Jem and Scout become the town’s go-to for people-watching and whispering as black man Tom Robinson’s trial proceeds and his father Atticus is his legal defense representative. Scout tries to find out the meaning of rape by asking her father. This leads Atticus to learn that children attend Calpurnia’s religious services. Aunt Alexandria prevented Scout from attending Calpurnia’s colored church services and convinces her brother to finish Calpurnia’s services and then send her home because her services are no longer required. However, Atticus tactfully rejects her demands.
That night, Jem warns his sister not to provoke Aunt Alexandria. Scout is not pleased with the warning and considers it a lecture that she starts attacking her brother. Atticus intervenes, breaking up the fight and sending them to his bedroom to sleep. Scout steps on something that feels like a snake under her bed. She becomes frantic and calls out to Jem to look at him. They find Dill. He looks dirty, hungry and skinny, but he continues to act as usual.
Dill runs away from home and comes to them for shelter. His parents do not care about him and do not pay enough attention to him, so he is always alone at home even though they spend the nights sleeping in the same house. His parents are not interested in his thoughts and feelings so he decides to leave and take the train from Meridian to Maycomb Junction. He rides free in the back of the cotton wagon and then decides to walk the remaining distance to the Finches’ house.
Jem tells Atticus about Dill’s surprise appearance. Atticus orders Scout to offer Dill food before going to report to Miss Rachel, Dill’s aunt. Miss Rachel’s house is right next door. Dill accepts the food, eats, and then climbs into Jem’s bed to sleep, but decides to go to Scount’s bed to talk a bit.
This was a summary of To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 14; There are 31 chapters in Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.