"Then yield to your feelings, prince--yield to them, I implore you," she cried, passionately. "Oh, madam!" she added to Beppy, "join your prayers to mine, and perchance his highness may listen to us!" Thus urged, Beppy knelt by Helen's side, and said, in an earnest voice: "I would plead earnestly with you, prince, to spare Erick. By putting him to death you will deprive yourself of an excellent soldier, whose place you can ill supply." "Very true," murmured Charles. "Very true." "Then listen to the promptings of your own heart, which counsels you to spare him," she continued. For a moment it seemed as if Charles was about to yield, but he remained firm, and raising her from her kneeling posture, said: "This interview must not be prolonged." Helen, however, would not rise, but clung to his knees, exclaiming, distractedly: "Ye winna kill him! ye winna kill him!" Jemmy removed her gently, and with Beppy's aid she was taken from the room. CHAPTER IX. TOGETHER TO THE LAST. For a few minutes after her removal from the cabinet, Helen was in a state of distraction, but at length she listened to Beppy's consolations and grew calmer. She then besought Captain Dawson to take her to the guard-chamber, where Erick was confined. Before going thither she bade adieu to Beppy. It was a sad parting, and drew tears from those who witnessed it. "Fare ye weel, dear young leddy!" she said. "May every blessing leet upon your bonnie head, and on that ov yer dear, gude feyther! Most like I shan never see you again on this airth, but I hope you win sometimes think o' the puir Scottish lassie that loo'd ye weel!" "Heaven strengthen you and support you, Helen!" cried Beppy, kissing her. "I trust we shall meet again." "Dinna think it," replied the other, sadly. "I hope and trust we may meet again in a better world." Beppy could make no reply--her heart was too full. Embracing the poor girl affectionately, she hurried to her father, who was waiting for her, and hastily quitted the house. Helen was then conducted to the guard-room in which the sergeant was confined. Erick was seated on a wooden stool near a small table, on which a light was placed, and was reading the Bible. He rose on her entrance, and looked inquiringly at her. "Na hope, Erick," she said, mournfully. "I had nane, lassie," he replied. They passed several hours of the night in calm converse, talking of the past, and of the happy hours they had spent together; but at last Helen yielded to fatigue, and when the guard entered the chamber he found her asleep with her head resting on Erick's shoulder. The man retired gently without disturbing her. Meanwhile, the warrant, signed by Lord George Gordon, appointing the execution to take place at seven o'clock in the morning, had been delivered to the Chevalier de Johnstone, as commander of the corps to which the unfortunate sergeant belonged, and all the necessary preparations had been made.