At Princeton a lone townsman cried Down with Mussolini! in the midst of a reception, was jostled by students, escorted off the campus. At Harvard the pinko National Students League protested to President Conant, but allowed the visitors to tour Cambridge in peace.

He took an off day for fishing.  an off year in politics; the off season

There was nothing to be seen but wave after wave of tussock grass - patched with purple orchids and manuka bushes covered with thick spider webs.

At the first sight / they have changed eyes. (exchanged looks)