The Warden concerns the moral dilemma of Mr Septimus Harding, an appointed warden of an almshouse. One day he was given a considerable income by its founder, which made him fall into the mental conflict between defenders of Church privilege and the reforming impulses of the mid-Victorian period. Tortured by the dilemma, he finally decided not to accept such generous remuneration any more.

小说主人公哈丁牧师接下了一份闲职，领取了一笔高得不合理的俸禄。他陷入了舆论对他提出的公正指摘和教会要求他效忠的特权之间，于是他的生活、思想、内心的是非感，便成为两者之间的战场。结果，辞职成了他唯一可行的解决办法。