This page has been validated.
134
THE WARDEN.

a clergyman of the Church of England who could allow such an argument to be put into his mouth.

"If this plea be put forward, we trust Mr. Harding will be forced as a witness to state the nature of his employment; the amount of work that he does; the income which he receives, and the source from whence he obtained his appointment. We do not think he will receive much public sympathy to atone for the annoyance of such an examination."

As Eleanor read the article her face flushed with indignation, and when she had finished it, she almost feared to look up at her father.

"Well, my dear," said he, "what do you think of that—is it worth while to be a warden at that price?"

"Oh, papa—dear papa!"

"Mr. Bold can't unwrite that, my dear—Mr. Bold can't say that that shan't be read by every clergyman at Oxford; nay, by every gentleman in the land:" and then he walked up and down the room, while Eleanor in mute despair followed him with her eyes—"and I'll tell you what, my dear," he continued, speaking now very calmly, and in a forced manner very unlike himself. "Mr. Bold can't dispute the truth of every word in that article you have just read—nor can I." Eleanor stared at him, as though she scarcely understood the words he was speaking. "Nor can I, Eleanor: that's the worst of all; or would be so if there were no remedy; I have thought much of all this since we were together last night;" and he came and sat beside her, and put his arm round her waist as he had done then. "I have thought much of what the archdeacon has said, and of what this paper says; and I do believe I have no right to be here."

"No right to be warden of the hospital, papa?"

"No right to be warden with eight hundred a year; no right to be warden with such a house as this; no right to