Atticus drove us home and killed the engine as we approached the house so we wouldn’t wake Aunty.  We went to our rooms without a word.  I was very tired.  I was drifting  to sleep when the events of the night hit me and I started crying.  Jem came to me and he was very nice to me.

In the morning, Aunty, who knew about what happened last night, said that children who slipped out at night were a disgrace  to the family.  Aunty also said that Mr. Underwood was there the whole time and nothing bad would have happened.

 “You know, it’s a funny thing about Braxton (Mr. Underwood),” said Atticus.  “He despises  Negroes, won’t have one near him.”

 Aunty took offense to Atticus saying this comment about Mr. Underwood in front of Calpurnia.  “Don’t talk like that in front of them.”

“Talk like what in front of whom?” he asked.

“Like that in front of Calpurnia.  You said Braxton Underwood despises Negroes right in front of her.”

“Well, I’m sure Cal knows it.  Everybody in Maycomb knows it.  Anything fit to say at the table’s fine to say in front of Calpurnia.  She knows what she means to this family.”

“I don’t think it’s a good habit, Atticus.  It encourages them.  You know how they talk among themselves.”

“I don’t know of any law that says they can’t talk.  Maybe if we didn’t give them so much to talk about they’d be quiet.”

I was playing with my spoon and asked, “I thought Mr. Cunningham was  a friend of ours.  You told me a long time ago he was.”

 “He still is.”

“But last night he wanted to hurt you.”

“Mr. Cunningham’s basically a good man,” he said.  “He just has his blind spots  along with the rest of us.”