I think that even then I had an instinctive doubt whether formlessness was really better than
formality. Something, it seems to me, may be contained and kept alive in
formality, but in formlessness everything spills and wastes away.
All constraint and
formality quickly disappeared, and the friendliest feeling succeeded.
Through him I was at once delivered from all
formality, and terror, and constraint.
The hut was occupied by an old priest, and as the boy in armor pushed in, without the usual
formality of knocking the old man looked up with an expression of annoyance and disapproval.
It's a mere
formality," he added, with a side look at my mistress; "but the servants will accept it as even dealing between them and their betters; and, instead of hindering the investigation, they will make a point of honour of assisting it."
'Whether I shall introduce myself with the same
formality,' said Mr Pluck--'whether I shall say myself that my name is Pluck, or whether I shall ask my friend Pyke (who being now regularly introduced, is competent to the office) to state for me, Mrs Nickleby, that my name is Pluck; whether I shall claim your acquaintance on the plain ground of the strong interest I take in your welfare, or whether I shall make myself known to you as the friend of Sir Mulberry Hawk-- these, Mrs Nickleby, are considerations which I leave to you to determine.'
"The fact is," Sir Percival went on, walking nervously about the room, "I want Fosco and his wife in the library, for a mere business
formality, and I want you there, Laura, for a minute too." He stopped, and appeared to notice, for the first time, that we were in our walking costume.
The Militia of the Equilaterals was at once called out; and every Triangle suspected of Irregularity on reasonable grounds, was destroyed by Court Martial, without the
formality of exact measurement by the Social Board.
Bingley had never met with more pleasant people or prettier girls in his life; everybody had been most kind and attentive to him; there had been no
formality, no stiffness; he had soon felt acquainted with all the room; and, as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful.
"My lord," said D'Artagnan, "your eminence sees that we wish to act with all
formality and due respect; but I must warn you that we have no time to lose; open the door then, my lord, and be so good as to remember, once for all, that on the slightest attempt to escape or the faintest cry for help, our position being very critical indeed, you must not be angry with us if we go to extremities."
Before his brother, as before everyone, Vronsky addressed Anna with a certain
formality, treating her as he might a very intimate friend, but it was understood that his brother knew their real relations, and they talked about Anna's going to Vronsky's estate.
You spoke of
formality just now, apropos of the inquiry, you know.