He felt in no mood to tolerate his uncle's conversation.

But he was not in danger.

Soames preserved a perfect muteness, busy with far-away thoughts.
The yellow leaves came down about those two walking the mile and a half which Soames had traversed so often in those long-ago days when he came down to watch with secret pride the building of the house--that house which was to have been the home of him and her from whom he was now going to seek release.

He looked back once, up that endless vista of autumn lane between the yellowing hedges.

What an age ago! "I don't want to see her," he had said to Jolyon.