Two things; anyone know what that café called the cheese and ham sandwiches they served)
The second is, Lucca, in Scotland when I was a child, any lady of my grandmother's generation had linen towels hanging over the terry towelling ones on her bathroom towel rail, or a bedroom towel rail for that matter.
Ordinary mortals dried their hands on one of the terry towelling towels below them, but I believe the doctor and the minister or priest were meant to use the good linen towels.
I clearly remember an elderly aunt explaining this to my mother who as a Dane couldn't be expected to know this custom, and as a doctor's wife may not necessarily have had to observe it.
I know my mother subsequently asked the local meenister, addressed by us children as Uncle David, a courtesy title, extended to all my parents friends, the ladies being auntie or aunt this or that, whether she should hang a linen towel out for him and everyone dissolving into laughter.
The tea service that was only in use when the minister called was common in most Protestant families - Catholic families didn't bother unless the priest had been bring the Eucharist to a bed-bound member of the household - then tea and some fairly substantial foods were served for the priest after he had said Mass. If the Father just came in for a chat, he was served his tea in the ordinary cups or mugs.
Who knew? Every day's a school day on GN!