and Miss Hodges, for whom he vouches cordially."
Rising, Mr. Farnum stepped over to meet Mr. Hodges, shaking hands with
the stranger. Then the pair walked back to the table. Farnum quickly
presented Mr. Hodges to the others.
"Judson asks me to extend to you any possible courtesies," pursued the
shipbuilder. "I shall be very glad. Now, what can I do that will be
most agreeable to you?"
"Why--er--er--" began Mr. Hodges, hesitatingly, "the thing that my
daughter and I are most interested in is your line of boats. In fact,
we came over to Colfax to see what we could of the boats and the tests.
Now, my daughter and I would both like very much to go aboard one of
your boats. Yet, if this would be at all irregular, or cause you any
inconvenience, I beg you to refuse us, and we shall understand your
refusal."
None the less, the shipbuilder did feel and look embarrassed.
"I wish it were anything else on earth," Farnum replied, frankly. "For,
though it gives me more pain than you can understand, my dear Mr. Hodges,
it will be absolutely impossible for us to admit anyone to the submarine
boats during the present tests.
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