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Chapter 2
Atticussaidprofessionalpeoplewerepoorbecausethefarmerswerepoor.AsMaycombCountywasfarmcountry,nickelsanddimeswerehardtocomebyfordoctorsanddentistsandlawyers.EntailmentwasonlyapartofMr.Cunningham’svexations.Theacresnotentailedweremortgagedtothehilt,andthelittlecashhemadewenttointerest.Ifheheldhismouthright,Mr.CunninghamcouldgetaWPAjob,buthislandwouldgotoruinifheleftit,andhewaswillingtogohungrytokeephislandandvoteashepleased.Mr.Cunningham,saidAtticus,camefromasetbreedofmen.
AstheCunninghamshadnomoneytopayalawyer,theysimplypaiduswithwhattheyhad."Didyouknow,"saidAtticus,"thatDr.Reynoldsworksthesameway?Hechargessomefolksabushelofpotatoesfordeliveryofababy.MissScout,ifyougivemeyourattentionI’lltellyouwhatentailmentis.Jem’sdefinitionsareverynearlyaccuratesometimes."
IfIcouldhaveexplainedthesethingstoMissCaroline,IwouldhavesavedmyselfsomeinconvenienceandMissCarolinesubsequentmortification,butitwasbeyondmyabilitytoexplainthingsaswellasAtticus,soIsaid,"You’reshamin’him,MissCaroline.Walterhasn’tgotaquarterathometobringyou,andyoucan’tuseanystovewood."
MissCarolinestoodstockstill,thengrabbedmebythecollarandhauledmebacktoherdesk."JeanLouise,I’vehadaboutenoughofyouthismorning,"shesaid."You’restartingoffonthewrongfootineveryway,mydear.Holdoutyourhand."
Ithoughtshewasgoingtospitinit,whichwastheonlyreasonanybodyinMaycombheldouthishand:itwasatime-honoredmethodofsealingoralcontracts.Wonderingwhatbargainwehadmade,Iturnedtotheclassforananswer,buttheclasslookedbackatmeinpuzzlement.
