He bore with fortitude her Wait Till I Get You Home, Your Folks Are Out of Their Minds Worryin, was quite calm during Thats All the Harris in You Coming Out, smiled at her Reckon You Can Stay One Night, and returned the hug at long last bestowed upon him.

Atticus pushed up his glasses and rubbed his face.

Your fathers tired, said Aunt Alexandra, her first words in hours, it seemed. She had been there, but I suppose struck dumb most of the time. You children get to bed now.

We left them in the diningroom, Atticus still mopping his face. From rape to riot to runaways, we heard him chuckle. I wonder what the next two hours will bring.

Since things appeared to have worked out pretty well, Dill and I decided to be civil to Jem. Besides, Dill had to sleep with him so we might as well speak to him.

I put on my pajamas, read for a while and found myself suddenly unable to keep my eyes open. Dill and Jem were quiet; when I turned off my reading lamp there was no strip of light under the door to Jems room.

I must have slept a long time, for when I was punched awake the room was dim with the light of the setting moon.

Move over, Scout.

He thought he had to, I mumbled. Dont stay mad with him.

Dill got in bed beside me. I aint, he said. I just wanted to sleep with you. Are you waked up?

By this time I was, but lazily so. Whyd you do it?

No answer. I said whyd you run off? Was he really hateful like you said?

Naw . . .

Didnt you all build that boat like you wrote you were gonna?

He just said we would. We never did.

I raised up on my elbow, facing Dills outline. Its no reason to run off. They dont get around to doin what they say theyre gonna do half the time. . . .

That wasnt it, hethey just wasnt interested in me.

This was the weirdest reason for flight I had ever heard. How come?

Well, they stayed gone all the time, and when they were home, even, theyd get off in a room by themselves.

Whatd they do in there?

Nothin, just sittin and readinbut they didnt want me with em.

I pushed the pillow to the headboard and sat up. You know something? I was fixin to run off tonight because there they all were. You dont want em around you all the time, Dill

Dill breathed his patient breath, a half-sigh.

good night, Atticuss gone all day and sometimes half the night and off in the legislature and I dont know whatyou dont want em around all the time, Dill, you couldnt do anything if they were.

Thats not it.

As Dill explained, I found myself wondering what life would be if Jem were different, even from what he was now; what I would do if Atticus did not feel the necessity of my presence, help and advice. Why, he couldnt get along a day without me. Even Calpurnia couldnt get along unless I was there. They needed me.

Dill, you aint telling me rightyour folks couldnt do without you. They must be just mean to you. Tell you what to do about that

Dills voice went on steadily in the darkness: The thing is, what Im tryin to say isthey do get on a lot better without me, I cant help them any. They aint mean. They buy me everything I want, but its now-youve-got-it-go-play-with-it. Youve got a roomful of things. I-got-you-that-book-so-go-read-it. Dill tried to deepen his voice. Youre not a boy. Boys get out and play baseball with other boys, they dont hang around the house worryin their folks.

Dills voice was his own again: Oh, they aint mean. They kiss you and hug you good night and good mornin and goodbye and tell you they love youScout, lets get us a baby.

Where?

There was a man Dill had heard of who had a boat that he rowed across to a foggy island where all these babies were; you could order one

Thats a lie. Aunty said God drops em down the chimney. At least thats what I think she said. For once, Auntys diction had not been too clear.

Well that aint so. You get babies from each other. But theres this man, toohe has all these babies just waitin to wake up, he breathes life into em. . . .