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           Hisvoiceroseuncontrollably,"Atticus,what’sthematter?"

           Atticuscrossedhiskneesandfoldedhisarms."I’mtryingtotellyouthefactsoflife."

           Jem’sdisgustdeepened."Iknowallthatstuff,"hesaid.

           Atticussuddenlygrewserious.Inhislawyer’svoice,withoutashadeofinflection,hesaid:"YouraunthasaskedmetotryandimpressuponyouandJeanLouisethatyouarenotfromrun-of-the-millpeople,thatyouaretheproductofseveralgenerations’gentlebreeding—"Atticuspaused,watchingmelocateanelusiveredbugonmyleg.

           "Gentlebreeding,"hecontinued,whenIhadfoundandscratchedit,"andthatyoushouldtrytoliveuptoyourname—"Atticusperseveredinspiteofus:"Sheaskedmetotellyouyoumusttrytobehavelikethelittleladyandgentlemanthatyouare.Shewantstotalktoyouaboutthefamilyandwhatit’smeanttoMaycombCountythroughtheyears,soyou’llhavesomeideaofwhoyouare,soyoumightbemovedtobehaveaccordingly,"heconcludedatagallop.

           Stunned,JemandIlookedateachother,thenatAtticus,whosecollarseemedtoworryhim.Wedidnotspeaktohim.

           PresentlyIpickedupacombfromJem’sdresserandranitsteethalongtheedge.

           "Stopthatnoise,"Atticussaid.

           Hiscurtnessstungme.Thecombwasmidwayinitsjourney,andIbangeditdown.FornoreasonIfeltmyselfbeginningtocry,butIcouldnotstop.Thiswasnotmyfather.Myfatherneverthoughtthesethoughts.Myfatherneverspokeso