He had submitted to them the name of Mr.Arabin, as though the choice had rested with them all in conclave, and they had unanimously admitted that, if Mr.Arabin would accept St.Ewold's, no better choice could possibly be made.
If Mr.Arabin would accept St.Ewold's! There lay the difficulty.
Mr.Arabin was a man standing somewhat prominently before the world, that is, before the Church of England world.

He was not a rich man, it is true, for he held no preferment but his fellowship; but he was a man not over-anxious for riches, not married of course, and one whose time was greatly taken up in discussing, both in print and on platforms, the privileges and practices of the church to which he belonged.

As the archdeacon had done battle for its temporalities, so did Mr.Arabin do battle for its spiritualities, and both had done so conscientiously; that is, not so much each for his own benefit as for that of others.
Holding such a position as Mr.Arabin did, there was much reason to doubt whether he would consent to become the parson of St.Ewold's, and Dr.Grantly had taken the trouble to go himself to Oxford on the matter.

Dr.Gwynne and Dr.Grantly together had succeeded in persuading this eminent divine that duty required him to go to Barchester.

There were wheels within wheels in this affair.
For some time past Mr.Arabin had been engaged in a tremendous controversy with no less a person than Mr.Slope, respecting the apostolic succession.