Preserve appearances

[Johnyxxx]

Hello,


Does the bold text means the family wanted to look good, be neatly dressed etc. in order not to make the brother to be ashamed of them?

"Before the final smash came, one of my sisters married the younger son of a distinguished family, and even if they had been disposed to live comfortably and sensibly she would have kept her sisters up to the mark. My only brother, too, was an officer, and of course the family thought it necessary he should see we preserved appearances."


Thanks a lot.

 

[Rover_KE]

Source and author?

 

[Johnyxxx]

Source and author?

Murray Gilchrist, My Friend, 190?

 

[Skrej]

No, in this case it means maintain the appearance of an affluent lifestyle.

 

[Tdol]

I agree with Skrej- simply living comfortably and sensibly would not have maintained appearances.