What causes Miss Maudie to say that at least they have made a baby step in the right direction?

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Miss Maudie says this when the Finches and she are discussing the

outcome of Tom Robinson's trial. Since the jury didn't come to an

automatic verdict of 'guilty' right away but actually deliberated

over it for quite a long time, she considers this as progress and a

positive step towards real justice, however small it may be.

Atticus adds that although he cannot be sure who it was, at least

one person on the jury took an initial stance for Tom's innocence,

and he thinks that person was Mr. Cunningham. He guesses this from

the awkward writing on the slip of paper used to write the

verdict.

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Atticus plans to make an appeal, but as the story turns out, he

never gets the chance to do so. Tom tries to escape while being

transferred to another jail and is shot down and killed.