How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
'Oh, it's a good story, as a story,' returned that gentleman; 'as good a thing of its kind as need be. This Mr. Dorrit (his name is Dorrit) had incurred a responsibility to us, ages before the fairy came out of the Bank and gave him his fortune [...] When the fairy had appeared and he wanted to pay us off, Egad we had got into such an exemplary state of checking and counter-checking, signing and counter-signing, that it was six months before we knew how to take the money, or how to give a receipt for it. It was a triumph of public business,' said this handsome young Barnacle, laughing heartily, 'You never saw such a lot of forms in your life.' [...] Mr. Tite Barnacle's view of the business was of a less airy character. He took it ill that Mr. Dorrit had troubled the Department by wanting to pay the money, and considered it a grossly informal thing to do after so many years. (2.12.48-49)
It might be interesting to try to find all the instances where characters find something too "informal," and how ludicrous each example is. Here, Barnacle thinks that paying back a debt to get out of prison is informal. Dorrit thinks it's too informal to meet new prisoners walking around the yard. Can you think of other people who use this word? Is it ever really appropriate in the novel or is it always just a way to assert superiority?