"Well, so long as you have secured a season ticket in advance I suppose there is no help for it," he added with a comic expression of resignation. "When, by the by, does the next lecture come?"
Theo pretended to produce an imaginary ticket from his pocket and consult it.
"The next lecture seems to be listed for this evening just after dinner," he replied gravely.
"It does, does it!" exclaimed Mr. Croyden. "Very well; the lecturer will be ready at seven sharp. I make it a point never to disappoint an audience."
With a good-natured laugh he was gone.
"I hope I don't bother Mr. Croyden too much, Father," observed Theo reflectively, after the older man was out of hearing.
"I guess you don't," answered the Doctor. "At first I was afraid you might be taking too much of his time, so I asked him; but I soon found he enjoyed these talks quite as much as you. He is a good talker, and like the rest of us finds it pleasant to discuss his hobby. I begged him to be frank and tell you whenever he was too tired or busy to talk, and he promised he would."
"He has been mighty good to me."
"He certainly has," agreed Dr. Swift. "He likes boys very much. It is a pity he has no son of his own."
"It is a shame!" exclaimed Theo. "He would make such a splendid father for some boy."