The Only Use of

dispensation

in

To Kill a Mockingbird

Jem's free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away.
p. 26.2

dispensation = granting of an exemption or exception

Definitions:

(1) (dispensation as in: received dispensation to)
an exemption from some rule or obligation

In theology, in addition to referring to exceptions from general rules the word may reference the abuse of the selling of indulgences that occurred in the late Middle Ages.
(2) (dispensation as in: dispensation of justice)
distribution of something; or administration of a service
(3) (dispensation as in: gave me my dispensation of meds)
something given - typically given by an official
(4) (dispensation as in: dispensation of that era)
a system of order

or more rarely:

a period of history some Christians distinguish as having had a different divine approach to mankind

or archaically:

any act of God