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           "IcleaneditupforherandsaidIwassorry,butIain’t,andthatI’dworkon‘emeverSaturdayandtrytomake‘emgrowbackout."

           "Therewasnopointinsayingyouweresorryifyouaren’t,"saidAtticus."Jem,she’soldandill.Youcan’tholdherresponsibleforwhatshesaysanddoes.Ofcourse,I’drathershe’dhavesaidittomethantoeitherofyou,butwecan’talwayshaveour‘druthers."

           Jemseemedfascinatedbyaroseinthecarpet."Atticus,"hesaid,"shewantsmetoreadtoher."

           "Readtoher?"

           "Yessir.ShewantsmetocomeeveryafternoonafterschoolandSaturdaysandreadtoheroutloudfortwohours.Atticus,doIhaveto?"

           "Certainly."

           "Butshewantsmetodoitforamonth."

           "Thenyou’lldoitforamonth."

           Jemplantedhisbigtoedelicatelyinthecenteroftheroseandpresseditin.Finallyhesaid,"Atticus,it’sallrightonthesidewalkbutinsideit’s—it’salldarkandcreepy.There’sshadowsandthingsontheceiling...."

           Atticussmiledgrimly."Thatshouldappealtoyourimagination.Justpretendyou’reinsidetheRadleyhouse."

           ThefollowingMondayafternoonJemandIclimbedthesteepfrontstepstoMrs.Dubose’shouseandpaddeddowntheopenhallway.Jem,armedwithIvanhoeandfullofsuperiorknowledge,knockedattheseconddoorontheleft.