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           I’msorrythatIcan’tprovideanydramainthisrespect;ifIdid,itwouldnotbetrue.Wecouldtell,however,whendebatebecamemoreacrimoniousthanprofessional,butthiswasfromwatchinglawyersotherthanourfather.IneverheardAtticusraisehisvoiceinmylife,excepttoadeafwitness.Mr.Gilmerwasdoinghisjob,asAtticuswasdoinghis.Besides,Mr.EwellwasMr.Gilmer’switness,andhehadnobusinessbeingrudetohimofallpeople.

           "AreyouthefatherofMayellaEwell?"wasthenextquestion.

           "Well,ifIain’tIcan’tdonothingaboutitnow,herma’sdead,"wastheanswer.

           JudgeTaylorstirred.Heturnedslowlyinhisswivelchairandlookedbenignlyatthewitness."AreyouthefatherofMayellaEwell?"heasked,inawaythatmadethelaughterbelowusstopsuddenly.

           "Yessir,"Mr.Ewellsaidmeekly.

           JudgeTaylorwentonintonesofgoodwill:"Thisthefirsttimeyou’veeverbeenincourt?Idon’trecalleverseeingyouhere."Atthewitness’saffirmativenodhecontinued,"Well,let’sgetsomethingstraight.TherewillbenomoreaudiblyobscenespeculationsonanysubjectfromanybodyinthiscourtroomaslongasI’msittinghere.Doyouunderstand?"

           Mr.Ewellnodded,butIdon’tthinkhedid.JudgeTaylorsighedandsaid,"Allright,Mr.Gilmer?"

           "Thankyou,sir.Mr.Ewell,wouldyoutellusinyourownwordswhathappenedontheeveningofNovembertwenty-first,please?"

           Jemgrinnedandpushedhishairback.