“A true story” he told her gently, as though she were a child” - “A Country Girl”
Paul Montgomery’s tenderness is a rhetorical invite which persuades Elizabeth and May that Paul Montgomery’s intent is to present Mrs. Harris’ life through a material story. The metaphor of a child emphasizes the plausible guarantee in Paul Montgomery’s declaration.
“The Place was like an opera set” - “A Country Girl”
Paul Montgomery finds Mrs. Harris’s studio captivating due to “Mint and verbena and lavender and geraniums (that) loomed pungently at his feet. The last irises were gone to parchment now, and the Shasta daisies were taking their turn. Hollyhocks towered over the iron gate to the chapel.” The place is delightful due to the omnipresence of outstanding, seductive plants. The stunning plants would have amplified the enactment of an opera.
Lifelessness - “A Country Girl”
Mary Hood observes, “The bundled papers were yellowed, he could catch a whiff of them, a cellar dankness. The table stood just so in the slant of light, the ink gone to dust in the well. They moved from pane to pane, staring into obscurity.” Mrs. Hood studio appears to be unconscious for Paul Montgomery due to the inconspicuousness that it presents. The studio is unresponsive because Mrs. Harris is no longer there to make it dynamic.The studio's life was dependent on Mrs. Harris' existence.
“She polished a little twig smooth as a chicken bone and broke it in three.” - “A Country Girl”
Elizabeth breaks down the twig, in between an exchange with Paul Montgomery, to validate to Paul Montgomery how stress-free it is for a heart to rip to shreds. The breakability of the human heart is comparable to smooth twig’s brittleness.
the old Chevy, its prime and rust like an Appaloosa’s spots through the chalky white finish” - “How Far She Went”
The long-standing Chevy is dappled. The spots comprise of its white color and rust. Based on this simile, the Chevy is timeworn; thus, its original color has transformed into spatters. The color of the Chevy epitomizes its fortitude.
“Restless as a child” - “How Far She Went”
The dog’s edginess, when grandmother holds him, is analogous to a child’s. The dog has a preference for running around instead of being held. The dog’s agitation implies that it is not at ease in the surroundings.
“Insect-like distracting” - “How Far She Went”
The sound from the motorcycles is as upsetting as the sound of insects. This means that the sound is deafening and inconvenient for the granny who is endeavoring to concentrate on her farm work and thoughts. The disturbance foreshadows the imminent distress from the riders.
