And this untrained, ignorant, ill-bred woman was his wife! For her he had given up home, parents, position, wealth--all he had in life worth caring for.

For her, and through her, he stood there alone in the world.
Those thoughts first maddened him, then drove him to despair.

What had life left for him?
He could not return to England; his father's doors were closed against him.

There was no path open to him; without his father's help he could not get into Parliament.

He could not work as an artist at home.