Well if thats all it is why did Calpurnia dry me up when I asked her what it was?

Atticus looked pensive. Whats that again?

Well, I asked Calpurnia comin from church that day what it was and she said ask you but I forgot to and now Im askin you.

His paper was now in his lap. Again, please, he said.

I told him in detail about our trip to church with Calpurnia. Atticus seemed to enjoy it, but Aunt Alexandra, who was sitting in a corner quietly sewing, put down her embroidery and stared at us.

You all were coming back from Calpurnias church that Sunday?

Jem said, Yessum, she took us.

I remembered something. Yessum, and she promised me I could come out to her house some afternoon. Atticus, Ill go next Sunday if its all right, can I? Cal said shed come get me if you were off in the car.

You may not.

Aunt Alexandria said it. I wheeled around, startled, then turned back to Atticus in time to catch his swift glance at her, but it was too late. I said, I didnt ask you!

For a big man, Atticus could get up and down from a chair faster than anyone I ever knew. He was on his feet. Apologize to your aunt, he said.

I didnt ask her, I asked you

Atticus turned his head and pinned me to the wall with his good eye. His voice was deadly: First, apologize to your aunt.

Im sorry, Aunty, I muttered.

Now then, he said. Lets get this clear: you do as Calpurnia tells you, you do as I tell you, and as long as your aunts in this house, you will do as she tells you. Understand?

I understood, pondered a while, and concluded that the only way I could retire with a shred of dignity was to go to the bathroom, where I stayed long enough to make them think I had to go. Returning, I lingered in the hall to hear a fierce discussion going on in the livingroom. Through the door I could see Jem on the sofa with a football magazine in front of his face, his head turning as if its pages contained a live tennis match.

. . . youve got to do something about her, Aunty was saying. Youve let things go on too long, Atticus, too long.

I dont see any harm in letting her go out there. Cald look after her there as well as she does here.

Who was the her they were talking about? My heart sank: me. I felt the starched walls of a pink cotton penitentiary closing in on me, and for the second time in my life I thought of running away. Immediately.

Atticus, its all right to be soft-hearted, youre an easy man, but you have a daughter to think of. A daughter whos growing up.

Thats what I am thinking of.

And dont try to get around it. Youve got to face it sooner or later and it might as well be tonight. We dont need her now.

Atticuss voice was even: Alexandra, Calpurnias not leaving this house until she wants to. You may think otherwise, but I couldnt have got along without her all these years. Shes a faithful member of this family and youll simply have to accept things the way they are. Besides, sister, I dont want you working your head off for usyouve no reason to do that. We still need Cal as much as we ever did.

But Atticus

Besides, I dont think the childrenve suffered one bit from her having brought them up. If anything, shes been harder on them in some ways than a mother would have been . . . shes never let them get away with anything, shes never indulged them the way most colored nurses do. She tried to bring them up according to her lights, and Cals lights are pretty goodand another thing, the children love her.

I breathed again. It wasnt me, it was only Calpurnia they were talking about. Revived, I entered the livingroom. Atticus had retreated behind his newspaper and Aunt Alexandra was worrying her embroidery. Punk, punk, punk, her needle broke the taut circle. She stopped, and pulled the cloth tighter: punk-punk-punk. She was furious.

Jem got up and padded across the rug. He motioned me to follow. He led me to his room and closed the door. His face was grave.

Theyve been fussing, Scout.

Jem and I fussed a great deal these days, but I had never heard of or seen anyone quarrel with Atticus. It was not a comfortable sight.

Scout, try not to antagonize Aunty, hear?

Atticuss remarks were still rankling, which made me miss the request in Jems question. My feathers rose again. You tryin to tell me what to do?