Men of the stamp of Harold Quaritch generally pass through three stages with reference to the other sex.  They begin in their youth by making a goddess of one of them, and finding out their mistake.  Then for many years they look upon woman as the essence and incarnation of evil and a thing no more to be trusted than a jaguar.  Ultimately, however, this folly wears itself out, probably in proportion as the old affection fades and dies away, and is replaced by contempt and regret that so much should have been wasted on that which was of so little worth.  Then it is that the danger comes, for then a man puts forth his second venture, puts it forth with fear and trembling, and with no great hope of seeing a golden Argosy sailing into port.  And if it sinks or is driven back by adverse winds and frowning skies, there is an end of his legitimate dealings with such frail merchandise.

And now he, Harold Quaritch, was about to put forth this second venture, not of his own desire or free will indeed, but because his reason and judgment were over-mastered.  In short, he had fallen in love with Ida de la Molle when he first saw her five years ago, and was now in the process of discovering the fact.  There he sat in his chair in the old half-furnished room, which he proposed to turn into his dining-room, and groaned in spirit over this portentous discovery.  What had become of his fair prospect of quiet years sloping gently downwards, and warm with the sweet drowsy light of afternoon?  How was it that he had not known those things that belonged to his peace?  And probably it would end in nothing.  Was it likely that such a splendid young woman as Ida would care for a superannuated army officer, with nothing to recommend him beyond five or six hundred a year and a Victoria Cross, which he never wore.  Probably if she married at all she would try to marry someone who would assist to retrieve the fallen fortunes of her family, which it was absolutely beyond his power to do.  Altogether the outlook did not please him, as he sat there far into the watches of the night, and pulled at his empty pipe.  So little did it please him, indeed, that when at last he rose to find his way to bed up the old oak staircase, the only imposing thing in Molehill, he had almost made up his mind to give up the idea of living at Honham at all.  He would sell the place and emigrate to Vancouver’s Island or New Zealand, and thus place an impassable barrier between himself and that sweet, strong face, which seemed to have acquired a touch of sternness since last he looked upon it five years ago.

Ah, wise resolutions of the quiet night, whither do you go in the garish light of day?  To heaven, perhaps, with the mist wreaths and the dew drops.

When the Squire got back to the castle, he found his daughter still sitting in the drawing room.

“What, not gone to bed, Ida?” he said.

“No, father, I was going, and then I thought that I would wait to hear what all this is about Janter and the Moat Farm.  It is best to get it over.”