This was the more ungenerous, as it was generally known, that, from a romantic idea of not prejudicing this young man's right as heir-male, the Baron had refrained from settling his estate on his daughter.
This selfish injustice was resented by the country people, who were partial to their old master, and irritated against his successor.

In the Baron's own words, 'The matter did not coincide with the feelings of the commons of Bradwardine, Mr.Waverley; and the tenants were slack and repugnant in payment of their mails and duties; and when my kinsman came to the village wi' the new factor, Mr.James Howie, to lift the rents, some wanchancy person--I suspect John Heatherblutter, the auld gamekeeper, that was out wi' me in the year fifteen--fired a shot at him in the gloaming, whereby he was so affrighted, that I may say with Tullius in Catilinam, ABIIT, EVASIT, ERUPIT, EFFUGIT.

He fled, sir, as one may say, incontinent to Stirling.

And now he hath advertised the estate for sale, being himself the last substitute in the entail.

And if I were to lament about sic matters, this would grieve me mair than its passing from my immediate possession, whilk, by the course of nature, must have happened in a few years.