Mr Septimus Harding is the meek, widowed and elderly warden of Hiram's Hospital and precentor of Barchester Cathedral, in the fictional county of Barsetshire.

John Bold embarks on this campaign in a spirit of public duty despite his romantic involvement with Eleanor and previously cordial relations with Mr Harding.

[2] Ultimately, despite much browbeating by the Archdeacon and the favourable legal opinion solicited from the barrister Sir Abraham Haphazard, Mr Harding concludes that he cannot in good conscience continue to accept such generous remuneration, and resigns the office of warden.

John Bold, who has appealed in vain to Tom Towers to lessen personal criticism of Mr Harding, returns to Barchester where he marries Eleanor after halting legal proceedings.

Those of the bedesmen of the hospital who have allowed their appetite for greater income to estrange them from the warden are reproved by their senior member, Bunce, who has been constantly loyal to Harding, whose good care and understanding heart are now lost to them.