CHAPTER III .-- WHALLEY ABBEY.
A sad, sad change hath come over the fair Abbey of Whalley.

It knoweth its old masters no longer.

For upwards of two centuries and a half hath the "Blessed Place"[2] grown in beauty and riches.

Seventeen abbots have exercised unbounded hospitality within it, but now they are all gone, save one!--and he is attainted of felony and treason.

The grave monk walketh no more in the cloisters, nor seeketh his pallet in the dormitory.