"Ye must part noo, for in a few minutes Sir Gideon will be astir, an' should he find yer leddyship here, or discover that I hae brought ye, I wad hae sma' power to gie ye protection." "Fareweel, dear mother!--fareweel!" exclaimed the youth, grasping her hand. "O Willie! Willie!" she cried, "did I bear ye to see ye come to an end like this! Bairn! bairn! live--for yer mother's sake, live!" "Fareweel, mother!--fareweel!" he again cried, and the sentinel conducted her from the apartment. It again drew towards noon. The loud gong again sounded, and Simon sank upon his knees in despair, as the voice of the warder was heard crying--"It is the hour! prepare the prisoners for execution!" Again the prison-door was opened, and Sir Gideon, with wrath upon his brow, stood before them. "Weel, youngster," said he, addressing the laird, "yer hour is come. What is yer choice--a wife or the wuddy?" "Lead me to execution, ye auld knave," answered the laird, scornfully; "an' ken, that wi' the hemp around my neck, in contempt o' you an' yours, I will spit upon the ground where ye tread." "Here, guards!" cried Sir Gideon; "lead forth William Scott o' Harden to execution. Strap him upon the nearest tree, an' there let him hang until the bauldest Scott upon the Borders dare to cut him down. As for you," added he, addressing Simon, "I seek not your life; depart, ye are free; but beware hoo ye again fall into the hands o' Gideon Murray." "No, sir!" exclaimed Simon, "though I am free to acknowledge that I hae nae ambition to die before it is the wise will an' purpose o' nature, yet I winna, I canna leave my dear young maister; an' if he be to suffer, I will share his fate. Only, Sir Gideon, there is ae thing I hae to say, an' that is, that he is young, an' he is proud an' stubborn, like yersel', an' though he will not, o' his ain free will an' accord, nor in obedience to yer commandments, marry yer dochter--is it not possible to compel him, whether he be willing or no, an' so save his life, as it were, in spite o' him?" "Away with both!" cried the knight, striking his ironed heel upon the ground, and leaving the apartment. "Then, if it is to be, it must be," said Simon, folding his arms in resignation, "an' there is no help for it! But, oh, maister! maister! ye hae acted foolishly." They were led from the prison-house, and through the court-yard, towards a tall elm-tree, round which all the retainers of Sir Gideon were assembled to witness the execution; and the old knight took his place upon an elevated seat in the midst of them. The executioners were preparing to perform their office, when Agnes, or Muckle-mouthed Meg, as she was called, came forth, with a deep veil thrown over her face, and sinking on her knee before the old knight, said, imploringly--"A boon, dear faither--yer dochter begs a simple boon." "Ye tak an ill season to ask it, Meg," said the knight, angrily; "but what may it be?"