Scraping sounds came from the box, and the noise of heels on the wooden sides. The boy's head appeared and then an arm. Hortense seized the arm and pulled.
At last a very dusty, grimy boy wriggled through and, rising gasping to his feet, dusted his clothes.
"What's your name?" Hortense asked.
"Andy. What's yours?"
Hortense told him. They looked at each other without further words.
"You've got to get through the kitchen without Aunt Esmerelda seeing you," said Hortense, and led the way to the cellar stairs.
"You stay here until I see if she's still asleep," Hortense said as she crept cautiously to the top.
She opened the door very gently and peered in. Aunt Esmerelda still sat in her corner, asleep. Hortense motioned to Andy, who came as quietly as he could, which wasn't very quiet for his heels clumped loudly on the stairs.
"Hush!" Hortense whispered. "Now go as fast and as quietly as you can across the kitchen. Hide behind the barn, and I'll follow you."
Andy ran across the room, but as he went out of the door he struck his toe against the sill, making a great clatter.