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Chapter 17
LeeEwell!"
Inanswertotheclerk’sboomingvoice,alittlebantamofamanroseandstruttedtothestand,thebackofhisneckreddeningatthesoundofhisname.Whenheturnedaroundtotaketheoath,wesawthathisfacewasasredashisneck.Wealsosawnoresemblancetohisnamesake.Ashockofwispynew-washedhairstoodupfromhisforehead;hisnosewasthin,pointed,andshiny;hehadnochintospeakof—itseemedtobepartofhiscrepeyneck.
"—sohelpmeGod,"hecrowed.
EverytownthesizeofMaycombhadfamiliesliketheEwells.Noeconomicfluctuationschangedtheirstatus—peopleliketheEwellslivedasguestsofthecountyinprosperityaswellasinthedepthsofadepression.Notruantofficerscouldkeeptheirnumerousoffspringinschool;nopublichealthofficercouldfreethemfromcongenitaldefects,variousworms,andthediseasesindigenoustofilthysurroundings.
Maycomb’sEwellslivedbehindthetowngarbagedumpinwhatwasonceaNegrocabin.Thecabin’splankwallsweresupplementedwithsheetsofcorrugatediron,itsroofshingledwithtincanshammeredflat,soonlyitsgeneralshapesuggesteditsoriginaldesign:square,withfourtinyroomsopeningontoashotgunhall,thecabinresteduneasilyuponfourirregularlumpsoflimestone.Itswindowsweremerelyopenspacesinthewalls,whichinthesummertimewerecoveredwithgreasystripsofcheeseclothtokeepoutthevarmintsthatfeastedonMaycomb’srefuse.
