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Chapter 17
Adirtroadranfromthehighwaypastthedump,downtoasmallNegrosettlementsomefivehundredyardsbeyondtheEwells’.Itwasnecessaryeithertobackouttothehighwayorgothefulllengthoftheroadandturnaround;mostpeopleturnedaroundintheNegroes’frontyards.InthefrostyDecemberdusk,theircabinslookedneatandsnugwithpalebluesmokerisingfromthechimneysanddoorwaysglowingamberfromthefiresinside.Thereweredelicioussmellsabout:chicken,baconfryingcrispasthetwilightair.JemandIdetectedsquirrelcooking,butittookanoldcountrymanlikeAtticustoidentifypossumandrabbit,aromasthatvanishedwhenwerodebackpasttheEwellresidence.
Allthelittlemanonthewitnessstandhadthatmadehimanybetterthanhisnearestneighborswas,thatifscrubbedwithlyesoapinveryhotwater,hisskinwaswhite.
"Mr.RobertEwell?"askedMr.Gilmer.
"That’sm’name,cap’n,"saidthewitness.
Mr.Gilmer’sbackstiffenedalittle,andIfeltsorryforhim.PerhapsI’dbetterexplainsomethingnow.I’veheardthatlawyers’children,onseeingtheirparentsincourtintheheatofargument,getthewrongidea:theythinkopposingcounseltobethepersonalenemiesoftheirparents,theysufferagonies,andaresurprisedtoseethemoftengooutarm-in-armwiththeirtormentersduringthefirstrecess.ThiswasnottrueofJemandme.Weacquirednotraumasfromwatchingourfatherwinorlose.
