A pool of tears (Metaphor)
A visit to Bedlam leaves a long-lasting impression on Mr. Harley. He meets there a woman whose misfortunes make his heart ache. She told him a story of her life which was one of the most touching and tragic he has ever heard. He took her hand, held it and “bathed it with his tears”. He cried so hard that the hand he held became wet.
Experience and tolerance (Metaphor)
Mr. Atkins sees that his daughter has suffered enough and there is no need to make her suffer any longer. Both of them need a good rest. He says that, “time may teach us to remember out misfortunes with patience”. The thing he means is that time and experience can make us be more tolerable to other people’s mistakes.
People with narrow hearts (Metaphor)
Mr. Harley has to admit that not everyone is like him, Mr. Edwards or his other friends. They are not ruled with kindness. According to him, those people have “narrow hearts”. If they had bigger, wider hears, they wouldn’t behave like that.
Overflowing with emotions (Simile)
When Mr. Harley learns the story of Old Edwards, tears start running down his chicks. He can’t believe that this old man had to endure so many struggles in order to return to his family. Mr. Harley “blubbers like a boy”, for tears and emotions prevent him from speaking.
Kind and gentle (Simile)
Mr. Harley is an extremely compassionate, kind and pleasant man. There is no one who can say a bad word about him, for he always tries to be as good as possible to others. It is said as he is “as gentle as a lamb”, implying that he is absolutely harmless and trusting.
