rantly will be trifling,--that is, compared with what it might have
been if it had been continued."

"I fear I don't quite understand you, Sir Abraham."

"Don't you know that their attorneys have noticed us that they have
withdrawn the suit?"

Mr Harding explained to the lawyer that he knew nothing of this,
although he had heard in a roundabout way that such an intention had
been talked of; and he also at length succeeded in making Sir Abraham
understand that even this did not satisfy him. The attorney-general
stood up, put his hands into his breeches' pockets, and raised his
eyebrows, as Mr Harding proceeded to detail the grievance from which
he now wished to rid himself.

"I know I have no right to trouble you personally with this matter,
but as it is of most vital importance to me, as all my happiness is
concerned in it, I thought I might venture to seek your advice."

Sir Abraham bowed, and declared his clients were entitled to the best
advice he could give them; particularly a client so respectable in
every way as the Warden of Barchester Hospital.

"A spoken word, Sir Abraham, is often of more value than volumes of
written advice. The truth is, I am ill-satisfied with this matter
as it stands at present. I do see--I cannot help seeing, that the
affairs of the hospital are not arranged according to the will of the
founder."

"None of such institutions are, Mr Harding, nor can they be; the
altered circumstances in which we live do not admit of it."

"Quite true--that is quite true; but I can't see that those altered
circumstances give me a right to eight hundred a year. I don't know
whether I ever read John Hiram's will, but were I to read it now I
could not understand it. What I want you, Sir Abraham, to tell me,
is this:--am I, as warden, legally and distinctly entitled to the
proceeds of the property, after the due maintenance of the twelve
bedesmen?"

Sir Abraham declared that he couldn't exactly say in so many words
that Mr Harding was legally entitled to, &c., &c., &c., and ended in
expressing a strong opinion that it would be madness to raise any
further question on the matter, as the suit was to be,--nay, was,
abandoned.

Mr Harding, seated in his chair, began to play a slow tune on an
imaginary violoncello.

"Nay, my dear sir," continued the attorney-general, "there is no
further ground for any question; I don't see that you have the power
of raising it."

"I can resign," said Mr Hardi