Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothe
st and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix – the villagers pronounced this name "Dellacroy" – eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys. The girls stood aside, talking among themselves, looking over their shoulders at the boys, and the very small children rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers or sisters. Whose behavior is ironic in this excerpt?
1. the villagers, for their pronunciation of Delacroix
2. the girls, for talking among themselves
3. the boys, for making and guarding the pile of stones
4. the very small children, for rolling in the dust
5. Mark this and return Save and Exit Next
This metaphor helps readers understand how valuable the words were to the girl. Pearls are rare and expensive finds. To the girl the mothers words gave her hope and meant more than treasure to her. The metaphor expresses her appreciation and gratitude for the mothers words.
“And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense?—now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too.”
