since entered it
from that day to this.

And here we must take leave of Archdeacon Grantly. We fear that he is
represented in these pages as being worse than he is; but we have had
to do with his foibles, and not with his virtues. We have seen only
the weak side of the man, and have lacked the opportunity of bringing
him forward on his strong ground. That he is a man somewhat too fond
of his own way, and not sufficiently scrupulous in his manner of
achieving it, his best friends cannot deny. That he is bigoted in
favour, not so much of his doctrines as of his cloth, is also true:
and it is true that the possession of a large income is a desire that
sits near his heart. Nevertheless, the archdeacon is a gentleman and
a man of conscience; he spends his money liberally, and does the work
he has to do with the best of his ability; he improves the tone of
society of those among whom he lives. His aspirations are of a
healthy, if not of the highest, kind. Though never an austere man,
he upholds propriety of conduct both by example and precept. He
is generous to the poor, and hospitable to the rich; in matters of
religion he is sincere, and yet no Pharisee; he is in earnest, and yet
no fanatic. On the whole, the Archdeacon of Barchester is a man doing
more good than harm,--a man to be furthered and supported, though
perhaps also to be controlled; and it is matter of regret to us that
the course of our narrative has required that we should see more of
his weakness than his strength.

Mr Harding allowed himself no rest till everything was prepared for
his departure from the hospital. It may be as well to mention that he
was not driven to the stern necessity of selling all his furniture: he
had been quite in earnest in his intention to do so, but it was soon
made known to him that the claims of Messrs Cox and Cummins made no
such step obligatory. The archdeacon had thought it wise to make use
of the threat of the lawyer's bill, to frighten his father-in-law into
compliance; but he had no intention to saddle Mr Harding with costs,
which had been incurred by no means exclusively for his benefit.
The amount of the bill was added to the diocesan account, and was,
in fact, paid out of the bishop's pocket, without any consciousness
on the part of his lordship. A great part of his furniture he did
resolve to sell, having no other means to dispose of it; and the
ponies and carriage were transferred, by private contract, to