Chapter 18

           Butsomeonewasboomingagain.

           "MayellaVioletEwell—!"

           Ayounggirlwalkedtothewitnessstand.Assheraisedherhandandsworethattheevidenceshegavewouldbethetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthetruthsohelpherGod,sheseemedsomehowfragile-looking,butwhenshesatfacingusinthewitnesschairshebecamewhatshewas,athick-bodiedgirlaccustomedtostrenuouslabor.

           InMaycombCounty,itwaseasytotellwhensomeonebathedregularly,asopposedtoyearlylavations:Mr.Ewellhadascaldedlook;asifanovernightsoakinghaddeprivedhimofprotectivelayersofdirt,hisskinappearedtobesensitivetotheelements.Mayellalookedasifshetriedtokeepclean,andIwasremindedoftherowofredgeraniumsintheEwellyard.

           Mr.GilmeraskedMayellatotellthejuryinherownwordswhathappenedontheeveningofNovembertwenty-firstoflastyear,justinherownwords,please.

           Mayellasatsilently.

           "Wherewereyouatduskonthatevening?"beganMr.Gilmerpatiently.

           "Ontheporch."

           "Whichporch?"

           "Ain’tbutone,thefrontporch."

           "Whatwereyoudoingontheporch?"

           "Nothin’."

           JudgeTaylorsaid,"Justtelluswhathappened.Youcandothat,can’tyou?"

           Mayellastaredathimandburstintotears.Shecoveredhermouthwithherhandsandsobbed.JudgeTaylorlethercryforawhile,thenhesaid,"That’senoughnow.Don’tbe‘fraidofanybodyhere,aslongasyoutellthetruth.