Another hat! Mansfield loves writing about hats. I think they signify (or at least used to) so much about one's social status.

A lot of these stories include songs. I'm always interested in how readers fill in a melody (if at all) for songs in literature.

Seems important. Joe doesn't respect Maria's boundaries.

More talk about money. It's interesting to see which characters are concerned with money and which aren't

More adverbs of emphasis.

The use of "very, very" and "indeed" is interesting. Gives the story a bit of a childlike or playful, exaggerated feeling.

Barmbrack is a traditional Irish bread.

Once again the story starts en media res. Who are these characters? I like that we're introduced to the story before the characters.

The use of "...." helps highlight the melancholy memory and wishful thinking of his past. It makes me think of a trailing thought.

I wonder if Joyce got any pushback from churches for a description like this.

This conjures such a vivid image of effortless, floating musicality.

Not specific what kind of English accent, but the use of "O" at the start of each statement makes it seem like a lowerclass more urban accent.

It would be really interesting to computationally study how money is used in these short stories, as well as looking at the different currencies used and different costs for things.

This little detail adds to the scene. Highlights the reality and silence of grief. It's not anything exciting, but it just makes it seem so much more real for me.

I love the contrast here. It is both something good and bad, pleasant, and vicious. It's almost an oxymoron but it works.

Is a true "full understanding" even possible? Maybe "fuller understanding" would be more accurate.

Note: Look at all the 2016 presidential election predictions. O.o

This is a key point. The study of social media is the study of culture and is not a completely hard/data driven science. Data analysis should be informed by cultural studies/hermeneutics and vice versa.

This is an oxymoron, unless Mansfield means ice, but the image is still very evocative.

Very similar name to Laura. I wonder if this is meant to imply some sort of parallel between these characters.

I wonder if it's significant that Cook's name is capitalized here when it wasn't before.

Despite her mother's warnings, the cook is actually very kind and welcoming. Seems like her mother might have an inaccurate expectation of the working class.

He seems pretty relaxed, considering that he's on the job.

Rereading this section is particularly interesting. This makes me think the jugglers might be the priests.

I like the narrator's criticisms and jabs at upper-class life.

Could it be Raphael?

He's clearly upset about the inequality he sees between the lives of "gentlefolk" and of working people. He sees more value and honor in work and less in more privileged pursuits like art or science (or simply having the free time to goof off or be bored).

I haven't read much literature from the 19th century, but this reminds me a lot of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and how much of the novel took the form of letters, lending it an air of authenticity. I suppose this is kind of a precursor to "found footage" style movies or mockumentaries today.

Are these literal or some contemporary sayings or metaphors that are going over our heads?

This introduction reminds me of the intro to the Lord of The Rings, describing the mythical background and historical provenance of the story's macguffin.