From an interview with Herrick Grimmer, Head Butler to the Redde-Chapel sisters:

"The ladies are delightful. Oh, some call them strange and keep their distance, but walk out one's door and try to avoid the brutish and intellectually tepid ... it is simply impossible.

For Mrs. Undercrypt's birthday, Mrs. Dreadpenny insisted on making the cake herself. It was unheard of! Madam in the common kitchen in her dress blacks wearing the cook's unpressed apron! (He shakes his head.)

It was a red velvet cake ... frosted to look like an animal ... grey ... an armadillo, I believe it was. No candles or bows of icing. Mrs. Dreadpenny, presenting the creation, pulled a small cleaver out of her pocket and chopped the thing off at the neck - exposing the red cake beneath.

Mrs. Undercrypt squealed with happiness and they both erupted into endless peals of laughter. They're so very childlike, really. In the light ... (his voice trails off) ... their eyes ... (barely a whisper) ... the same yellow ..."