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           "Thatwasn’tit,he—theyjustwasn’tinterestedinme."

           ThiswastheweirdestreasonforflightIhadeverheard."Howcome?"

           "Well,theystayedgoneallthetime,andwhentheywerehome,even,they’dgetoffinaroombythemselves."

           "What’dtheydointhere?"

           "Nothin’,justsittin’andreadin’—buttheydidn’twantmewith‘em."

           Ipushedthepillowtotheheadboardandsatup."Youknowsomething?Iwasfixin’torunofftonightbecausetheretheyallwere.Youdon’twant‘emaroundyouallthetime,Dill—"

           Dillbreathedhispatientbreath,ahalf-sigh.

           "—goodnight,Atticus’sgonealldayandsometimeshalfthenightandoffinthelegislatureandIdon’tknowwhat—youdon’twant‘emaroundallthetime,Dill,youcouldn’tdoanythingiftheywere."

           "That’snotit."

           AsDillexplained,IfoundmyselfwonderingwhatlifewouldbeifJemweredifferent,evenfromwhathewasnow;whatIwoulddoifAtticusdidnotfeelthenecessityofmypresence,helpandadvice.Why,hecouldn’tgetalongadaywithoutme.EvenCalpurniacouldn’tgetalongunlessIwasthere.Theyneededme.

           "Dill,youain’ttellingmeright—yourfolkscouldn’tdowithoutyou.Theymustbejustmeantoyou.Tellyouwhattodoaboutthat—"

           Dill’svoicewentonsteadilyinthedarkness:"Thethingis,whatI’mtryin’tosayis—theydogetonalotbetterwithoutme,Ican’thelpthemany.Theyain’tmean.