The first house to which they bent their steps, was situated in a terrace of respectable appearance. Miss Snevellicci’s modest double–knock was answered by a foot–boy, who, in reply to her inquiry whether Mrs Curdle was at home, opened his eyes very wide, grinned very much, and said he didn’t know, but he’d inquire. With this he showed them into a parlour where he kept them waiting, until the two women–servants had repaired thither, under false pretences, to see the play–actors; and having compared notes with them in the passage, and joined in a vast quantity of whispering and giggling, he at length went upstairs with Miss Snevellicci’s name.