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Chapter 24
MissMaudiewenttoCalpurniaanduntiedit.
"Thisisthelaststraw,Atticus,"AuntAlexandrasaid.
"Dependsonhowyoulookatit,"hesaid."WhatwasoneNegro,moreorless,amongtwohundredof‘em?Hewasn’tTomtothem,hewasanescapingprisoner."
Atticusleanedagainsttherefrigerator,pusheduphisglasses,andrubbedhiseyes."Wehadsuchagoodchance,"hesaid."ItoldhimwhatIthought,butIcouldn’tintruthsaythatwehadmorethanagoodchance.IguessTomwastiredofwhitemen’schancesandpreferredtotakehisown.Ready,Cal?"
"Yessir,Mr.Finch."
"Thenlet’sgo."
AuntAlexandrasatdowninCalpurnia’schairandputherhandstoherface.Shesatquitestill;shewassoquietIwonderedifshewouldfaint.IheardMissMaudiebreathingasifshehadjustclimbedthesteps,andinthediningroomtheladieschatteredhappily.
IthoughtAuntAlexandrawascrying,butwhenshetookherhandsawayfromherface,shewasnot.Shelookedweary.Shespoke,andhervoicewasflat.
"Ican’tsayIapproveofeverythinghedoes,Maudie,buthe’smybrother,andIjustwanttoknowwhenthiswilleverend."Hervoicerose:"Ittearshimtopieces.Hedoesn’tshowitmuch,butittearshimtopieces.I’veseenhimwhen—whatelsedotheywantfromhim,Maudie,whatelse?"
"Whatdoeswhowant,Alexandra?"MissMaudieasked.
"Imeanthistown.They’reperfectlywillingtolethimdowhatthey’retooafraidtodothemselves—itmightlose‘emanickel.
