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           "Thenwhathappened?"

           "Idon’tremembertoogood,butnextthingIknewPapawasintherooma’standingovermehollerin’whodoneit,whodoneit?ThenIsortafaintedan’thenextthingIknewMr.Tatewaspullin’meupoffathefloorandleadin’metothewaterbucket."

           ApparentlyMayella’srecitalhadgivenherconfidence,butitwasnotherfather’sbrashkind:therewassomethingstealthyabouthers,likeasteady-eyedcatwithatwitchytail.

           "Yousayyoufoughthimoffashardasyoucould?Foughthimtoothandnail?"askedMr.Gilmer.

           "Ipositivelydid,"Mayellaechoedherfather.

           "Youarepositivethathetookfulladvantageofyou?"

           Mayella’sfacecontorted,andIwasafraidthatshewouldcryagain.Instead,shesaid,"Hedonewhathewasafter."

           Mr.Gilmercalledattentiontothehotdaybywipinghisheadwithhishand."That’sallforthetimebeing,"hesaidpleasantly,"butyoustaythere.IexpectbigbadMr.Finchhassomequestionstoaskyou."

           "Statewillnotprejudicethewitnessagainstcounselforthedefense,"murmuredJudgeTaylorprimly,"atleastnotatthistime."

           Atticusgotupgrinningbutinsteadofwalkingtothewitnessstand,heopenedhiscoatandhookedhisthumbsinhisvest,thenhewalkedslowlyacrosstheroomtothewindows.Helookedout,butdidn’tseemespeciallyinterestedinwhathesaw,thenheturnedandstrolledbacktothewitnessstand.