the use
of an old maiden lady in the city.

For his present use Mr Harding took a lodging in Barchester, and
thither were conveyed such articles as he wanted for daily use:--his
music, books, and instruments, his own arm-chair, and Eleanor's pet
sofa; her teapoy and his cellaret, and also the slender but still
sufficient contents of his wine-cellar. Mrs Grantly had much wished
that her sister would reside at Plumstead, till her father's house
at Crabtree should be ready for her; but Eleanor herself strongly
resisted this proposal. It was in vain urged upon her, that a lady
in lodgings cost more than a gentleman; and that, under her father's
present circumstances, such an expense should be avoided. Eleanor had
not pressed her father to give up the hospital in order that she might
live at Plumstead Rectory and he alone in his Barchester lodgings;
nor did Eleanor think that she would be treating a certain gentleman
very fairly, if she betook herself to the house which he would be the
least desirous of entering of any in the county. So she got a little
bedroom for herself behind the sitting-room, and just over the little
back parlour of the chemist, with whom they were to lodge. There was
somewhat of a savour of senna softened by peppermint about the place;
but, on the whole, the lodgings were clean and comfortable.

The day had been fixed for the migration of the ex-warden, and all
Barchester were in a state of excitement on the subject. Opinion
was much divided as to the propriety of Mr Harding's conduct. The
mercantile part of the community, the mayor and corporation, and
council, also most of the ladies, were loud in his praise. Nothing
could be more noble, nothing more generous, nothing more upright.
But the gentry were of a different way of thinking,--especially the
lawyers and the clergymen. They said such conduct was very weak and
undignified; that Mr Harding evinced a lamentable want of _esprit de
corps_, as well as courage; and that such an abdication must do much
harm, and could do but little good.

On the evening before he left, he summoned all the bedesmen into his
parlour to wish them good-bye. With Bunce he had been in frequent
communication since his return from London, and had been at much
pains to explain to the old man the cause of his resignation, without
in any way prejudicing the position of his successor. The others,
also, he had seen more or less frequently; and had heard from most of