<span>The tone of the final words of the speaker is ominous. He is implying that the duchess is dead without outright saying she is thus. From a certain point of view, it could even be argued that he implies that he may have had a hand in the duchess' smiles stopping.</span>
The author is using a simile to express how her memory has become blurry.
First-person point of view. If it was written in third person limited then you would only get the thoughts and feelings of only one character in the story,but if it was written in third person omniscient, then you would see the thoughts and feelings of another character. After that it goes to third person omniscient you may know things that other characters may not know yet.
Answer:
an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation
