The bishop did not positively name all these duties, but he gave Mr Harding to understand that such would be the nature of the service required.
It was not without much difficulty that Mr Harding made his friend see that this would not suit him; that he could not throw up the bishop's preferment, and then come and hang on at the bishop's table; that he could not allow people to say of him that it was an easy matter to abandon his own income, as he was able to sponge on that of another person.

He succeeded, however, in explaining that the plan would not do, and then the bishop brought forward another which he had in his sleeve.

He, the bishop, had in his will left certain moneys to Mr Harding's two daughters, imagining that Mr Harding would himself want no such assistance during his own lifetime.

This legacy amounted to three thousand pounds each, duty free; and he now pressed it as a gift on his friend.
"The girls, you know," said he, "will have it just the same when you're gone,--and they won't want it sooner;--and as for the interest during my lifetime, it isn't worth talking about.

I have more than enough." With much difficulty and heartfelt sorrow, Mr Harding refused also this offer.