Chapter 15 is when the Old Sarum bunch goes to the jail to lynch Tom Robinson. Atticus thinks that his kids are home safe and sound, but they show up unexpectedly and turn the whole scene around for him. Scout runs up to him thinking that it would be a great surprise for him to see her and describes his reaction as follows:
". . . but his face killed my joy. A flash of...
Chapter 15 is when the Old Sarum bunch goes to the jail to lynch Tom Robinson. Atticus thinks that his kids are home safe and sound, but they show up unexpectedly and turn the whole scene around for him. Scout runs up to him thinking that it would be a great surprise for him to see her and describes his reaction as follows:
". . . but his face killed my joy. A flash of plain fear was going out of his eyes, but returned when Dill and Jem wriggled into the light" (152).
The fear that is expressed in Atticus's face proves how much he loves his children. At the same time, he's got to keep his nerves in check so he doesn't lose control of the situation. He tries to order Jem to take the kids home, but Jem refuses out of love and loyalty for his father. Once the whole situation ends and the mob goes home, Scout witnesses the following as they make their way home, too:
"As they passed under a streetlight Atticus reached out and massaged Jem's hair, his one gesture of affection" (155).
Since Atticus uses his one sign of affection with Jem, Scout realizes again how serious the situation was back at the jail. Plus, she thought that Atticus would be lecturing Jem for not taking the other kids home when he first asked; but, the gesture of affection shows how much he values the fact that his children didn't get hurt rather than lecturing him for disobeying.
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