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           Idon’thavetomindhimnow,doI?"

           Atticussmiled."Let’sleaveitatthis:youmindJemwheneverhecanmakeyou.Fairenough?"

           AuntAlexandrawaspresentbutsilent,andwhenshewentdownthehallwithAtticusweheardhersay,"...justoneofthethingsI’vebeentellingyouabout,"aphrasethatunitedusagain.

           Ourswereadjoiningrooms;asIshutthedoorbetweenthemJemsaid,"Night,Scout."

           "Night,"Imurmured,pickingmywayacrosstheroomtoturnonthelight.AsIpassedthebedIsteppedonsomethingwarm,resilient,andrathersmooth.Itwasnotquitelikehardrubber,andIhadthesensationthatitwasalive.Ialsohearditmove.

           Iswitchedonthelightandlookedatthefloorbythebed.WhateverIhadsteppedonwasgone.ItappedonJem’sdoor.

           "What,"hesaid.

           "Howdoesasnakefeel?"

           "Sortofrough.Cold.Dusty.Why?"

           "Ithinkthere’soneundermybed.Canyoucomelook?"

           "Areyoubein’funny?"Jemopenedthedoor.Hewasinhispajamabottoms.Inoticednotwithoutsatisfactionthatthemarkofmyknuckleswasstillonhismouth.WhenhesawImeantwhatIsaid,hesaid,"IfyouthinkI’mgonnaputmyfacedowntoasnakeyou’vegotanotherthinkcomin’.Holdonaminute."

           Hewenttothekitchenandfetchedthebroom."Youbettergetuponthebed,"hesaid.

           "Youreckonit’sreallyone?"Iasked.Thiswasanoccasion.