"Exactly."
"It must be an awful job to keep each piece separate."
"It demands extreme care," returned Mr. Marwood. "We use all sorts of little clay devices to support the ware, and keep it in place while it is in the saggers."
"Does it take about the same length of time to fire the glazed porcelain as for the biscuit?" inquired Theo.
"No. The glost firing usually takes only from twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Afterward any bits of glaze projecting from the china or clinging to it are chipped away with a steel tool and the piece is examined. If free from flaws it goes either to the packing room to be shipped, or back to the factory, in case additional decoration is to be put on over the glaze. You may recall that I told you that there was an over-glaze and an under-glaze method of decoration."
"Yes, sir."
"Are your questions answered now?"
"I believe they are, thank you."
"And you can now make china without trouble—whatever kind you like best?"
"I shouldn't want to start doing it to-morrow," chuckled Theo. "I think I should rather begin on earthenware."