Beadsman

Exacted from him a promise that Eleanor's name should not be mentioned in any discussion between the father bishop and son archdeacon respecting the hospital, and then took his departure, leaving his poor old friend bewildered, amazed, and confounded.

End of chapter 3 Recording by Nick Whitley, Purley, United Kingdom Chapter 4 of The Warden by Anthony Trollope This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Nick Whitley, Purley, United Kingdom Chapter 4 Hiram's Bedesmen The parties most interested in the movement which is about to set Barchester by the ears were not the foremost to discuss the merit of the question, as is often the case.

But when the bishop, the archdeacon, the warden, the steward, and Messrs. Cox and Cummins were all busy with the matter, each in his own way, it is not to be supposed that Hiram's Bedesmen themselves were altogether passive spectators.

Finney the attorney had been among them, asking sly questions and raising immoderate hopes, creating a party hostile to the warden and establishing a corps in the enemy's camp, as he figuratively calls it to himself.

Poor old men, whoever may be righted or wronged by this inquiry, they at any rate will assuredly be only injured.

How can their lot be improved? All their wants are supplied, every comfort is administered, they have warm houses, good clothes, plentiful diet, and rest after a life of labour.

And above all, that treasure so inestimable in declining years, a true and kind friend to listen to their sorrows, watch over their sickness, and administer comfort as regards this world and the world to come.

John Bold sometimes thinks of this when he is talking loudly of the rights of the Bedesmen, whom he has taken under his protection, but he quiets the suggestion within his breast with the high-sounding name of justice.