Chapter 30

           "Mr.Arthur,honey,"saidAtticus,gentlycorrectingme."JeanLouise,thisisMr.ArthurRadley.Ibelievehealreadyknowsyou."

           IfAtticuscouldblandlyintroducemetoBooRadleyatatimelikethis,well—thatwasAtticus.

           BoosawmeruninstinctivelytothebedwhereJemwassleeping,forthesameshysmilecreptacrosshisface.Hotwithembarrassment,ItriedtocoverupbycoveringJemup.

           "Ah-ah,don’ttouchhim,"Atticussaid.

           Mr.HeckTatesatlookingintentlyatBoothroughhishorn-rimmedglasses.HewasabouttospeakwhenDr.Reynoldscamedownthehall.

           "Everybodyout,"hesaid,ashecameinthedoor."Evenin’,Arthur,didn’tnoticeyouthefirsttimeIwashere."

           Dr.Reynolds’svoicewasasbreezyashisstep,asthoughhehadsaiditeveryeveningofhislife,anannouncementthatastoundedmeevenmorethanbeinginthesameroomwithBooRadley.Ofcourse...evenBooRadleygotsicksometimes,Ithought.ButontheotherhandIwasn’tsure.

           Dr.Reynoldswascarryingabigpackagewrappedinnewspaper.HeputitdownonJem’sdeskandtookoffhiscoat."You’requitesatisfiedhe’salive,now?TellyouhowIknew.WhenItriedtoexaminehimhekickedme.Hadtoputhimoutgoodandpropertotouchhim.Soscat,"hesaidtome.

           "Er—"saidAtticus,glancingatBoo."Heck,let’sgooutonthefrontporch.Thereareplentyofchairsoutthere,andit’sstillwarmenough."

           IwonderedwhyAtticuswasinvitingustothefrontporchinsteadofthelivingroom,thenIunderstood.