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Chapter 8
JemandIlookedateachother."How’ditcatch,MissMaudie?"heasked.
"Idon’tknow,Jem.Probablytheflueinthekitchen.Ikeptafireintherelastnightformypottedplants.Hearyouhadsomeunexpectedcompanylastnight,MissJeanLouise."
"How’dyouknow?"
"Atticustoldmeonhiswaytotownthismorning.Tellyouthetruth,I’dliketo’vebeenwithyou.AndI’d’vehadsenseenoughtoturnaround,too."
MissMaudiepuzzledme.Withmostofherpossessionsgoneandherbelovedyardashambles,shestilltookalivelyandcordialinterestinJem’sandmyaffairs.
Shemusthaveseenmyperplexity.Shesaid,"OnlythingIworriedaboutlastnightwasallthedangerandcommotionitcaused.Thiswholeneighborhoodcouldhavegoneup.Mr.Avery’llbeinbedforaweek—he’srightstoveup.He’stoooldtodothingslikethatandItoldhimso.SoonasIcangetmyhandscleanandwhenStephanieCrawford’snotlooking,I’llmakehimaLanecake.ThatStephanie’sbeenaftermyrecipeforthirtyyears,andifshethinksI’llgiveittoherjustbecauseI’mstayingwithhershe’sgotanotherthinkcoming."
IreflectedthatifMissMaudiebrokedownandgaveittoher,MissStephaniecouldn’tfollowitanyway.MissMaudiehadonceletmeseeit:amongotherthings,therecipecalledforonelargecupofsugar.
Itwasastillday.Theairwassocoldandclearweheardthecourthouseclockclank,rattleandstrainbeforeitstruckthehour.MissMaudie’snosewasacolorIhadneverseenbefore,andIinquiredaboutit.
