206

THE SANDS, 225

THE RING AND THE CLIFF, 236

THE DEAD MAN'S HAND, 247

THE LOST FARM, 262

THE MAID'S STRATAGEM, 294

THE SKULL-HOUSE, 311

RIVINGTON PIKE, 322

MOTHER RED-CAP, 345

THE DEATH-PAINTER, 389

THE CRYSTAL GOBLET, 416

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

THE PEEL OF FOULDREY _To face page_ 35

BEWSEY, NEAR WARRINGTON 69

WINDLESHAW ABBEY 96

CLEGG HALL, NEAR ROCHDALE 137

PEG O'NELLY'S WELL, NEAR CLITHEROE 206

ULVERSTONE SANDS 225

THE LOST FARM, NEAR SOUTHPORT 262

RIVINGTON PIKE 322

"THE THRUTCH," NEAR ROCHDALE 349

THE FAIRIES' CHAPEL.

"Farewell, rewards and fairies!
Good housewives now may say;
For now foule sluts in dairies,
Doe fare as well as they:
And though they sweepe their hearths no less
Than mayds were wont to doe,
Yet who of late, for cleaneliness,
Finds sixe-pence in her shoe?"

--_Percy's Reliques._

The ancient mansion of Healey Hall was a cumbrous inconvenient
dwelling of timber; but the spirit of improvement having gone
forth in the reign of Elizabeth, an ordinary hall-house of stone
was erected, about the year 1620, by Oliver Chadwick. On the
south front was a projecting wing and three gables, with a large
hall-window. The north front had two gables only, with a
projecting barn. The north entrance, covered by a porch, was a
thorough passage, answering to the screens of a college, having
on one side the hall and parlour beyond; on the other were the
kitchen, buttery, &c. On the river below was a corn-mill; this
and a huge barn being necessary appendages to the hospitable
mansions and plentiful boards of our forefathers. Over the front
door was this inscription--

C. C. DOC. T: R. C: I. C. A. C: R. B.
ANO. DOM'I. 1168.

About the year 1756 the east wall gave way, and a considerable
fishure appeared on the outside. This event was considered by
m