"Hello," said Hortense.
"Hello," said the boy. "Help me out. I slipped."
He endeavored to lift himself to the chute whose edge came to his chin, but it was too slippery and he could not. Hortense stretched out her arm to help him, but the distance was too great.
"However did you get there?" Hortense asked.
"I wanted to see where it went," said the boy, "but once I got in I slipped and fell to the bottom."
"Where does it go?" Hortense asked.
"Only to the furnace," said the boy in disgust.
"Oh," said Hortense. "I thought it might go to a secret room or something."
"Can't you get a rope?" the boy asked.
Hortense considered.