Chapter 8

           ForreasonsunfathomabletothemostexperiencedprophetsinMaycombCounty,autumnturnedtowinterthatyear.Wehadtwoweeksofthecoldestweathersince1885,Atticussaid.Mr.AverysaiditwaswrittenontheRosettaStonethatwhenchildrendisobeyedtheirparents,smokedcigarettesandmadewaroneachother,theseasonswouldchange:JemandIwereburdenedwiththeguiltofcontributingtotheaberrationsofnature,therebycausingunhappinesstoourneighborsanddiscomforttoourselves.

           OldMrs.Radleydiedthatwinter,butherdeathcausedhardlyaripple—theneighborhoodseldomsawher,exceptwhenshewateredhercannas.JemandIdecidedthatBoohadgotheratlast,butwhenAtticusreturnedfromtheRadleyhousehesaidshediedofnaturalcauses,toourdisappointment.

           "Askhim,"Jemwhispered.

           "Youaskhim,you’retheoldest."

           "That’swhyyououghtaaskhim."

           "Atticus,"Isaid,"didyouseeMr.Arthur?"

           Atticuslookedsternlyaroundhisnewspaperatme:"Ididnot."

           Jemrestrainedmefromfurtherquestions.HesaidAtticuswasstilltouchousaboutusandtheRadleysanditwouldn’tdotopushhimany.JemhadanotionthatAtticusthoughtouractivitiesthatnightlastsummerwerenotsolelyconfinedtostrippoker.Jemhadnofirmbasisforhisideas,hesaiditwasmerelyatwitch.

           NextmorningIawoke,lookedoutthewindowandnearlydiedoffright.MyscreamsbroughtAtticusfromhisbathroomhalf-shaven.