He felt as if he must have her to love, no matter what she was.

He came up to her, and stroked her hair.

"O Lillie!" he said, "why couldn't you have told me the truth?
What made you deceive me ?" "I was afraid you wouldn't like me if I did," said Lillie, in her sobs.
"O Lillie! I should have liked you, no matter how old you were,--only you should have told me _the truth_." "I know it--I know it--oh, it _was_ wrong of me!" and Lillie sobbed, and seemed in danger of falling into convulsions; and John's heart gave out.

He gathered her in his arms.

"I can't help loving you; and I can't live without you," he said, "be you what you may!" Lillie's little heart beat with triumph under all her sobs: she had got him, and should hold him yet.
"There can be no confidence between husband and wife, Lillie," said John, gravely, "unless we are perfectly true with each other.