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           Hewasstrugglingintohisshirt."I’vegotto."

           "Youdoan’I’llwakeupAtticus."

           "YoudoandI’llkillyou."

           Ipulledhimdownbesidemeonthecot.Itriedtoreasonwithhim."Mr.Nathan’sgonnafind‘eminthemorning,Jem.Heknowsyoulost‘em.Whenheshows‘emtoAtticusit’llbeprettybad,that’sallthereistoit.Go’nbacktobed."

           "That’swhatIknow,"saidJem."That’swhyI’mgoin’after‘em."

           Ibegantofeelsick.Goingbacktothatplacebyhimself—IrememberedMissStephanie:Mr.Nathanhadtheotherbarrelwaitingforthenextsoundheheard,beitnigger,dog...JemknewthatbetterthanI.

           Iwasdesperate:"Look,itain’tworthit,Jem.Alickin’hurtsbutitdoesn’tlast.You’llgetyourheadshotoff,Jem.Please..."

           Heblewouthisbreathpatiently."I—it’slikethis,Scout,"hemuttered."Atticusain’teverwhippedmesinceIcanremember.Iwantakeepitthatway."

           Thiswasathought.ItseemedthatAtticusthreateneduseveryotherday."Youmeanhe’snevercaughtyouatanything."

           "Maybeso,but—Ijustwantakeepitthatway,Scout.Weshouldn’adonethattonight,Scout."

           Itwasthen,Isuppose,thatJemandIfirstbegantopartcompany.SometimesIdidnotunderstandhim,butmyperiodsofbewildermentwereshort-lived.