Chapter 20

           "Comeonroundhere,son,Igotsomethingthat’llsettleyourstomach."

           AsMr.DolphusRaymondwasanevilmanIacceptedhisinvitationreluctantly,butIfollowedDill.Somehow,Ididn’tthinkAtticuswouldlikeitifwebecamefriendlywithMr.Raymond,andIknewAuntAlexandrawouldn’t.

           "Here,"hesaid,offeringDillhispapersackwithstrawsinit."Takeagoodsip,it’llquietenyou."

           Dillsuckedonthestraws,smiled,andpulledatlength.

           "Heehee,"saidMr.Raymond,evidentlytakingdelightincorruptingachild.

           "Dill,youwatchout,now,"Iwarned.

           Dillreleasedthestrawsandgrinned."Scout,it’snothingbutCoca-Cola."

           Mr.Raymondsatupagainstthetree-trunk.Hehadbeenlyingonthegrass."Youlittlefolkswon’ttellonmenow,willyou?It’druinmyreputationifyoudid."

           "Youmeanallyoudrinkinthatsack’sCoca-Cola?JustplainCoca-Cola?"

           "Yesma’am,"Mr.Raymondnodded.Ilikedhissmell:itwasofleather,horses,cottonseed.HeworetheonlyEnglishridingbootsIhadeverseen."That’sallIdrink,mostofthetime."

           "Thenyoujustpretendyou’rehalf—?Ibegyourpardon,sir,"Icaughtmyself."Ididn’tmeantobe—"

           Mr.Raymondchuckled,notatalloffended,andItriedtoframeadiscreetquestion:"Whydoyoudolikeyoudo?"

           "Wh—ohyes,youmeanwhydoIpretend?Well,it’sverysimple,"hesaid."Somefolksdon’t—likethewayIlive.