"I rather think he will have to go to town on business." Later in the evening, Mr.Alwynn told Ruth that in the course of his interview he had found that Dare had the very vaguest ideas as to the necessity of settlements; had evidently never given the subject a thought, and did not even know what he actually possessed.
Mr.Alwynn was secretly afraid of what Ruth's trustee, his brother, Lord Polesworth (now absent shooting in the Rocky Mountains), would say if, during his absence, their niece was allowed to engage herself without suitable provision; and he begged Ruth not "to do anything rash" in the way of speaking of her engagement, until Dare could, with the help of his lawyer, see his way to making some arrangement.
"I know he has no money," said Ruth, quietly; "that is one of the reasons why I am going to marry him." Mr.Alwynn, to whom this seemed the most natural reason in the world, was not sure whether it would strike his brother with equal force.

He had a suspicion that when Lord Polesworth's attention should be turned from white goats and brown bears to the fact that his niece, who had means of her own, had been allowed to engage herself to a poor man, and that Mr.Alwynn had greatly encouraged the match, unpleasant questions might be asked.
"Francis will be back in November," said Mr.Alwynn.

"I think, Ruth, we had better wait till his return before we do anything definite." "Anything _more_ definite, you mean," said Ruth.

"I have been very definite already, I think.

I shall be glad to wait till he comes back, if you wish it, Uncle John.