Repeated Line (Simile)
"She repeated the line over and over again... as though some one had had a bet with her that she could not repeat the line aloud two thousand times without stopping." (2)
This simile is slight and used for humorous effect. The seriousness of the bachelor's tone contrasts with the silly notion that someone would ever make such a bet with a child. However, British education has a long tradition of memorization and recitation, so there are darkly critical undertones to this exaggerated statement.
Eating Milk Puddings (Simile)
"She... ate milk puddings as though they were jam tarts." (4)
The bachelor uses this simile in his description of Bertha, the little girl in his story. Instead of thinking milk pudding is boring, like a normal child might, Bertha reacts as if they are a delicious treat. He uses this fact, along with saying Bertha was clean and polite, to show what a good little girl Bertha was in the estimation of adults like the children's aunt.
Conversational in a Limited, Persistent Way (Metaphor)
"Both the aunt and the children were conversational in a limited, persistent way, reminding one of the attentions of a housefly that refuses to be discouraged." (1)
This metaphor comes in the first paragraph of the story. Importantly, the narrator is critical of both the aunt and the children, and even accuses them of the same fault. This shows how the children have modeled themselves somewhat after their aunt, though they dislike her and make a point to disrespect her story and her orders later on.
