Possible Clues:

• Given a short one, one is dismissed
• Absolution and penance (now usually short!)
• With "short," a curt rejection
• Old revelation to father leads to short unsympathetic dismissal
• Confession, old style
• Short -- (little attention)
• Short (little attention)
• With "short," an unsympathetic rejection
• Make short of
• Short ___ (unsympathetic rejection)