"‘twas in place long before that became the issue." The remark lacks an accusatory bite - though silence settles heavily in the moments afterward, every crunch and twig-snap with their step seeming painfully loud. The subject’s better left dropped and much more so when he hasn’t quite decided where he stands on potential house visits in the future. They have more important matters to contend with in the end, many barely more than a few paces ahead as the forest thins and the house pulls into view.