Then you ran?

I sho did, suh.

Why did you run?

I was scared, suh.

Why were you scared?

Mr. Finch, if you was a nigger like me, youd be scared, too.

Atticus sat down. Mr. Gilmer was making his way to the witness stand, but before he got there Mr. Link Deas rose from the audience and announced:

I just want the whole lot of you to know one thing right now. That boys worked for me eight years an I aint had a speck otrouble outa him. Not a speck.

Shut your mouth, sir! Judge Taylor was wide awake and roaring. He was also pink in the face. His speech was miraculously unimpaired by his cigar. Link Deas, he yelled, if you have anything you want to say you can say it under oath and at the proper time, but until then you get out of this room, you hear me? Get out of this room, sir, you hear me? Ill be damned if Ill listen to this case again!

Judge Taylor looked daggers at Atticus, as if daring him to speak, but Atticus had ducked his head and was laughing into his lap. I remembered something he had said about Judge Taylors ex cathedra remarks sometimes exceeding his duty, but that few lawyers ever did anything about them. I looked at Jem, but Jem shook his head. It aint like one of the jurymen got up and started talking, he said. I think itd be different then. Mr. Link was just disturbin the peace or something.

Judge Taylor told the reporter to expunge anything he happened to have written down after Mr. Finch if you were a nigger like me youd be scared too, and told the jury to disregard the interruption. He looked suspiciously down the middle aisle and waited, I suppose, for Mr. Link Deas to effect total departure. Then he said, Go ahead, Mr. Gilmer.

You were given thirty days once for disorderly conduct, Robinson? asked Mr. Gilmer.

Yes suh.

Whatd the nigger look like when you got through with him?

He beat me, Mr. Gilmer.

Yes, but you were convicted, werent you?

Atticus raised his head. It was a misdemeanor and its in the record, Judge. I thought he sounded tired.

Witnessll answer, though, said Judge Taylor, just as wearily.

Yes suh, I got thirty days.

I knew that Mr. Gilmer would sincerely tell the jury that anyone who was convicted of disorderly conduct could easily have had it in his heart to take advantage of Mayella Ewell, that was the only reason he cared. Reasons like that helped.

Robinson, youre pretty good at busting up chiffarobes and kindling with one hand, arent you?

Yes suh, I reckon so.

Strong enough to choke the breath out of a woman and sling her to the floor?

I never done that, suh.

But you are strong enough to?

I reckon so, suh.

Had your eye on her a long time, hadnt you, boy?

No suh, I never looked at her.

Then you were mighty polite to do all that chopping and hauling for her, werent you, boy?

I was just tryin to help her out, suh.

That was mighty generous of you, you had chores at home after your regular work, didnt you?

Yes suh.

Why didnt you do them instead of Miss Ewells?

I done em both, suh.

You must have been pretty busy. Why?

Why what, suh?

Why were you so anxious to do that womans chores?

Tom Robinson hesitated, searching for an answer. Looked like she didnt have anybody to help her, like I says

With Mr. Ewell and seven children on the place, boy?

Well, I says it looked like they never help her none

You did all this chopping and work from sheer goodness, boy?

Tried to help her, I says.

Mr. Gilmer smiled grimly at the jury. Youre a mighty good fellow, it seemsdid all this for not one penny?

Yes, suh. I felt right sorry for her, she seemed to try moren the rest of em

You felt sorry for her, you felt sorry for her? Mr. Gilmer seemed ready to rise to the ceiling.

The witness realized his mistake and shifted uncomfortably in the chair. But the damage was done. Below us, nobody liked Tom Robinsons answer. Mr. Gilmer paused a long time to let it sink in.