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           "IsJemawakeyet?"

           "Sleepingpeacefully.Hewon’tbeawakeuntilmorning."

           "Oh.Areyousittin’upwithhim?"

           "Justforanhourorso.Gotobed,Scout.You’vehadalongday."

           "Well,IthinkI’llstaywithyouforawhile."

           "Suityourself,"saidAtticus.Itmusthavebeenaftermidnight,andIwaspuzzledbyhisamiableacquiescence.HewasshrewderthanI,however:themomentIsatdownIbegantofeelsleepy.

           "Whatchareadin’?"Iasked.

           Atticusturnedthebookover."SomethingofJem’s.CalledTheGrayGhost."

           Iwassuddenlyawake."Why’dyougetthatone?"

           "Honey,Idon’tknow.Justpickeditup.OneofthefewthingsIhaven’tread,"hesaidpointedly.

           "Readitoutloud,please,Atticus.It’srealscary."

           "No,"hesaid."You’vehadenoughscaringforawhile.Thisistoo—"

           "Atticus,Iwasn’tscared."

           Heraisedhiseyebrows,andIprotested:"LeastwaysnottillIstartedtellingMr.Tateaboutit.Jemwasn’tscared.Askedhimandhesaidhewasn’t.Besides,nothin’srealscaryexceptinbooks."

           Atticusopenedhismouthtosaysomething,butshutitagain.Hetookhisthumbfromthemiddleofthebookandturnedbacktothefirstpage.Imovedoverandleanedmyheadagainsthisknee."H’rm,"hesaid."TheGrayGhost,bySeckataryHawkins.ChapterOne..."

           Iwilledmyselftostayawake,buttherainwassosoftandtheroomwassowarmandhisvoicewassodeepandhiskneewassosnugthatIslept.

           Secondslater,itseemed,hisshoewasgentlynudgingmyribs