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
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)
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.
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.
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
( ... )
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.)
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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?
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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)
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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 ( ... )
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(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.)
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