"I'll show you," said Hortense, "but first I must let Andy in. The cellar door's sure to be locked. You all wait here until we come."
She found her way into the dark kitchen and, unlocking the door, stood at the head of the stairs. Soon she heard bumps in the wooden box.
"Is that you, Andy?" she called softly.
"Yes," said a muffled voice, and she heard him stumbling in the dark.
Andy found his way to the stairs at last and soon stood beside her. Hortense took him by the hand and led him to Grandmother's room.
"This is Andy," she said to the others.
"Let us smell him," said Coal and Ember, "so we'll know him in the dark."
They sniffed at his heels, and Owl glared fiercely at him.
"It's not the boy who robbed my nest," said Owl. "It's lucky for his hair."
"Now we'll go into the parlor for the others," said Hortense, leading the way.