And he might--it is possible that he
_might_--during that calm and solemn Communion, have forgiven his son
as he felt that Our Father forgave him. So Aunt Isobel says; and I
have good reason to think that she is likely to be right.
I think so too _now_, but _then_ I was simply impressed by the thought
that an ill-tempered person was, as Nurse expressed it, "unfit" to
join in the highest religious worship. It is true that I was also
impressed by her other saying, "It's an awful thing, Miss Isobel, to
be taken sudden and unprepared;" but there was a temporary compromise
in my own case. I could not be a communicant till I was confirmed.
CHAPTER IV.
CASES OF CONSCIENCE--ETHICS OF ILL-TEMPER.
Confirmations were not very frequent in our little village at this
time. About once in three years the Bishop came to us. He came when I
was twelve years old. Opinions were divided as to whether I was old
enough, but I decided the matter by saying I would rather wait till
the next opportunity.
"I may be more fit by that time," was my thought, and it was probably
not unlike some of Mr. Rampant's self-communings.
The time came, and the Bishop also; I was fifteen.
I do not know why, but nobody had proposed that Philip should be
confirmed at twelve years old.
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