nk."

"Yes, sir."

"The last of the processes of which I wish to tell you is
die-pressing. Here we take a very finely ground clay dust; moisten it
a little; and fill a die, or steel mould, with it. This die we then
put into a screw, or hydraulic press, and squeeze it under an intense
pressure with the result that the piece is shaped very solidly. We use
this process for making small, complicated objects such as those
employed for electrical purposes. They are brittle and delicate and
have to be manufactured with extreme care."

"Are plumbing supplies made this way?"

"No, indeed! Sanitary pieces are too large to be turned out in such a
fashion. They are made by hand, being first built up inside enormous
moulds. We can employ only the most skilful workmen on this task
because the goods are difficult to make. Such a thing as a porcelain
bath-tub involves a great deal of clay, and therefore were it to be
damaged we should lose much expensive material." Mr. Marwood took out
his watch. "Now, there you have all the various ways of shaping clay
ware! Its decoration and firing is another story, and far too long a
one for us to attack to-day. We must be back at the conservatory at
one o'clock for luncheon. Evidently Mr. Croyden got too deeply snowed
under to join us, so we shall have to hunt him up. Confess you are
hungry."

Theo's eyes twinkled.

"I believe I could eat something if I were urged," he admitted.

"So could I," rejoined Mr. Marwood heartily. "I am starved. We will
find Mr. Croyden right away. It has been a good morning, hasn't it,
Theo?"

"Certainly I've enjoyed it," exclaimed Theo.

"And I too," agreed the older man.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XVII

THE DECORATION OF CHINA

[Illustration]

Next morning bright and early Theo and Mr. Croyden were off to the
factory, and once more the boy found himself consigned to the care of
Mr. Marwood. This was no hardship, however, for the two got on
excellently together, and Theo was only too glad to cooeperate in any
way he could with Mr. Croyden, whom he knew to be very busy. Therefore
with this new friend as pilot the pilgrimage through the china works
was resumed at precisely the point where it had been left the
preceding day.

"This morning," Mr. Marwood said, "we will turn our attention to the
decoration of porcelain, which I think you will find quite as
interesting as was its making. There are almost as many different
processes to decor