He was half prepared for reproaches from his aunt, and wholly prepared to set her at defiance. But if she were civil he would be civil: he did not court a quarrel.
'I don't know that she can be ready.'
'But she must. I have made up my mind to travel by that train. Why should there be any delay? Everybody is agreed that we are to begin our lives together, and we cannot begin too soon.'
'You need not be in such a hurry. You have contrived to live without her for nearly a year.'
'That is my business. I am not going to live without her any longer.
Please tell her she must be ready by half-past ten.'
'I will tell her so. I am heartily sorry for her. But she must submit to fate. What home have you prepared for her?'
'At present none. We can go to an hotel for a day or two, and then I shall take lodgings in South Kensington, or thereabouts.'
'Have you any money?'
'Yes enough to carry on,' answered Brian.
Truthfulness was not his strong point, although he was a Wendover, and that race deemed itself free from the taint of falsehood. There may have been an injurious admixture of races on the maternal side, perhaps; albeit his mother personally was good and loyal. However this was, Brian Walford had, even in trifles, shown himself evasive and shifty.