Many dark forebodings haunted them; but it was too late for advice and interference now.
The first news that came to the villa on the banks of the Arno was that Stephen Thorne and his wife had left the lodge and taken a small farm somewhere in the county of Kent.

Lady Earle had found them the means, and they had left without one word from Lord Earle.

He never asked whither they had gone.
Despite his father's anger and his mother's sorrow, despite his poverty and loss of position, Ronald for some months was very happy with his young wife.

It was so pleasant to teach Dora, to watch her sweet, dimpled face and the dark eyes grow large with wonder; to hear her simple, naive remarks, her original ideas; to see her pretty, artless ways; above all, it was pleasant to be so dearly loved.
He often thought that there never had been, never could be, a wife so loving as Dora.

He could not teach her much, although he tried hard.
She sang simple little ballads sweetly and clearly; but although master after master tried his best, she could never be taught to play--not even as much as the easy accompaniments of her own songs.