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           Herosetohisfeetandstoodwithhisrighthandonthebackofhischair.Helookedoddlyoffbalance,butitwasnotfromthewayhewasstanding.Hisleftarmwasfullytwelveinchesshorterthanhisright,andhungdeadathisside.Itendedinasmallshriveledhand,andfromasfarawayasthebalconyIcouldseethatitwasnousetohim.

           "Scout,"breathedJem."Scout,look!Reverend,he’scrippled!"

           ReverendSykesleanedacrossmeandwhisperedtoJem."Hegotitcaughtinacottongin,caughtitinMr.DolphusRaymond’scottonginwhenhewasaboy...liketobledtodeath...toreallthemusclesloosefromhisbones—"

           Atticussaid,"Isthisthemanwhorapedyou?"

           "Itmostcertainlyis."

           Atticus’snextquestionwasonewordlong."How?"

           Mayellawasraging."Idon’tknowhowhedoneit,buthedoneit-IsaiditallhappenedsofastI—"

           "Nowlet’sconsiderthiscalmly—"beganAtticus,butMr.Gilmerinterruptedwithanobjection:hewasnotirrelevantorimmaterial,butAtticuswasbrowbeatingthewitness.

           JudgeTaylorlaughedoutright."Ohsitdown,Horace,he’sdoingnothingofthesort.Ifanything,thewitness’sbrowbeatingAtticus."

           JudgeTaylorwastheonlypersoninthecourtroomwholaughed.Eventhebabieswerestill,andIsuddenlywonderediftheyhadbeensmotheredattheirmothers’s.