He had had enough of that sort of publicity, and was unwilling to be shown up a second time either as a monster or as a martyr.

He gently remarked that he hoped the newspapers would not get hold of his name again, and then suggested that perhaps it would be better that he should abandon his object.

"I am getting old," said he, "and after all I doubt whether I am fit to undertake new duties." "New duties ?" said the archdeacon; "don't I tell you there shall be no new duties ?" "Or perhaps old duties either," said Mr.Harding; "I think I will remain content as I am." The picture of Mr.Slope carting away the rubbish was still present to his mind.
The archdeacon drank off his glass of claret and prepared himself to be energetic.

"I do hope," said he, "that you are not going to be so weak as to allow such a man as Mr.Slope to deter you from doing what you know it is your duty to do.

You know it is your duty to resume your place at the hospital now that parliament has so settled the stipend as to remove those difficulties which induced you to resign it.