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           "We’vedonebusinessinthiscourtforyearsandyears,andMr.Finchisalwayscourteoustoeverybody.He’snottryingtomockyou,he’stryingtobepolite.That’sjusthisway."

           Thejudgeleanedback."Atticus,let’sgetonwiththeseproceedings,andlettherecordshowthatthewitnesshasnotbeensassed,herviewstothecontrary."

           Iwonderedifanybodyhadevercalledher"ma’am,"or"MissMayella"inherlife;probablynot,asshetookoffensetoroutinecourtesy.Whatonearthwasherlifelike?Isoonfoundout.

           "Yousayyou’renineteen,"Atticusresumed."Howmanysistersandbrothershaveyou?"Hewalkedfromthewindowsbacktothestand.

           "Seb’m,"shesaid,andIwonderediftheywerealllikethespecimenIhadseenthefirstdayIstartedtoschool.

           "Youtheeldest?Theoldest?"

           "Yes."

           "Howlonghasyourmotherbeendead?"

           "Don’tknow—longtime."

           "Didyouevergotoschool?"

           "Read’n’writegoodasPapayonder."

           MayellasoundedlikeaMr.JingleinabookIhadbeenreading.

           "Howlongdidyougotoschool?"

           "Twoyear—threeyear—dunno."

           SlowlybutsurelyIbegantoseethepatternofAtticus’squestions:fromquestionsthatMr.Gilmerdidnotdeemsufficientlyirrelevantorimmaterialtoobjectto,AtticuswasquietlybuildingupbeforethejuryapictureoftheEwells’homelife.