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Chapter 5
MissMaudiehadknownUncleJackFinch,Atticus’sbrother,sincetheywerechildren.Nearlythesameage,theyhadgrownuptogetheratFinch’sLanding.MissMaudiewasthedaughterofaneighboringlandowner,Dr.FrankBuford.Dr.Buford’sprofessionwasmedicineandhisobsessionwasanythingthatgrewintheground,sohestayedpoor.UncleJackFinchconfinedhispassionfordiggingtohiswindowboxesinNashvilleandstayedrich.WesawUncleJackeveryChristmas,andeveryChristmasheyelledacrossthestreetforMissMaudietocomemarryhim.MissMaudiewouldyellback,"Callalittlelouder,JackFinch,andthey’llhearyouatthepostoffice,Ihaven’theardyouyet!"JemandIthoughtthisastrangewaytoaskforalady’shandinmarriage,butthenUncleJackwasratherstrange.HesaidhewastryingtogetMissMaudie’sgoat,thathehadbeentryingunsuccessfullyforfortyyears,thathewasthelastpersonintheworldMissMaudiewouldthinkaboutmarryingbutthefirstpersonshethoughtaboutteasing,andthebestdefensetoherwasspiritedoffense,allofwhichweunderstoodclearly.
"ArthurRadleyjuststaysinthehouse,that’sall,"saidMissMaudie."Wouldn’tyoustayinthehouseifyoudidn’twanttocomeout?"
"Yessum,butI’dwantacomeout.Whydoesn’the?"
MissMaudie’seyesnarrowed."YouknowthatstoryaswellasIdo."
"Ineverheardwhy,though.Nobodyevertoldmewhy."
MissMaudiesettledherbridgework."YouknowoldMr.Radleywasafoot-washingBaptist—"
"That’swhatyouare,ain’tit?"
