Parting Company (SDH's class)

What does Scout mean by “It was then that Jem and I first began to part company?” p.56

 She infers that they began to grow further apart in their relationship of undertanding and confidence in each other.  Jem keeps more to himself then he used to over the next little while, and Scout has a harder time understanding him.

 pg.61: “He had been on the verge of telling me something all evening; his face would brighten and he would lean toward, then he would change his mind.”

He becomes more private and keeps things to himself as time passes and more incidents happen. Most of the time, his quiet solitude is a result of experiences involving Boo Radley. For example, the situation that was happening during the topic quote involved Jem attempting to sneak out at night to retrieve the pants he had lost when they where in Boo’s backyard. He later began to think about how when he retrieved them they had been sewn back together and folded neatly for him.

 pg 58: ‘Jem took a deep breath. ‘When I went back, they where folded across the fence... like they where expectin’ me.’ ‘Across-’ ‘And something else-’ Jem’s voice grew flat. ‘Show you when we get home. They’d been sewed up. Not like a lady sewed ‘em, like somethin’ I’d try to do. All crooked. It’s almost like-’ ‘-Somebody knew you where comin’ back for ‘em’

 In time the differences between him and Scout become more obvious and Jem begins to become a more solitary individual. This is likely to result in a more confused relationship between him and Scout. I wonder where this is going to lead with the Boo Radley incidents?

 bleenheer