To Kill A Mockingbird (Chapter 3)

His fists were half cocked, as if expecting an onslaught from both of us.

Jem's free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away.

Jem's free dispensation of my pledge irked me, but precious noontime minutes were ticking away.

"A hain't lives there," he said cordially, pointing to the Radley house.

Atticus was expounding upon farm problems when Walter interrupted to ask if there was any molasses in the house.

Atticus summoned Calpurnia, who returned bearing the syrup pitcher.

She was furious, and when she was furious Calpurnia's grammar became erratic.

When in tranquility, her grammar was as good as anybody's in Maycomb.

Jem and Walter returned to school ahead of me: staying behind to advise Atticus of Calpurnia's iniquities was worth a solitary sprint past the Radley Place.

Apparently she had revived enough to persevere in her profession.

He gave a short contemptuous snort.

The truant lady gets 'em here 'cause she threatens 'em with the sheriff, but she's give up tryin' to hold 'em. She reckons she's carried out the law just gettin' their names on the roll and runnin' 'em here the first day. You're supposed to mark 'em absent the rest of the year..."

"Ain't got no mother," was the answer, "and their paw's right contentious."

He was among the most diminutive of men, but when Burris Ewell turned toward him, Little Chuck's right hand went to his pocket.

The boy snorted and slouched leisurely to the door.

Miss Caroline smiled, blew her nose, said, "Thank you, darlings," dispersed us, opened a book and mystified the first grade with a long narrative about a toadfrog that lived in a hall.

If the remainder of the school year were as fraught with drama as the first day, perhaps it would be mildly entertaining, but the prospect of spending nine months refraining from reading and writing made me think of running away.

If the remainder of the school year were as fraught with drama as the first day, perhaps it would be mildly entertaining, but the prospect of spending nine months refraining from reading and writing made me think of running away.

She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so.

She had always been too hard on me, she had at last seen the error of her fractious ways, she was sorry and too stubborn to say so.

He waited in amiable silence, and I sought to reinforce my position: "You never went to school and you do all right, so I'll just stay home too.

I don't know of any landowner around here who begrudges those children any game their father can hit."

"No sir," I murmured, and made a final stand: "But if I keep on goin' to school, we can't ever read any more...."

"No, an agreement reached by mutual concessions.

"If you'll concede the necessity of going to school, we'll go on reading every night just as we always have.

"I'm afraid our activities would be received with considerable disapprobation by the more learned authorities."