He did love her; so he declared to himself.

But was he a man who ought to throw the world away for love?
Such men there were; but was he one of them?
Could he be happy in that small house, somewhere near the New Road, with five children and horrid misgivings as to the baker's bill?
Of all men living, was not he the last that should have allowed himself to fall into such a trap?
All this passed through his mind as he turned his face up to the clouds with a look that was intended to be grand and noble.
"Speak to me, Adolphus, and say that it shall be so." Then his heart misgave him, and he lacked the courage to extricate himself from his trouble; or, as he afterwards said to himself, he had not the heart to do it.

"If I understand you, rightly, Lily, all this comes from no want of love on your own part ?" "Want of love on my part?
But you should not ask me that." "Until you tell me that there is such a want, I will agree to no parting." Then he took her hand and put it within his arm.

"No, Lily; whatever may be our cares and troubles, we are bound together,--indissolubly." "Are we ?" said she; and as she spoke, her voice trembled, and her hand shook.
"Much too firmly for any such divorce as that.

No, Lily, I claim the right to tell you all my troubles; but I shall not let you go." "But, Adolphus--" and the hand on his arm was beginning to cling to it again.
"Adolphus," said he, "has got nothing more to say on that subject.