I have a lot of questions about the ending, and here are some of my rambling thoughts.

This closing scene was very powerful: Soames witnesses Irene "huddled in her grey fur against the sofa cushions" (now, my first thought was of a cat, but Galsworthy continues a different theme) "she had a strong resemblence to a captive owl, bunched in its soft feathers against the wires of a cage."

He suddenly understands that Bosinney had been her lover, but I'm not sure why. Obviously there were major clues, but in this instance, is it because she's come back to a place she loathes and the only way she could ever do that is if she has been broken by despair? If anyone can clarify that scene to make it more understandable to me, I'd appreciate it.

We never see her thoughts, do we? It's always Irene as interpreted by Soames. Soames once again compares her to a bird, a shot bird, then the cat rubs against his leg and he has a rare emotional reaction. He's such a self-contained individual. Does he ever let Irene into his emotional side?

And one more thought about the ending, why does Soames lash out at young Jolyon and re-emphasize that he is the master of his house. Earlier he wanted to "burst out of himself, out of this web that for the first time in his life he felt around him." Is this true? He's always acted like he was self-contained in a weblike existence. Is it that he's finally allowed himself to recognize that fact?