t see how you can. The
middle of July? That settles it. There must be no more kidnapping
Theo for golf or tennis, Madeline. From now on he is to be my
guest. Understand that."

Mrs. Croyden bowed her head with amusing meekness.

"It shall be as you say, my lord," she answered. "But are you
expecting to take Theo to the factory every moment of every day?"

"I don't know," was the grim reply. "That will all depend on how
rapidly he learns the business."

There was a general laugh.

"How long has it taken you to learn it, Mr. Croyden?" questioned Theo
mischievously.

"Me? Oh, about thirty years."

"Then at that rate I see I shall not get to Lake George this season,"
returned the boy with a smile.

"Oh, I'll be easy with you this first time," Mr. Croyden answered. "I
cannot afford to kill you or get you frightened, or you never will
come again."

"I guess you needn't worry about my not coming again," Theo
retorted. "I have had far too good a time."

"I am glad of that," the elder man asserted heartily.

"And I, too, Theo," murmured Mrs. Croyden. "Do not forget that you
have given us far more pleasure than you could possibly have received.
Mr. Croyden and I are often very lonely for a son like you. It has
been a boon to have you here. That is why you must not let this
ambitious husband of mine tire you all out by setting you too
strenuously at porcelain-making," she added playfully. "Is it
to-morrow that you plan to drag Theo forth on this crusade to the
factory, my dear?"

Mr. Croyden glanced up at the words.

"Yes, to-morrow morning. I shall take Theo down to the works with me
directly after breakfast," he answered. "You better get to bed early
to-night, son, so to be prepared for the worst."

"I shan't waste any worry about the trip," grinned Theo as they rose
from the dinner table.

It was a warm night, and the three strolled out on the veranda, which
overlooked the green of the country club.

"I suppose," Theo remarked, "nobody has any idea when pottery and
porcelain were first made in America."

"Barring out the pottery of the Mound Builders, the American Indians,
and the early clay work done in West Virginia I imagine our modern
china was first introduced into America at Philadelphia," Mr. Croyden
said. "At least records would indicate that to be the case. Between
1760 and 1770 potteries sprung up there and thrived so lustily that
Wedgwood noted their success and urged the English government to