In the Episcopal Church, Confirmation is supposed to be a sacrament of initiation that strengthens the grace we have received at our Baptism, it is supposed to be a marking of a deepening of one's own personal commitment to a Christian life. In the bourgeoisie South it's seen as kind of a social stepping stone. A young girl's Confirmation is often seen as a foreshadowing to her own Debutant Ball. A girl from a bourgeois family would often be Confirmated at age twelve, and at age sixteen or seventeen she would become a debutante. What is a debutante?

Chapter 10

As they were driving to Birmingham, where the girls wanted to visit the Bullring, Wendy asked them if they had enjoyed the party.

“It was fabulous, Mum. So many friends and so much cake. I don’t think I could face another slice.”

“Well, there is some left over, which Malcolm will probably have out as dessert tonight. Did you know that the label was going to be there?”