"What were their thoughts?..."See in text("The Doll's House")
The narrator again speaks directly to readers, asking them to imagine what Lil and Else are thinking after having been so humiliated by Kezia’s aunt. The question is an appeal to readers’ empathy for the abuse experienced by the children.
"Lil's cheeks were still burning..."See in text("The Doll's House")
Lil, unlike Else, is old enough to understand why she and her sister are treated with such cruel disdain; consequently, her emotional response at being so unfairly mistreated and humiliated is one of anger and resentment.
"while they chewed their jam sandwiches out of a newspaper soaked with large red blobs...."See in text("The Doll's House")
While the other girls have a substantial lunch, including meat, Lil and Else have only sandwiches made of jam. The contrast emphasizes Lil and Else’s poverty, as does their sandwiches being wrapped in newspaper.
"Even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the other children when Lil Kelvey came up to her desk with a bunch of dreadfully common-looking flowers...."See in text("The Doll's House")
Even the teacher does not accept the Kelvey children; the “special smile” she gives the other children implies that she and they are united in their disdain for Lil Kelvey and her gift of flowers. That Lil would bring her teacher flowers that she no doubt picked herself speaks to Lil’s innocence and sweet nature, emphasizing the contrast between her character and the smug arrogance of her teacher and classmates.
"Not to stay to tea, of course, or to come traipsing through the house. But just to stand quietly in the courtyard..."See in text("The Doll's House")
The passage implies the social order in the Burnells’ society. Girls from the school will be allowed to come to the Burnells’ home, but they must stay outside in the courtyard and will not be entertained as guests.
"Isabel was bossy, but she was always right, and Lottie and Kezia knew too well the powers that went with being eldest...."See in text("The Doll's House")
All of the Burnell children, three sisters, have now been brought into the story and their relationships defined, with Isabel’s bossy nature as the oldest of the three established. Kezia’s special attachment to the little lamp suggests that she is the youngest.
"But what Kezia liked more than anything, what she liked frightfully, was the lamp...."See in text("The Doll's House")
Mansfield continues to introduce characters indirectly into the story, rather than identifying them through exposition. In the context of the narrative as it has developed so far, it can be inferred that Kezia is one of the Burnell children.
