and quite unconsciously, Dr.Hammerfield's hand shot up to his head, where a scar disappeared under the hair.

It happened that Ernest had blundered on an apposite illustration.

Dr.Hammerfield had been nearly killed in the Great Earthquake* by a falling chimney.
Everybody broke out into roars of laughter.
* The Great Earthquake of 1906 A.D.that destroyed San Francisco.
"Well ?" Ernest asked, when the merriment had subsided.