. So intense was the interest in the Sevres factory that even
when the French Revolution came and every relic of royalty was
destroyed by the hooting mobs, the Sevres works were not touched. You
see in what a magic realm the old Sevres ware had its being. We call
everything dating up to 1800 _Old Sevres_, and you will probably find
it so marked in both public and private collections."

"Is Sevres ware still manufactured?" questioned Theo, stumbling
timidly over the French word.

"Yes," answered Mr. Croyden, "there is a modern Sevres, much of the
success of which is due to Alexandre Brongniart who was both a
geologist and chemist, and who was the director of the Sevres
factories from 1800 to 1850. He did much to perpetuate the industry
and keep up its standard. During his time no piece with an
imperfection in it was allowed to go out from the factory."

"Was Sevres the only famous ware the French people made?"

"It is undoubtedly the most celebrated," replied Mr. Croyden, "but
there are now many other fine porcelains made in France. For example
at Limoges, where in 1775 pate tendre was made, there is a very
extensive porcelain plant founded in 1840 by David Haviland, an
American, from which quantities of pate dure or genuine porcelain for
the American market are annually turned out. Much of the other French
china, however--dainty, exquisite, and artistic as it is, is pate
tendre. It is of course sold in quantities, but it is very perishable.
There is also a so-called porcelain made from a mixture of clays and
phosphates--a ware known to the trade as _bone china_. But of course
this variety is not real porcelain. You see that much of what we call
porcelain is not porcelain at all when you judge it by this strict
standard. It is nevertheless very useful, and a hungry boy like you
can manage nicely to eat his breakfast off it and be quite as
happy. Now give me your tray and I'm off. There will be no more
china-making to-day, you young scoundrel! See how long you have
cajoled me into lingering already. You almost made me forget that I
was going fishing."

With a friendly pat on the boy's shoulder Mr. Croyden disappeared.

[Illustration]

CHAPTER X

HOW THE ITALIANS MADE CHINA

For the next few days Theo was in no frame of mind to talk porcelain
or any other serious subject, for his new crutches came, and after Dr.
Swift had adjusted them the boy was like a bird freed from its
cage. He could not, to