# Dramas (Baillie)/The Stripling/Act 4

ACT IV.
A green Lawn, with Borders of Flowers, in front of Robinair's House, near Chelsea. Moonlight.
Enter Robinair and Bruton from the house.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
abashed, submissive gentleness. This will be triumph! this will be happiness! yea, that very thing, happiness, which I have been pursuing all my life, and have never yet overtaken.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR (with mock solemnity).
BRUTON.
Enter Morgan.
MORGAN.
ROBINAIR.
MORGAN.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR (eagerly).
MORGAN.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
MORGAN.
ROBINAIR.
MORGAN.
ROBINAIR.
MORGAN.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
MORGAN.
ROBINAIR.
And the old fool is afraid the child will blow out his brains with it.—Well, since thou hast no other intelligence than this, Morgan, go thy ways to thy supper. [Exit Morgan.] And let us move into the house also. See, the candles are lighted now in the parlour, and our cool tankard waits for us.
BRUTON.
[Exeunt into the house.
​ Enter Young Arden, with a fowling-piece in his hand, stepping cautiously, and then looking round, as if disappointed.
YOUNG ARDEN.
[Exit, making his way hastily through shrubs and bushes, which knock off his hat as he goes out. Presently the report of a gun is heard, and Robinair within is seen to fall. Great commotion of Servants rushing into the room, and aiding Bruton to give him assistance, &c. &c. Soon after Morgan and others issue from the house to give the alarm.
MORGAN.
Enter two Men by a wicket gate.
FIRST MAN.
MORGAN.
SECOND MAN.
MORGAN.
SERVANT.
FIRST MAN (looking in at the window).
MORGAN.
For God's sake, don't think of satisfying curiosity now! Try to secure the villain first, or he will escape. Come with me in this direction; and (to Second Man) do you follow the footman yonder, since nobody will go alone.
FIRST MAN (as they are about to disperse).
OMNES (gathering round him).
SECOND MAN.
MORGAN.
FIRST MAN.
MORGAN.
[Exeunt different ways.
SCENE II.
The hall in Arden's house.
Enter Madaline and Robert.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
That would do no good. Open the street door, and listen if there be any footsteps coming. (Robert opens the door and listens.) Do you hear any thing?
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT (without side of the door).
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT.
MADALINE.
ROBERT (thrusting his head again out at the door).
Holla! holla, there!—It is him, Madam; he answers me. ​
Enter Mrs. Arden, running eagerly.
MRS. ARDEN.
MADALINE.
MRS. ARDEN.
MADALINE.
Enter Humphry.
MRS. ARDEN (running to meet him).
HUMPHRY.
MRS. ARDEN.
HUMPHRY.
MRS. ARDEN.
HUMPHRY.
MRS. ARDEN (rushing towards the door).
MADALINE (holding her back).
MRS. ARDEN.
HUMPHRY.
MADALINE.
MRS. ARDEN.
Enter Young Arden.
My son! my son! thank God I have thee again! Long, long have I watched for thee: I have been distracted with fear. Has accident,—has illness detained thee?
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN (putting his hand to his head).
HUMPHRY.
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN (in a quick altered voice).
MRS. ARDEN.
HUMPHRY.
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
Oh! thou art not well. Run, Madaline, and fetch him some cordial. [Exeunt Madaline and Humphry different ways.] O what is the matter with thee? Where hast thou been? Thou wentest out to seek deliverance for us, and the rebuff of some cruel-hearted man sends thee back broken-hearted and hopeless to me and to thy miserable father.
YOUNG ARDEN (his eyes lighting up keenly).
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
Re-enter Humphry with wine.
Take a good draught of it, and then go to rest.—But will you not eat something? (He shakes his head.) Well, then, I will not urge thee.
HUMPHRY (filling up a glass with wine).
YOUNG ARDEN (having swallowed the wine hastily).
Re-enter Madaline with a phial.
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN.
MRS. ARDEN.
HUMPHRY.
YOUNG ARDEN (eagerly).
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN (returning to her).
MRS. ARDEN.
YOUNG ARDEN.
[Exit, hurrying from her, and followed by Humphry.
MADALINE (observing Mrs. Arden, who remains for some time lost in thought).
MRS. ARDEN (starting from her reverie).
MADALINE.
MRS. ARDEN.
MADALINE.
MRS. ARDEN.
[Exeunt, Madaline supporting her as they retire.