I, at any rate for one, shall look on any successor whom you may appoint as enjoying a clerical situation of the highest respectability, and one to which your Lordship's nomination gives an indefeasible right.
I cannot finish this official letter without again thanking your Lordship for all your great kindness, and I beg to subscribe myself-- Your Lordship's most obedient servant, SEPTIMUS HARDING, Warden of Barchester Hospital, and Precentor of the Cathedral.
He then wrote the following private note:-- My DEAR BISHOP, I cannot send you the accompanying official letter without a warmer expression of thanks for all your kindness than would befit a document which may to a certain degree be made public.

You, I know, will understand the feeling, and, perhaps, pity the weakness which makes me resign the hospital.

I am not made of calibre strong enough to withstand public attack.

Were I convinced that I stood on ground perfectly firm, that I was certainly justified in taking eight hundred a year under Hiram's will, I should feel bound by duty to retain the position, however unendurable might be the nature of the assault; but, as I do not feel this conviction, I cannot believe that you will think me wrong in what I am doing.
I had at one time an idea of keeping only some moderate portion of the income; perhaps three hundred a year, and of remitting the remainder to the trustees; but it occurred to me, and I think with reason, that by so doing I should place my successors in an invidious position, and greatly damage your patronage.
My dear friend, let me have a line from you to say that you do not blame me for what I am doing, and that the officiating vicar of Crabtree Parva will be the same to you as the warden of the hospital.
I am very anxious about the precentorship: the archdeacon thinks it must go with the wardenship; I think not, and, that, having it, I cannot be ousted.

I will, however, be guided by you and the dean.