"They—they—are going to be married presently. Please stay to the ceremony."
Jesse Devereaux entered at that moment with a minister.
Roma was moaning in pain, her eyes half closed.
"Can you do nothing, doctor?"
"Alas, no! She must be dead in a few minutes!"
He bent down and took her hand.
"Are you ready, Roma?"
"Oh, yes, yes! Heaven bless you, dear!"
The ceremony began in its simplest form, the minister standing close by the couch to catch the faint responses of the dying girl. They were uttered clearly and audibly, with a faint ring of joy in the accents, very different from Devereaux's low, reluctant tones: