Chapter 15

           Aftermanytelephonecalls,muchpleadingonbehalfofthedefendant,andalongforgivingletterfromhismother,itwasdecidedthatDillcouldstay.Wehadaweekofpeacetogether.Afterthat,little,itseemed.Anightmarewasuponus.

           Itbeganoneeveningaftersupper.Dillwasover;AuntAlexandrawasinherchairinthecorner,Atticuswasinhis;JemandIwereonthefloorreading.Ithadbeenaplacidweek:IhadmindedAunty;Jemhadoutgrownthetreehouse,buthelpedDillandmeconstructanewropeladderforit;DillhadhituponafoolproofplantomakeBooRadleycomeoutatnocosttoourselves(placeatrailoflemondropsfromthebackdoortothefrontyardandhe’dfollowit,likeanant).Therewasaknockonthefrontdoor,JemanswereditandsaiditwasMr.HeckTate.

           "Well,askhimtocomein,"saidAtticus.

           "Ialreadydid.There’ssomemenoutsideintheyard,theywantyoutocomeout."

           InMaycomb,grownmenstoodoutsideinthefrontyardforonlytworeasons:deathandpolitics.Iwonderedwhohaddied.JemandIwenttothefrontdoor,butAtticuscalled,"Gobackinthehouse."

           Jemturnedoutthelivingroomlightsandpressedhisnosetoawindowscreen.AuntAlexandraprotested."Justforasecond,Aunty,let’sseewhoitis,"hesaid.

           DillandItookanotherwindow.AcrowdofmenwasstandingaroundAtticus.Theyallseemedtobetalkingatonce.

           "...movin’himtothecountyjailtomorrow,"Mr.