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           "Iain’tcynical,MissAlexandra.Tellin’thetruth’snotcynical,isit?"

           "Thewayyoutellit,itis."

           Jem’seyesflashedather,buthesaidtoDill,"Let’sgo.Youcantakethatrunnerwithyou."

           Whenwewenttothefrontporch,MissStephanieCrawfordwasbusytellingittoMissMaudieAtkinsonandMr.Avery.Theylookedaroundatusandwentontalking.Jemmadeaferalnoiseinhisthroat.Iwishedforaweapon.

           "Ihategrownfolkslookin’atyou,"saidDill."Makesyoufeellikeyou’vedonesomething."

           MissMaudieyelledforJemFinchtocomethere.

           Jemgroanedandheavedhimselfupfromtheswing."We’llgowithyou,"Dillsaid.

           MissStephanie’snosequiveredwithcuriosity.Shewantedtoknowwhoallgaveuspermissiontogotocourt—shedidn’tseeusbutitwasallovertownthismorningthatwewereintheColoredbalcony.DidAtticusputusupthereasasortof—?Wasn’titrightcloseuptherewithallthose—?DidScoutunderstandallthe—?Didn’titmakeusmadtoseeourdaddybeat?

           "Hush,Stephanie."MissMaudie’sdictionwasdeadly."I’venotgotallthemorningtopassontheporch—JemFinch,Icalledtofindoutifyouandyourcolleaguescaneatsomecake.Gotupatfivetomakeit,soyoubettersayyes.Excuseus,Stephanie.Goodmorning,Mr.Avery."

           TherewasabigcakeandtwolittleonesonMissMaudie’skitchentable.Thereshouldhavebeenthreelittleones.ItwasnotlikeMissMaudietoforgetDill,andwemusthaveshownit.