"And yet ye winna pardon him?" she cried, reproachfully.
"I cannot, Helen—I cannot," replied Charles. "My heart bleeds for you, but I must be firm."
"Think not you will set an ill example by showing mercy in this instance, prince," she said. "Erick's worth and valour are known. Sae beloved is he, that were there time, hundreds of his comrades wad beg his life. If he be put to death for nae fawt, men win think he has been cruelly dealt with."
"You go too far, Helen," said the prince, compassionately, "but I do not blame your zeal."
"Pardon me, sweet prince—pardon me if I have said mair than I ought. My heart overflows, and I must gie vent to my feelings, or it will break! Oh, that I were able to touch your heart, prince!"
"You do touch it, Helen. Never did I feel greater difficulty in acting firmly than I do at this moment."
"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."