Content #
Talking to Francis gave me the sensation of settling slowly to the bottom of the ocean. He was the most boring child I ever met. As he lived in Mobile, he could not inform on me to school authorities, but he managed to tell everything he knew to Aunt Alexandra, who in turn unburdened herself to Atticus, who either forgot it or gave me hell, whichever struck his fancy. But the only time I ever heard Atticus speak sharply to anyone was when I once heard him say, “Sister, I do the best I can with them!” It had something to do with my going around in overalls.
Aunt Alexandra was fanatical on the subject of my attire. I could not possibly hope to be a lady if I wore breeches; when I said I could do nothing in a dress, she said I wasn’t supposed to be doing things that required pants. Aunt Alexandra’s vision of my deportment involved playing with small stoves, tea sets, and wearing the Add-A-Pearl necklace she gave me when I was born; furthermore, I should be a ray of sunshine in my father’s lonely life. I suggested that one could be a ray of sunshine in pants just as well, but Aunty said that one had to behave like a sunbeam, that I was born good but had grown progressively worse every year. She hurt my feelings and set my teeth permanently on edge, but when I asked Atticus about it, he said there were already enough sunbeams in the family and to go on about my business, he didn’t mind me much the way I was.
de·port·ment #
n. A manner of personal conduct; behavior. See Synonyms at behavior.
set (one’s) teeth on edge #
- To greatly irritate or annoy one, especially to the point of affecting one’s nerves.
Nothing sets my teeth on edge like seeing these cyclists run every red light in town! I don’t know what it is about Terry, but there’s something about his demeanor that just sets my teeth on edge.
- To cause one to be upset, nervous, or uncomfortable.
Please don’t tell me about your surgery, it sets my teeth on edge hearing about medical procedures.
From #
To Kill a Mocking Bird