Pang - “The Miser’s Children”
Shepard Lee writes, “The first pang was inflicted by the girl Alicia, and I felt it keenly—not, indeed, that I had any particular parental affection for her, as doubtless I should have had, had she not run away so opportunely.” The pang is figurative of the agony which Lee bears as a result of being Alicia’s guardian/father. The deployment of ‘pang’ stresses that their father-daughter connection is not pleasurable.
Fire - “The Miser’s Children”
Sheppard Lee acknowledges, “I received letters from the damsel also, but they went into the fire like the others; and my rage waxing higher and higher as the time of settlement drew nigh, I set myself to work to frame such a guardian's account as would materially lessen the amount of my losses.” The fire is emblematic of Sheppard Lee’s rage which is attributed to the obligation for him to forfeit a real estate business to Sammy Wilkins.
Demon - “The Fate of the Firstborn”
Sheppard Lee writes, “I cast my eyes upon Ralph. He reached over a table behind which he stood, and waved his hand to and fro, as if, had he been nigh enough, he would have buffeted me on the face. His look was that of a demon, and he spat the foam from his lips, as if to testify the extremity of hatred.” The demonic look depicts Ralph loathing for Sheppard Lee which is ascribed to the notion that Lee is liable for his situation of being detained after committing felonies.
