Final answer:
The narrator missed a few meetings with Ishmael at the end of their discussions because war had been declared.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason why the narrator missed a few meetings with Ishmael at the end of their discussions was because war had been declared. In the text, it is mentioned that Ishmael did not stay for dinner because war had been declared. This implies that the narrator was likely preoccupied with the events of the war and unable to attend the meetings with Ishmael. This shows how the theme of war affected the characters' relationships and priorities.