He by no means wished to delegate to his son-in-law his place and authority of warden; he had expressly determined not to interfere in any step which the men might wish to take in the matter under dispute; he was most anxious neither to accuse them nor to defend himself.

All these things he was aware the archdeacon would do in his behalf, and that not in the mildest manner; and yet he knew not how to refuse the permission requested.
"I'd so much sooner remain quiet in the matter," said he, in an apologetic voice.
"Quiet!" said the archdeacon, still speaking with his brazen trumpet; "do you wish to be ruined in quiet ?" "Why, if I am to be ruined, certainly." "Nonsense, warden; I tell you something must be done;--we must act; just let me ring the bell, and send the men word that I'll speak to them in the quad." Mr Harding knew not how to resist, and the disagreeable order was given.

The quad, as it was familiarly called, was a small quadrangle, open on one side to the river, and surrounded on the others by the high wall of Mr Harding's garden, by one gable end of Mr Harding's house, and by the end of the row of buildings which formed the residences of the bedesmen.

It was flagged all round, and the centre was stoned; small stone gutters ran from the four corners of the square to a grating in the centre; and attached to the end of Mr Harding's house was a conduit with four cocks covered over from the weather, at which the old men got their water, and very generally performed their morning toilet.

It was a quiet, sombre place, shaded over by the trees of the warden's garden.