Chapter 27

           Thingsdidsettledown,afterafashion,asAtticussaidtheywould.BythemiddleofOctober,onlytwosmallthingsoutoftheordinaryhappenedtotwoMaycombcitizens.No,therewerethreethings,andtheydidnotdirectlyconcernus—theFinches—butinawaytheydid.

           ThefirstthingwasthatMr.BobEwellacquiredandlostajobinamatterofdaysandprobablymadehimselfuniqueintheannalsofthenineteen-thirties:hewastheonlymanIeverheardofwhowasfiredfromtheWPAforlaziness.Isupposehisbriefburstoffamebroughtonabrieferburstofindustry,buthisjoblastedonlyaslongashisnotoriety:Mr.EwellfoundhimselfasforgottenasTomRobinson.Thereafter,heresumedhisregularweeklyappearancesatthewelfareofficeforhischeck,andreceiveditwithnograceamidobscuremutteringsthatthebastardswhothoughttheyranthistownwouldn’tpermitanhonestmantomakealiving.RuthJones,thewelfarelady,saidMr.EwellopenlyaccusedAtticusofgettinghisjob.ShewasupsetenoughtowalkdowntoAtticus’sofficeandtellhimaboutit.AtticustoldMissRuthnottofret,thatifBobEwellwantedtodiscussAtticus’s"getting"hisjob,heknewthewaytotheoffice.

           ThesecondthinghappenedtoJudgeTaylor.JudgeTaylorwasnotaSunday-nightchurchgoer:Mrs.Taylorwas.JudgeTaylorsavoredhisSundaynighthouraloneinhisbighouse,andchurchtimefoundhimholedupinhisstudyreadingthewritingsofBobTaylor(nokin,butthejudgewouldhavebeenproudtoclaimit).