"My grandfather Stanley's name was William; I am named after him.
My grandmother's maiden name was Ellis—Jane Ellis."
"What were the Christian names of your grand-parents, on your mother's side?"
"Let me see—my memory isn't over-good: my grandfather Radcliffe was named John Henry."
"And your grandmother?"
The sailor hesitated, and seemed to change colour; but, perhaps it was merely because he stooped to pick up his handkerchief.
"It's curious that I can't remember her Christian name," said he, looking from one to another; "but I always called her grandmother;—that's the reason, I suppose."
"Take time, and I dare say you will remember," said Clapp. "Have you never chanced to see the old family Bible?"
The sailor looked at him, as if in thought, and suddenly exclaimed: "Her name was Agnes Graham!" Other questions were then asked, about the persons of his parents, the house at Greatwood, and the neighbourhood. He seemed quite at home there, and answered most of the questions with great accuracy—especially about the place and neighbourhood. He described Mr. Stanley perfectly, but did not appear to remember his mother so well; as she had died early, however, Mr. Reed and Mr. Clapp accounted for it in that way. He made a few mistakes about the place, but they were chiefly upon subjects of opinion, such as the breadth of a river, the height of a hill, the number of acres in a field; and possibly his account was quite as correct as that of Mr. Wyllys.
"On which side of the house is the drawing-room, at Greatwood?" asked Hazlehurst.
"Maybe you have changed it, since you got possession; but in my day it was on the north side of the house, looking towards the woods."