Cecil flushed like a girl. “Is it, sir?”
“Quite,” repeated the young clergyman. “And you were interested in what I read to the Confirmation class to-day, weren’t you?”
“Yes, sir.”
There was a pause, which Perriman took care not to break. He saw that the boy was desperately nerving himself to speak.
At last Cecil said haltingly: “Is there—does—does Confirmation do anything to one, sir?”
“How do you mean, my dear boy? Confirmation is the conscious and voluntary renewal of the vow that was made for us at the time of our baptism, you know.”
“Yes, I know. But I mean, does it have any effect on one—make one any better?”
“Certainly, it’s a step in the spiritual life—it confirms us as soldiers of Christ.”
The clergyman, puzzled, felt himself to be answering almost at random.
“Look here, what’s in your mind, Aviolet? Better have it out, whatever it is.”