Book One, Chapter 7 Summary

Jasper Palmer-Smith asks Theo to visit him. He is a retired professor, who used to teach Theo and considered him a favorite pupil, even if Theo was not sure if he felt this way about Jasper.

Theo travels out to his country home, which he shares with his wife Hilda, who is incapacitated by old age. Theo is surprised to see the once stately Don looking as though he had aged ten years since he last saw him six weeks prior. His wife too, normally dressed impeccably, has congealed food on the front of her cardigan.

Jasper speaks of feeling isolated and is considering moving back to Oxford. He puts forward the idea of converting part of Theo's house into a flat, but Theo is repulsed by the idea. He enjoys his independence. Because he does not want to...