But it's pretty hard on Brian." It was the thing, as Garry knew, that taxed Brian's patience to the utmost, plunged him into grotesque dilemmas and kept him keyed to an abnormal alertness of memory.

Always his sense of loyalty revolted at the notion of denying any tale that Kenny told.
Now Kenny's hurt stare left Brian unrepentant.

He lost his temper utterly.

Thereafter he blazed out a hot-headed summary of book-keeping that made his father gasp.
Kenny's air of conscious rectitude vanished.

In an instant he was defensive and excited, resenting the unexpected need of the one and the distraction of the other.