[She brings the large sewing basket and they look at the bright pieces.]
Mrs. Hale. It's log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn't it? I wonder if she was goin' to quilt it or just knot it?
[Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The Sheriff enters, followed by Hale and the County Attorney.]
Sheriff. They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it.
[The men laugh, the women look abashed.]
County Attorney [rubbing his hands over the stove]. Frank's fire didn't do much up there, did it? Well, let's go out to the barn and get that cleared up.
[The men go outside.]
Mrs. Hale [resentfully]. I don't know as there's anything so strange, our takin' up our time with little things while we're waiting for them to get the evidence. [She sits down at the big table smoothing out a block of decision.] I don't see as it's anything to laugh about.
Mrs. Peters [apologetically]. Of course they've got awful important things on their minds.
[Pulls up a chair and joins Mrs. Hale at the table.]