The Abbot, is his sequel to The Monastery (which was considered by some to be a dismal failure), takes us through the life of Roland Graeme, a comely lad who is adopted by the lady of Avenel, as her page, and someone to while away the hours with while her husband, Sir Halbert Glendinning, is away in foreign lands with the Scottish Regent Murray. After seven years Roland the upstart is banished from the castle and leaves to seek his fortune.