what was mayellla's behavior like when she was on trial?

Mayella,
although a sturdy girl used hard work, seems fragile toon the witness stand. She is out of her
depth, confused about what is going on, and she quickly bursts into tears, afraid ofand his
questioning to comeeven though at this point it is only Mr. Gilmer asking her questions. She
comes across as nervous and tearful, twisting her handkerchief.

When Atticus
questions her, at first she shows that she is again in over her head. She is so used to being
treated with contempt that she gets angry and thinks Atticus is mocking her when he calls her
ma'am and Miss Mayella.

Atticus's questions rattle Mayella, who contradicts
herself and at times says she doesn't remember what happened. Atticus shows clearly that
although she says she tried and failed to fight off Tom Robinson, the crippled Tom (his left arm
is useless, having been caught in a cotton gin when he was a child) could not have raped her as
she said.

As Atticus's questions back her into a corner, and it becomes clear
she has not been telling the truth, she suddenly rises up to the occasion. She sobs and then
gets angry, telling Atticus and the courtroom that she will not answer anymore questions and
saying:

I got somethin€˜ to say an then I aint gonna say
no more. That nigger yonder took advantage of me an€˜ if you fine fancy gentlemen dont wanta do
nothin about it then youre all yellow stinkin€˜ cowards, stinkin cowards, the lot of
you.