White angels
The boys in the school chapel are described as "singing and looking like white angels in the school chapel" because they are dressed in white surplices and starched white collars. The comparison describes how the lads appear in the chapel, as they are pure and heavenly in their white clothes. The analogy also portrays the impression of peace and serenity associated with angels, as well as the idea that the lads feel peaceful and fellowship when they are in the chapel. This simile portrays the school chapel's sense of unity and community, as well as how the boys may gather together peacefully and pleasantly.
Shop assistant
Evelyn is attempting to sell Faith several kinds of stuff for her new home. The simile "You sound like a shop assistant trying to make a sale" compares Evelyn's pressing things on Faith to a shop assistant trying to make a sale. This simile emphasizes Evelyn's persistence in convincing Faith to accept the items. It also means that she is acting out of love and concern, as opposed to a shop assistant who is attempting to make a sale to benefit the consumer.
Spiky nails and razor eyes
The phrase "He comes out of the dark night with his spiky nails and razor eyes" alludes to the Ratcatcher, a mythological figure intended to terrify mischievous children. The Ratcatcher is depicted as a scary character in this metaphor, with his gloomy night signifying the darkness of evil and his spiky claws and razor eyes representing his malice. This metaphor sheds light on the Ratcatcher's personality and his ability to draw children into the abyss. The metaphor also acts as a caution to children to avoid such perilous personalities.
Borrowed package
The simile "she would have handed me back like a borrowed package" is used to compare Evelyn's grandmother's treatment of her if she had known she was still alive. The simile implies that her grandma would have been uninterested in her and would have returned her to her mother as if she were a package she had borrowed. This comparison underlines Evelyn's lack of warmth and connection with her grandma and communicates the notion that she was not valued by her. It also implies that her grandmother would have been indifferent to her presence and would have been eager to send her to her mother.
A chimney
The term "smoking like a chimney" is commonly used to describe someone who smokes strongly and frequently, implying that Eva has suddenly become a regular smoker. This is underscored by the fact that Lil quickly chastises her for it, despite Eva's apparent enjoyment of smoking. By comparing Eva's smoking to that of a chimney, the author emphasizes how rapidly Eva picked up the habit and how intense her smoking is.
