"I must leave it to your father's discretion, then, to notify me when
he thinks you are able to make the visit," added the merchant, turning
to Dr. Swift who had just joined them. "You just telephone me, Doctor,
when you think you can spare this boy of yours; will you?"
"You are very kind, Croyden."
"Not a bit! Not a bit!" protested Mr. Croyden. "I shall want to see
Theo, and I am anxious to have Mrs. Croyden meet him too. I only wish
we had a boy just like him; then I'd have somebody to leave my
business to."
He drummed on the window moodily.
"Who knows but I may be coming to help you make china one of these
days, sir," suggested Theo half jokingly.
The man wheeled sharply.
"I wish I thought you would," was his quick response. "If at the end
of your college career you find yourself with any such notion, sonny,
you'll be very welcome."
With an affectionate glance at the boy Mr. Croyden strode off into
the smoking-car.
[Illustration]
CHAPTER XII
THEO MAKES A PRESENT
There was great rejoicing when Theo and his father reached home. It
seemed as if Mrs. Swift could never do enough for her boy. The whole
house was turned upside down to make him comfortable, and on the
dinner table were all his favorite dishes.
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