ntain of business
correspondence that has been accumulating while I have been away. We
shall miss these cozy evenings together, shan't we?"

"I certainly shall, Mr. Croyden," answered Theo earnestly.

"Well, I do not mean they shall die out altogether," Mr. Croyden
affirmed cheerfully. "My plan is to have you come over to Trenton and
make us a little visit when you get stronger. Would you like to? We'd
go all over the china factories, and you could see porcelain made at
first hand. What do you think of the scheme?"

"I'd like it better than anything else," cried Theo instantly.

"It's settled, then," replied Mr. Croyden. "I fancy your father and
mother will be willing to lend you to me for a little while. You see,
Mrs. Croyden and I both enjoy young people very much and we have none
at home. We are particularly fond of boys, and like nothing better
than to borrow one now and then. If you come you run the risk of our
forgetting to return you; but I guess your parents will see to that,"
he concluded with a merry laugh.

"I rather think they will," replied Theo with a smile.

"Trust them for that," said Mr. Croyden. "You'd make no mistake to go
back, either, for you have a mighty fine father, sonny."

"Father's--well, he's _all right_!" declared Theo tersely but
emphatically. "So is Mother! You must meet Mother some time. She's a
peach!"

"The vacation has done your father a world of good, Theo," reflected
Mr. Croyden, looking into the embers. "Do you realize how much better
he looks? He is much less nervous and tired."

"I hope so, sir," came heartily from Theo. "I have wanted so much not
to spoil his vacation, for he needed it badly."

"I am sure you have not spoiled it," put in Mr. Croyden quickly. "You
can consider that in sending a doctor back to his job in A1 condition
you have done your bit to help the war. Doctors are among our most
useful and necessary men."

"I know it," Theo returned. "Mother and I are tremendously proud of
Father. We feel he is doing a lot of good in the world. I guess now
I'll feel that way more than ever for I never knew what it was to be
sick before."

There was a long pause, broken only by the velvety rustle of the logs
burning in the chimney; then Theo remarked abruptly:

"Aren't you going to tell me anything about china to-night?"

"Do you wish me to?"

"Of course I do; that is, unless you are too tired."

"I'm not tired at all," responded Mr. Croyden. "I thought you m