To Kill a Mockingbird Chapter 23

Atticus is unconcerned about Mr. Ewell's threat, and tells his worried children that Mr. Ewell, who has been publicly discredited by the trial, just needs to feel like he is retaliating against someone, and better it be Atticus than the Ewell children. As we learn later in the novel, Atticus gave Mr. Ewell to much credit, as he was truly a danger to the family.