Both her parents were dead; she was dependent upon herself.

Her one ambition was to see Italy and the Bay of Naples.

The "Marble Faun," Raphael's "Madonnas" and "Il Trovatore" were her beau ideals of literature and art.

She dreamed of Italy, Rome, Naples, and the world's great "art-centres." There was no doubt that her affair with Magnus had been a love-match, but Annie Payne would have loved any man who would have taken her out of the droning, heart-breaking routine of the class and music room.

She had followed his fortunes unquestioningly.