Chapter 3 To Kill A Mockingbird

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.

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.

I told Calpurnia to just wait, I’d fix her: one of these days when she wasn’t looking I’d go off and drown myself in Barker’s Eddy and then she’d be sorry.

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.

Little Chuck Little, whose patience with all living things was phenomenal, said, “Which way did he go, Miss Caroline?

He was a real mean one… below the belt… you ain’t called on to teach folks like that… them ain’t Maycomb’s ways, Miss Caroline, not really… now don’t you fret, ma’am.

The cootie’s host showed not the faintest interest in the furor he had wrought.

The cootie’s host showed not the faintest interest in the furor he had wrought.

I was on the verge of leavin’—I done done my time for this year.”

He gave a short contemptuous snort.

“Ain’t got no mother,” was the answer, “and their paw’s right contentious.”

Burris Ewell was flattered by the recital.

The boy’s condescension flashed to anger.

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

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.

Perhaps Calpurnia sensed that my day had been a grim one: she let me watch her fix supper.

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.

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’ll be dogged,” I said.

In your case, the law remains rigid.

Atticus said the Ewells had been the disgrace of Maycomb for three generations.

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

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

Jem and I were accustomed to our father’s last-will-and-testament diction, and we were at all times free to interrupt Atticus for a translation when it was beyond our understanding.

Jem and I were accustomed to our father’s last-will-and-testament diction, and we were at all times free to interrupt Atticus for a translation when it was beyond our understanding.