Boo is led to Jem’s bed to wish him goodnight. Scout is very protective and careful with Boo. When the latter requests Scout to escort him home and Scout does so, but by making it seem as though it is he who is leading her. After he goes home, Scout never sees him again.
Scout sits with Aunt Alexandra near Jem’s bed for a while. Atticus is reading out from a book, The Grey Ghost to Jem who has fallen asleep. Gradually, Scout too falls asleep. Atticus leads her to her own bed and returns to Jem’s room to remain there till morning.
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Bob Ewell’s vindictive nature is finally realized. He is too weak a character to be able to face Atticus in the daytime, and even to frighten his children, he has to take the recourse of a few drinks.
As Scout relates the events, Heck Tate and Atticus realize that Bob Ewell actually meant to hurt the children seriously. The person to save the situation had been the hitherto unseen and unknown Arthur Radley. Scout, who had the long cherished wish of wanting to see him at least once has actually had her life saved by this same man. Arthur’s physical appearance and behavior reveals the fact that he has never ventured out of the house in the daytime. It is the children’s greatest fortune that Boo had come at the right moment to save their lives. Atticus is very upset by the recent turn of events. Bob, it seems had really meant what he had warned. And for Atticus, his children’s lives are undoubtedly far more precious than his own.
Scout is made to relate the events again. They perceive that it had been the chicken wire loop that had saved Scout’s life. Scout then points out that somebody else had also been at the scene of the incident. The same man is present in the room. From his thin frame and blank look, Scout realizes that the man had been none other than Boo Radley. Jem escorts Scout, carrying her costume, to school. The program is in the evening. The pageant begins. Scout waiting for her cue soon falls asleep inside her costume. She, therefore, is unable to enter when her name is called out and makes her entrance only much later, when the play is over. Scout is severely embarrassed by the entire episode and prefers to go home hiding herself in the costume.
Jem escorts Scout, carrying her costume, to school. The program is in the evening. The pageant begins. Scout waiting for her cue soon falls asleep inside her costume. She, therefore, is unable to enter when her name is called out and makes her entrance only much later, when the play is over. Scout is severely embarrassed by the entire episode and prefers to go home hiding herself in the costume.
Scout is now in the third grade and the Radley house has ceased to terrify her. She remembers ruefully how she and Jem used to torment Bob Radley and yet he would leave them gifts in the knothole.
At school, in the Current Events class, when each child is supposed to give the gist of a piece of news aloud in class, Adolph Hitler and his prejudices are discussed. When Scout discusses it with Jem and breaches the subject of the blacks, Jem furiously tells her never to discuss that topic again Things have eventually normalized at the Maycomb County. Jem and Scout spend their time lazing around. They hitch a ride from Atticus and travel with him and Calpurnia to Tom’s house. Helen, his wife, collapses on realizing the reason for their arrival.
The news of Tom’s death lasts for two days, with a few articles about it in the newspapers. Ewell’s name still causes an uneasy feeling in Scout but Jem placates her, saying that "Mr. Ewell was more hot gas than anything." Aunt Alexandra has her regular Missionary Circle Meet at the house. Scout has been asked to join them for refreshments. Stephanie Crawford, in her usual cattiness, teases Scout about being present in the courtroom. They all discuss Tom’s trial and are general about their attitudes towards the blacks. When indirect comments about Atticus are passed Miss Maudie quells them icily, for which Aunt Alexandra is very grateful.
Jem begins to cry on hearing this unjust verdict. On reaching home, even Aunt Alexandra seems to have softened her stance slightly. Being after all the Atticus’ sister and the only aunt of the children, she cannot help sympathizing with them. She expresses her concern for not only Atticus but also Jem, who is yet too small to be exposed to the hard facts of life.
The next morning, Atticus says that the case is not closed and that there would be a further appeal. Seeing chicken for breakfast, a dazed Atticus is led into the kitchen which is loaded with all sorts of food items. These Harry d been sent by the blacks in their appreciation for Atticus for having taken up the case of a black Calpurnia has a note for Atticus, sent by his sister, saying that the children are missing. Mr. Underwood announces the presence of the children. Atticus relents in allowing the children to return to hear the verdict. The people have to wait for a considerably long time before the jury return with their verdict. The verdict is that Tom Robinson is guilty |
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