. . . Mr. Nathan put cement in that tree, Atticus, an he did it to stop us findin thingshes crazy, I reckon, like they say, but Atticus, I swear to God he aint ever harmed us, he aint ever hurt us, he coulda cut my throat from ear to ear that night but he tried to mend my pants instead . . . he aint ever hurt us, Atticus

Atticus said, Whoa, son, so gently that I was greatly heartened. It was obvious that he had not followed a word Jem said, for all Atticus said was, Youre right. Wed better keep this and the blanket to ourselves. Someday, maybe, Scout can thank him for covering her up.

Thank who? I asked.

Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didnt know it when he put the blanket around you.

My stomach turned to water and I nearly threw up when Jem held out the blanket and crept toward me. He sneaked out of the houseturn roundsneaked up, an went like this!

Atticus said dryly, Do not let this inspire you to further glory, Jeremy.

Jem scowled, I aint gonna do anything to him, but I watched the spark of fresh adventure leave his eyes. Just think, Scout, he said, if youd just turned around, youda seen him.

Calpurnia woke us at noon. Atticus had said we need not go to school that day, wed learn nothing after no sleep. Calpurnia said for us to try and clean up the front yard.

Miss Maudies sunhat was suspended in a thin layer of ice, like a fly in amber, and we had to dig under the dirt for her hedge-clippers. We found her in her back yard, gazing at her frozen charred azaleas.

Were bringing back your things, Miss Maudie, said Jem. Were awful sorry.

Miss Maudie looked around, and the shadow of her old grin crossed her face. Always wanted a smaller house, Jem Finch. Gives me more yard. Just think, Ill have more room for my azaleas now!

You aint grievin, Miss Maudie? I asked, surprised. Atticus said her house was nearly all she had.

Grieving, child? Why, I hated that old cow barn. Thought of settin fire to it a hundred times myself, except theyd lock me up.

But

Dont you worry about me, Jean Louise Finch. There are ways of doing things you dont know about. Why, Ill build me a little house and take me a couple of roomers andgracious, Ill have the finest yard in Alabama. Those Bellingrathsll look plain puny when I get started!

Jem and I looked at each other. Howd it catch, Miss Maudie? he asked.

I dont know, Jem. Probably the flue in the kitchen. I kept a fire in there last night for my potted plants. Hear you had some unexpected company last night, Miss Jean Louise.

Howd you know?

Atticus told me on his way to town this morning. Tell you the truth, Id like tove been with you. And Idve had sense enough to turn around, too.

Miss Maudie puzzled me. With most of her possessions gone and her beloved yard a shambles, she still took a lively and cordial interest in Jems and my affairs.

She must have seen my perplexity. She said, Only thing I worried about last night was all the danger and commotion it caused. This whole neighborhood could have gone up. Mr. Averyll be in bed for a weekhes right stove up. Hes too old to do things like that and I told him so. Soon as I can get my hands clean and when Stephanie Crawfords not looking, Ill make him a Lane cake. That Stephanies been after my recipe for thirty years, and if she thinks Ill give it to her just because Im staying with her shes got another think coming.

I reflected that if Miss Maudie broke down and gave it to her, Miss Stephanie couldnt follow it anyway. Miss Maudie had once let me see it: among other things, the recipe called for one large cup of sugar.

It was a still day. The air was so cold and clear we heard the courthouse clock clank, rattle and strain before it struck the hour. Miss Maudies nose was a color I had never seen before, and I inquired about it.

Ive been out here since six oclock, she said. Should be frozen by now. She held up her hands. A network of tiny lines criss-crossed her palms, brown with dirt and dried blood.

Youve ruined em, said Jem. Why dont you get a colored man? There was no note of sacrifice in his voice when he added, Or Scoutnme, we can help you.