# Dramas (Baillie)/The Stripling/Act 2

ACT II.
SCENE I.—Bruton's Lodgings. Robinair and Bruton, speaking as they enter.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON (shrinking from him in disgust).
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON (alone).
[Exit. ​
SCENE II.
An open Hall or Lobby in a Prison, from which a wide arched passage branches off. Over the arch is written, "The Felons' Side."
Enter Young Arden, meeting the Head Gaoler.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER (pointing in another direction).
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN (aside).
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN (aside, and shrinking back).
Enter Arden, with his Counsel, &c., and walks slowly across the Stage, passing close by his Son, who keeps behind the Gaoler, casting a furtive look at his Father's face as he passes; then, seeing him about to enter the Felons' Passage, springs forward eagerly, as if to prevent him.
GAOLER (pulling him back).
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
His trial, that comes on to-morrow, for a forgery. (Young Arden sinks to the ground; Gaoler, beckoning to the Under-Gaoler to assist him.) Poor lad! this has struck through his heart like an arrow. He must be some near relation to the prisoner.
UNDER GAOLER.
GAOLER.
Ah, poor boy! (Chafes his hands and temples, and Young Arden recovers.) My good young Sir, go into my house for a while and recover yourself.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
UNDER GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
GAOLER.
YOUNG ARDEN.
SCENE III.
Robinair's House.
Enter Mrs. Arden, and a Servant showing her in.
SERVANT (placing a chair).
MRS. ARDEN (alone).
Enter Robinair.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
MRS. ARDEN (Starting from her seat).
ROBINAIR.
honoured.—Excuse me now; I am exceedingly hurried with business. Let me have the pleasure of attending you to your chair, Letitia; I once called you by that dear name (taking her hand familiarly).
MRS. ARDEN (pulling away her hand indignantly).
ROBINAIR (looking after her significantly).
Re-enter Mrs. Arden, with mortified timidity.
MRS. ARDEN.
ROBINAIR.
Yes, Lady, where I shall be delighted to see you, and to obey your commands. [Exit Mrs. Arden.
(Holding up his hands exultingly.) I knew it would be so! There was a rude burst of anger, to be sure; but the vision of a man's bare throat, with a noose about it, has crossed her in the hall, and checked her wayward steps.—Ho, there!
Enter a Servant.
Send notice to the housekeeper at Chelsea that——No, I must write down her directions, else there will be some cursed mistake or other. (Goes to a table, and sits down to write, while the Servant waits.)
Enter Bruton.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON (aside).
ROBINAIR (after sealing the note, and giving it to the Servant).
[Exit Servant, and Robinair comes forward to Bruton with a gay, light step.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
Enter a Person, with a small bag.
BRUTON (aside, as he turns from Robinair).
ROBINAIR (to the Stranger).
STRANGER.
ROBINAIR.
STRANGER.
ROBINAIR.
STRANGER.
ROBINAIR (laughing).
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
Enter a Man, with papers, &c.
Oh, ho! Mr. Skriever; you are come at last with the deeds. ​
SKRIEVER.
ROBINAIR.
[Exit Skriever by a side door.
(To Bruton, after going about the room fantastically, with a gay, skipping step.) The breezes of fortune, you see, are in my sails.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
BRUTON.
ROBINAIR.
[Exit into the side door.
BRUTON.