She moved from that chair to this one over here [_Pointing to a small chair in the corner_] and just sat there with her hands held together and looking down. I got a feeling that I ought to make some conversation, so I said I had come in to see if John wanted to put in a telephone, and at that she started to laugh, and then she stopped and looked at me--scared. [_The COUNTY ATTORNEY, who has had his notebook out, makes a note._] I dunno, maybe it wasn’t scared. I wouldn’t like to say it was. Soon Harry got back, and then Dr. Lloyd came, and you, Mr. Peters, and so I guess that’s all I know that you don’t. COUNTY ATTORNEY [_Looking around._] I guess we’ll go upstairs first--and then out to the barn and around there. [_To the SHERIFF._] You’re convinced that there was nothing important here--nothing that would point to any motive. SHERIFF Nothing here but kitchen things. [_The COUNTY ATTORNEY, after again looking around the kitchen, opens the door of a cupboard closet. He gets up on a chair and looks on a shelf. Pulls his hand away, sticky._ COUNTY ATTORNEY Here’s a nice mess. [_The women draw nearer._ MRS. PETERS [_To the other woman._] Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. [_To the LAWYER._] She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break. SHERIFF Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves. COUNTY ATTORNEY I guess before we’re through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about. HALE Well, women are used to worrying over trifles. [_The two women move a little closer together._ COUNTY ATTORNEY [_With the gallantry of a young politician._] And yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies? [_The women do not unbend. He goes to the sink, takes a dipperful of water from the pail and pouring it into a basin, washes his hands. Starts to wipe them on the roller-towel, turns it for a cleaner place._] Dirty towels! [_Kicks his foot against the pans under the sink._] Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies? MRS. HALE [_Stiffly._] There’s a great deal of work to be done on a farm. COUNTY ATTORNEY To be sure. And yet [_With a little bow to her_] I know there are some Dickson county farmhouses which do not have such roller towels. [_He gives it a pull to expose its full length again._ MRS. HALE Those towels get dirty awful quick. Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be. COUNTY ATTORNEY Ah, loyal to your sex, I see. But you and Mrs. Wright were neighbors. I suppose you were friends, too. MRS. HALE [_Shaking her head._] I’ve not seen much of her of late years. I’ve not been in this house--it’s more than a year. COUNTY ATTORNEY And why was that? You didn’t like her? MRS. HALE I liked her all well enough. Farmers’ wives have their hands full, Mr. Henderson. And then-- COUNTY ATTORNEY Yes--? MRS. HALE [_Looking about._] It never seemed a very cheerful place.