It's a kind of snob slang, I think.

Of course people don't always say 'rather' or 'in a way' to be superior." "I should say not! I use both of 'em a great deal myself," said George.

"One thing I don't see though: What's the use of a man being six-feet-three?
Men that size can't handle themselves as well as a man about five-feet-eleven and a half can.

Those long, gangling men, they're nearly always too kind of wormy to be any good in athletics, and they're so awkward they keep falling over chairs or--" "Mr.Pembroke is in the army," said Lucy primly.

"He's extraordinarily graceful." "In the army?
Oh, I suppose he's some old friend of your father's." "They got on very well," she said, "after I introduced them." George was a straightforward soul, at least.