MRS HALE:  It would, wouldn’t it? (dropping her sewing) But I tell you what I do wish, Mrs Peters.  I wish I had come over sometimes when she was here.  I—­(looking around the room)—­wish I had.

MRS PETERS:  But of course you were awful busy, Mrs Hale—­your house and your children.

MRS HALE:  I could’ve come.  I stayed away because it weren’t cheerful—­and that’s why I ought to have come.  I—­I’ve never liked this place.  Maybe because it’s down in a hollow and you don’t see the road.  I dunno what it is, but it’s a lonesome place and always was.  I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes.  I can see now—­(shakes her head)

MRS PETERS:  Well, you mustn’t reproach yourself, Mrs Hale.  Somehow we just don’t see how it is with other folks until—­something comes up.

MRS HALE:  Not having children makes less work—­but it makes a quiet house, and Wright out to work all day, and no company when he did come in.  Did you know John Wright, Mrs Peters?

MRS PETERS:  Not to know him; I’ve seen him in town.  They say he was a good man.

MRS HALE:  Yes—­good; he didn’t drink, and kept his word as well as most, I guess, and paid his debts.  But he was a hard man, Mrs Peters.  Just to pass the time of day with him—­(shivers) Like a raw wind that gets to the bone, (pauses, her eye falling on the cage) I should think she would ’a wanted a bird.  But what do you suppose went with it?

MRS PETERS:  I don’t know, unless it got sick and died.

(She reaches over and swings the broken door, swings it again, both women watch it.)

MRS HALE:  You weren’t raised round here, were you? (MRS PETERS shakes her head) You didn’t know—­her?

MRS PETERS:  Not till they brought her yesterday.

MRS HALE:  She—­come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself—­real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—­fluttery.  How—­she—­did—­change. (silence; then as if struck by a happy thought and relieved to get back to everyday things) Tell you what, Mrs Peters, why don’t you take the quilt in with you?  It might take up her mind.

MRS PETERS:  Why, I think that’s a real nice idea, Mrs Hale.  There couldn’t possibly be any objection to it, could there?  Now, just what would I take?  I wonder if her patches are in here—­and her things.

(They look in the sewing basket.)

MRS HALE:  Here’s some red.  I expect this has got sewing things in it. (brings out a fancy box) What a pretty box.  Looks like something somebody would give you.  Maybe her scissors are in here. (Opens box.  Suddenly puts her hand to her nose) Why—­(MRS PETERS bends nearer, then turns her face away) There’s something wrapped up in this piece of silk.

MRS PETERS:  Why, this isn’t her scissors.

MRS HALE:  (lifting the silk) Oh, Mrs Peters—­it’s—­