ButwhetherhemeditatedtheMusesorthephilosophers，thelonelinessofHintocklifewasbeginningtotelluponhisimpressionablenature。Winterinasolitaryhouseinthecountry，withoutsociety，istolerable，nay，evenenjoyableanddelightful，givencertainconditions，butthesearenottheconditionswhichattachtothelifeofaprofessionalmanwhodropsdownintosuchaplacebymereaccident。TheywerepresenttothelivesofWinterborne，Melbury，andGrace；butnottothedoctor’s。Theyareoldassociation——analmostexhaustivebiographicalorhistoricalacquaintancewitheveryobject，animateandinanimate，withintheobserver’shorizon。Hemustknowallaboutthoseinvisibleonesofthedaysgoneby，whosefeethavetraversedthefieldswhichlooksograyfromhiswindows；recallwhosecreakingploughhasturnedthosesodsfromtimetotime；whosehandsplantedthetreesthatformacresttotheoppositehill；whosehorsesandhoundshavetornthroughthatunderwood；whatbirdsaffectthatparticularbrake；whatdomesticdramasoflove，jealousy，revenge，ordisappointmenthavebeenenactedinthecottages，themansion，thestreet，oronthegreen。Thespotmayhavebeauty，grandeur，salubrity，convenience；butifitlackmemoriesitwillultimatelypalluponhimwhosettlestherewithoutopportunityofintercoursewithhiskind。
Insuchcircumstances，maybe，anoldmandreamsofanidealfriend，tillhethrowshimselfintothearmsofanyimpostorwhochoosestowearthattitleonhisface。Ayoungmanmaydreamofanidealfriendlikewise，butsomehumorofthebloodwillprobablyleadhimtothinkratherofanidealmistress，andatlengththerustleofawoman’sdress，thesoundofhervoice，orthetransitofherformacrossthefieldofhisvision，willenkindlehissoulwithaflamethatblindshiseyes。
ThediscoveryoftheattractiveGrace’snameandfamilywouldhavebeenenoughinothercircumstancestoleadthedoctor，ifnottoputherpersonalityoutofhishead，tochangethecharacterofhisinterestinher。Insteadoftreasuringherimageasararity，hewouldatmosthaveplayedwithitasatoy。Hewasthatkindofaman。Butsituatedherehecouldnotgosofarasamativecruelty。Hedismissedallreverentialthoughtabouther，buthecouldnothelptakingherseriously。
Hewentontoimaginetheimpossible。Sofar，indeed，didhegointhisfutiledirectionthat，asothersarewonttodo，heconstructeddialoguesandscenesinwhichGracehadturnedouttobethemistressofHintockManor-house，themysteriousMrs。
Charmond，particularlyreadyandwillingtobewooedbyhimselfandnobodyelse。“Well，sheisn’tthat。”hesaid，finally。“Butshe’saverysweet，nice，exceptionalgirl。”