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           ExceptforherremarksaboutAtticus,Mrs.Dubose’sattackwasonlyroutine.Therewasahintofsummerintheair—intheshadowsitwascool,butthesunwaswarm,whichmeantgoodtimescoming:noschoolandDill.

           JemboughthissteamengineandwewentbyElmore’sformybaton.Jemtooknopleasureinhisacquisition;hejammeditinhispocketandwalkedsilentlybesidemetowardhome.OnthewayhomeInearlyhitMr.LinkDeas,whosaid,"Lookoutnow,Scout!"whenImissedatoss,andwhenweapproachedMrs.Dubose’shousemybatonwasgrimyfromhavingpickeditupoutofthedirtsomanytimes.

           Shewasnotontheporch.

           Inlateryears,IsometimeswonderedexactlywhatmadeJemdoit,whatmadehimbreakthebondsof"Youjustbeagentleman,son,"andthephaseofself-consciousrectitudehehadrecentlyentered.JemhadprobablystoodasmuchguffaboutAtticuslawingforniggersashadI,andItookitforgrantedthathekepthistemper—hehadanaturallytranquildispositionandaslowfuse.Atthetime,however,Ithoughttheonlyexplanationforwhathedidwasthatforafewminuteshesimplywentmad.

           WhatJemdidwassomethingI’ddoasamatterofcoursehadInotbeenunderAtticus’sinterdict,whichIumedincludednotfightinghorribleoldladies.WehadjustcometohergatewhenJemsnatchedmybatonandranflailingwildlyupthestepsintoMrs.Dubose’sfrontyard,forgettingeverythingAtticushadsaid,forgettingthatshepackedapistolunderhershawls,forgettingthatifMrs.Dubosemissed,hergirlJessieprobablywouldn’t.

           HedidnotbegintocalmdownuntilhehadcutthetopsoffeverycamelliabushMrs.Duboseowned,untilthegroundwaslitteredwithgreenbudsandleaves.Hebentmybatonagainsthisknee,snappeditintwoandthrewitdown.