Help! I am going mad!" She twisted the paper, looked around the room vainly for string, and finally tore a thin piece of ribbon from her dress.

She tied the message around the ball, set her teeth, and threw it at the empty skylight.

The first time she was not successful and the ball came back.

The second time it passed through the centre of the opening.

She heard it strike the sound portion of the glass outside, heard it rumble down the roof.