Chapter 26

           Schoolstarted,andsodidourdailytripspasttheRadleyPlace.Jemwasintheseventhgradeandwenttohighschool,beyondthegrammar-schoolbuilding;Iwasnowinthethirdgrade,andourroutinesweresodifferentIonlywalkedtoschoolwithJeminthemorningsandsawhimatmealtimes.Hewentoutforfootball,butwastooslenderandtooyoungyettodoanythingbutcarrytheteamwaterbuckets.Thishedidwithenthusiasm;mostafternoonshewasseldomhomebeforedark.

           TheRadleyPlacehadceasedtoterrifyme,butitwasnolessgloomy,nolesschillyunderitsgreatoaks,andnolessuninviting.Mr.NathanRadleycouldstillbeseenonaclearday,walkingtoandfromtown;weknewBoowasthere,forthesameoldreason—nobody’dseenhimcarriedoutyet.Isometimesfeltatwingeofremorse,whenpassingbytheoldplace,ateverhavingtakenpartinwhatmusthavebeensheertormenttoArthurRadley—whatreasonablereclusewantschildrenpeepingthroughhisshutters,deliveringgreetingsontheendofafishing-pole,wanderinginhiscollardsatnight?

           AndyetIremembered.TwoIndian-headpennies,chewinggum,soapdolls,arustymedal,abrokenwatchandchain.Jemmusthaveputthemawaysomewhere.Istoppedandlookedatthetreeoneafternoon:thetrunkwasswellingarounditscementpatch.Thepatchitselfwasturningyellow.

           Wehadalmostseenhimacoupleoftimes,agoodenoughscoreforanybody.

           ButIstilllookedforhimeachtimeIwentby.Maybesomedaywewouldseehim.