第74章

TheBaron’sstorywasshort，whendivestedoftheadagesandcommonplaces，Latin，English，andScotch，withwhichhiseruditiongarnishedit。HeinsistedmuchuponhisgriefatthelossofEdwardandofGlennaquoich，foughtthefieldsofFalkirkandCulloden，andrelatedhow，afterallwaslostinthelastbattle，hehadreturnedhome，undertheideaofmoreeasilyfindingshelteramonghisowntenantsandonhisownestate，thanelsewhere。Apartyofsoldiershadbeensenttolaywastehisproperty，forclemencywasnottheorderoftheday。Theirproceedings，however，werecheckedbyanorderfromthecivilcourt。Theestate，itwasfound，mightnotbeforfeitedtothecrown，totheprejudiceofMalcolmBradwardineofInch-Grabbit，theheir-male，whoseclaimcouldnotbeprejudicedbytheBaron’sattainder，asderivingnorightthroughhim，andwho，therefore，likeotherheirsofentailinthesamesituation，entereduponpossession。But，unlikemanyinsimilarcircumstances，thenewlairdspeedilyshowedthatheintendedutterlytoexcludehispredecessorfromallbenefitoradvantageintheestate，andthatitwashispurposetoavailhimselfoftheoldBaron’sevilfortunetothefullextent。Thiswasthemoreungenerous，asitwasgenerallyknown，that，fromaromanticideaofnotprejudicingthisyoungman’srightasheir-male，theBaronhadrefrainedfromsettlinghisestateonhisdaughter。

Thisselfishinjusticewasresentedbythecountrypeople，whowerepartialtotheiroldmaster，andirritatedagainsthissuccessor。IntheBaron’sownwords，ThematterdidnotcoincidewiththefeelingsofthecommonsofBradwardine，Mr。

Waverley；andthetenantswereslackandrepugnantinpaymentoftheirmailsandduties；andwhenmykinsmancametothevillagewi’thenewfactor，Mr。JamesHowie，tolifttherents，somewanchancyperson-IsuspectJohnHeatherblutter，theauldgamekeeper，thatwasoutwi’meintheyearfifteen-firedashotathiminthegloaming，wherebyhewassoaffrighted，thatImaysaywithTulliusinCatilinam，_Abiit，evasit，erupit，effugit。_Hefled，sir，asonemaysay，incontinenttoStirling。Andnowhehathadvertisedtheestateforsale，beinghimselfthelastsubstituteintheentail-AndifI

weretolamentaboutsicmatters，thiswouldgrievememairthanitspassingfrommyimmediatepossession，whilk，bythecourseofnature，musthavehappenedinafewyears。Whereasnowitpassesfromthelineagethatshouldhavepossesseditin_sculasculorum。_ButGod’swillbedone，_humanaperpessisumus。_SirJohnofBradwardine-BlackSirJohn，asheiscalled-whowasthecommonancestorofourhouseandtheInch-Grabbits，littlethoughtsuchapersonwouldhavesprungfromhisloins。Meantime，hehasaccusedmetosomeofthe_primates，_therulersforthetime，asifIwereacut-throat，andanabettorofbravoesandassassinates，andcoupe-jarrets。Andtheyhavesentsoldiersheretoabideontheestate，andhuntmelikeapartridgeuponthemountains，asScripturesaysofgoodKingDavid，orlikeourvaliantSirWilliamWallace，-

notthatIbringmyselfintocomparisonwitheither-Ithought，whenIheardyouatthedoor，theyhaddriventheaulddeertohisdenatlast；andsoIe’enproposedtodieatbay，likeabuckofthefirsthead-Butnow，Janet，cannayegieussomethingforsupper？’’

Ouay，sir，I’llbranderthemoorfowlthatJohnHeatherblutterbroughtinthismorning；andyeseepuirDavie’sroastingtheblackhen’seggs-Idaursay，Mr。Wauverley，yeneverkendthata’theeggsthatweresaeweelroastedatsupperintheHa’-housewereayeturnedbyourDavie？-there’snothelikeo’himonygateforpowteringwi’hisfingersamangthehetpeat-ashes，androastingeggs。’’Davieallthiswhilelaywithhisnosealmostinthefire，nuzzlingamongtheashes，kickinghisheels，mumblingtohimself，turningtheeggsastheylayinthehotembers，asiftoconfutetheproverb，thattheregoesreasontoroastingofeggs，’’andjustifytheeulogiumwhichpoorJanetpouredoutuponHimwhomsheloved，heridiotboy。

Davie’snosaesillyasfolktakhimfor，Mr。Wauverley；

hewadnahaebroughtyouhereunlesshehadkendyewasafriendtohisHonour-indeedtheverydogskendye，Mr。

Wauverley，foryewasayekindtobeastandbody-Icantellyouastoryo’Davie，wi’hisHonour’sleave：HisHonour，yesee，beingunder