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[burntcopper]

37834 / 50000

75%, day 17. I thank you.

:sigh: any ideas of off behaviour I could use as faintly suspicious for the toff who's pretending to be a servant? I want at least a couple of off notes in his behaviour - all I've got currently is that the toff who's his brother talks to him more as a mate than a servant. I can't use the Sherlock Holmes test of, say, appearance of hands because said toff works on the boats and his nominal 'job' includes this, and it's common knowledge that he's only valeting to help out. (and it doesn't help that his accent is different enough that the other servants couldn't tell what was posh or working class for the county he comes from)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/north_east/8365494.stm - landslide threatening Local hero village. Bloody clay-based rocks.

Comments

[the-magician.livejournal.com]

Not knowing the content of a lower-class dish, like bubble and squeak, or hoping for a game pie at the football match?

Knowing how to pronounce the vineyard of a fine wine, or to tell if it's a good year from the bouquet?

Wearing far too expensive a pair of shoes?

Better dental work than expected?

Knowing the correct form of address for a Viscount?

Knowledge of ancient Greek or Latin?

[gerriparker.livejournal.com]

could you use a language quirk instead of an accent thing - like saying 'restroom' instead of 'loo' - or some other variation that fits your time period and setting? or maybe not knowing quite how to finish off a particular job - if it were a maid I'd suggest not knowing how to finsih of making the bed properly, i.e. not getting the corners quite right

[omylouse.livejournal.com]

all I've got currently is that the toff who's his brother talks to him more as a mate than a servant

Even bigger slip is him replying to his brother in like manner (& not getting told off for it)

I agree on the 'better quality than expected' clothing & not knowing how to complete certain tasks (or even realising that said task has to be done by him)

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

There's also the 'good manners' side - when under stress, he gets more and more polite instead of vice versa, and it's almost unheard of for him to swear. Or the not understanding about lack of money - I'm guessing that your toff-in-disguise is also a rich toff, and therefore he wouldn't even stop to consider how much something costs.

[gmh.livejournal.com]

Maybe I'm misreading this, but AFAIAA, getting more polite in manner and tone is a decidedly middle-class habit; the toffs and the toughs tend to swear like troopers.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends on which era you're thinking of.

[gmh.livejournal.com]

If it's not an impertinent question (or, well, even if it is) - which era are you thinking of?

The young bucks have always been a pretty rowdy lot left to their own devices (c.f. Wodehouse's references to Wooster and his chums ending up falling afoul of the law on sundry minor offences, typically relating to hi-jinks and public order); and this goes back through the centuries: P.A.V.'s linking to the Cleveland St. Scandal, the Hellfire Club, the Cavaliers, Shakespeare's Prince Hal; Richard Couer de Lion; you name it.

(Prince Philip is also a prime example of the sort; when you're the Prince Consort, you really don't need to be polite if you don't feel like it.)


In court and formal society, then yes, manners were to be tip-top or you would be persona non grata PDQ.

In the field, the upper and lower classes typically called a spade a spade (or, equally often, a bloody spade) - any hesitation or cavilling about such terms would have marked you out as a member of the middle classes. Hence 'U and non-U'.

In fiction of the interwar period, the impeturbable are nearly always middle-class - Jeeves and Bunter being two notable examples; the aristocrats they accompany are far more erratic, given to emotional outbursts and the habit of getting themselves into scrapes.

[gmh.livejournal.com]

the impeturbable are nearly always middle-class

On a second's reflection, this does not apply to women, especially aunts and great-aunts; who manifest usually as awful and terrifying voices of authority.

[burntcopper.livejournal.com]

ooo, there's a thought, since I've already characterised the *actual* valet as somewhat restrained and the toff as more carefree, emphasising would work.

[gmh.livejournal.com]

Shameless Sayers reference: being able to tie a bow tie, but only poorly?

(For those who don't know the reference: Bunter says to Lord Peter that the mark of a gentleman is to know how to, but not to be very good at it - as it would be something your gentleman would do for you.

Conversely, knowing how to tie one too well would imply that you didn't have a gentleman to do it.

Bunter's comment to Wimsey's efforts, was IIRC 'A little too perfect, milord'. Must look it up.)