"Just a moment," broke in the girl's companion, who, until that instant, had busied himself with closing both the vestibule and inner front door. As he stepped closer and unbuttoned his heavy overcoat Miss Ward caught a glimpse of his clerical dress. "This is Miss Elizabeth Carter, Mr. Abbott's fiancée, and I am Dr. Nash of Washington. Miss Carter received word that Mr. Abbott is alarmingly ill--" "With small hope for his recovery." The words escaped Betty Carter through quivering lips, and looking closely at her, Miss Ward discovered her eyelashes wet with tears. "Don't keep us standing here when time is so precious," and turning she ran up the staircase, followed by the clergyman and Miss Ward. An odd sound far down the corridor caused the nurse to hesitate before accompanying the others into the sick room, and for several seconds she stood poised outside the door, her head bent in a listening attitude. The sound, whatever it was, and Miss Ward could have sworn it was a faint whimper, was not repeated. She was thankful to turn from the contemplation of the dark, winding corridor to the companionship of her patient and his two belated visitors. Dr. Nash had paused by the solitary lamp, but his efforts to induce it to burn more brightly resulted in extinguishing it entirely, leaving the bedroom illuminated by the firelight only. He turned at Miss Ward's approach and addressed her in a low voice. "Get the lamp from downstairs," he whispered. "This one is burned out." Betty Carter, paying no attention to the others, halted by the bedside just as Miss Ward started for the door. "I've come, Paul," Miss Ward heard her say as she darted out of the room. "I am here to keep my word. Dr. Nash is with me." Miss Ward's mystification lent wings to her feet, but when she made the turn of the last landing of the staircase her foot slipped on some snow left on the hardwood by the clergyman's rubbers, and she went headlong to the floor. Considerably shaken by her fall, it was some moments before she could pull herself together and get to her feet. Taking up the lamp with a hand not quite steady, she walked upstairs. As she entered the bedroom she saw Betty Carter standing apparently just where she had left her and Doctor Nash closing his prayerbook. "... I pronounce you man and wife." The solemn words rang their meaning into Miss Ward's ears as she took in the significance of the scene. "Come, Betty, we have no time to linger," and stepping forward, Doctor Nash laid his hand on the girl's arm. With a gesture as if awakening from a dream, Betty Carter raised her head and faced Miss Ward. The nurse almost cried out as she met the full gaze of her tragic eyes. "Surely you are not going?" she exclaimed. "Now--after--?"