The world is full of men who ought never to shave their upper lip, and Blair Eggleston was one of them. Coming out into the open, as it were, like this, he had revealed himself the possessor of a not very good mouth. A peevish mouth. The sort of mouth that bred doubts in a girl.
In P.G. Wodehouse's "Hot Water," the author introduces Blair Eggleston, a man whose appearance and demeanor provoke skepticism. The quote suggests that some individuals, like Eggleston, may not possess the charm or appeal typically associated with grooming, particularly when it comes to how they present themselves. His upper lip, which might traditionally be associated with a confident image, instead reveals insecurities that undermine his interaction with others.
This lack of appeal is emphasized by the description of his mouth as "peevish," which adds to the overall impression that Eggleston is someone who can easily generate doubts in those around him. It reflects how a person's physical features can influence perceptions, particularly in romantic contexts, highlighting a theme of how outward appearances can betray inner traits and cause hesitations in relationships.