A messenger was accordingly despatched; and while waiting for him, the minister took the lead in a conversation which somewhat enlightened our friend John as to the meaning to be attached to the word to which he had taken mental exception; and this enlightenment reminded him of one of the fundamental Articles of his own Church, which, for the moment, had escaped his memory.
The conversation was broken off by the arrival of the senior deacon, whose grave and gentlemanly appearance once more gave Tincroft a start of surprise.
"I shouldn't think the Munster fanatics were anything like these gentlemen," he candidly argued within himself.
Yes, Mr. Cooper (the deacon) remembered Mr. Makepeace Tincroft, though at that time he was a young member, having very recently joined the church; and he remembered Mrs. Tincroft, too—a most godly woman, whose death, soon after that of her husband, was universally lamented. She was a most devoted, charitable lady; a true Tabitha.
"I don't know why you should give that name to my grandmother, sir," said John rather nettled for a moment, the more so that he had been warmed up by the other part of the eulogium passed upon her. "I don't see why she should be called nicknames," said he.
"Otherwise Dorcas, who made coats for the poor, and was full of good works and alms deeds, and who was so mourned when she died that the Apostle Peter restored her to life," said the minister quietly and aside to his visitor, whereupon John, recollecting the second name, blushed deeply and penitently.
Proceeding in his reminiscences, the senior deacon had some slight remembrance of a young person, once also a member of the church, named Foold. But there his knowledge ended. The church-book, then, was the ultimate resort; and before long these records were found, under their proper dates and headings, such as Name, Residence, When admitted into the Church, Date, and Cause of Separation.
First was Makepeace Tincroft, of whom (omitting the first items and dates) it was written that he "died in the Lord."
Next was Susannah Tincroft, who "died much honoured in life and greatly lamented in death."
Next and that most sought for and desired, the name of Elizabeth Foold was found. "A young person of much promise, aged twenty-two; not in permanent residence in Saddlebrook, but in much request in the town and neighbourhood as a nurse, for which she has been trained." Then, in the last column, came this entry: "Withdrawn. Gone to reside in London."