FOOTNOTE:
[1] Edmund Gosse.
II
There was another person, besides Rose Aviolet, who shared Dr. Lucian’s view that the question of Cecil was one to be taken seriously.
Perriman, the young master who had only recently taken Holy Orders, full of zeal and of a naturally kind heart, felt oddly sorry for the boy. He had reason to believe him unpopular in the House, and he knew that he had been mildly bullied throughout his first term.
In his second term, Cecil Aviolet was no longer bullied, so far as Perriman knew, but he seemed to be singularly isolated, and there was a dazed and hunted look about his colourless young face.
Perriman hardly knew whether the boy was cowed or sullen, but he went out of his way to show him good-will and fellowship, and Cecil’s quick response was pathetic in its eagerness.
In his second year, Cecil came up with others to Perriman’s Confirmation class. The young clergyman, of the muscular Christian type, was as robust in his religion as he was at football.
One day, after the class was over, he stopped Cecil. “If you’d like a chat, Aviolet, you can come to my study this evening. I could see you were interested in our reading.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”