the
fish in his hand.

After the Doctor had gone Theo looked up into Mr. Croyden's face.

"I suppose you are dreadfully tired after your tramp," he remarked.

"I? Oh, no," was the instant answer. "Why?"

"I--I--don't know," faltered Theo. "I just wondered."

"Wondered what?"

"Whether after dinner you would be too tired to come in and talk to me
a little while?"

"No, indeed. I'd be glad to come," responded Mr. Croyden. "I'll come
and tell you all about our trip."

"If you don't mind I'd rather you'd leave that to Dad, and instead
tell me some more about china-making," Theo said naively.

Mr. Croyden seemed vastly amused at the remark.

"Bless my soul! What a boy you are," he said. "Of course I am
perfectly willing to talk to you on anything you like. Would you
rather hear about china than anything else?"

"Yes, sir, just now I should," came vigorously from Theo.

"All righty, china it shall be, then! But I am surprised that you
should be so much interested in it. How came you to be so eager to
learn about pottery and porcelain?"

"I guess because you make it all so much like a story book," answered
Theo frankly. "How did you happen to know so much about it, Mr.
Croyden?"

"Why, it chances to be my business, son," Mr. Croyden replied. "In
Trenton, New Jersey, where I live, we make quantities of earthenware
and porcelain; more of it than anywhere else in the United
States. That is the way I earn my money to come on fishing trips."

"Oh, I see! Then of course it is no wonder that you know all about
it!" cried Theo.

"I know some things, but not all," was Mr. Croyden's
answer. "However, since you like to hear about it I am ready and glad
to tell you what I can. We will have a session on French pottery
to-night, if you say so; there are some things I want you to know
before we take up the making of the English wares."

"Whatever you say!" exclaimed Theo.

"Very well. I'll be back after dinner, and unless your father wants
you for something else we'll have a nice evening together before your
bedtime."

Mr. Croyden was as good as his word.

Theo had just finished his share of the big trout when into his room
came the china merchant.

"Your father and Manuel are busy icing some fish to ship home, so here
I am," he affirmed.

After dragging a steamer chair up to Theo's bedside and stretching
himself comfortably in it the elder man began:

"Most of the pottery of the seventeenth century was an ou