Death. Earlier it talks about how he's been in this school since he was six months old, and he'd never experienced local life before because he was so sheltered. He's never taken public transportation and has only met a few locals in his life. Also the narrator keeps bringing up the human mysteries of the world, which makes me think this kid doesn't know a lot about the real world and now after experiencing death for the first time he feels this feeling that he and everyone else'll die one day, but he's still new to the whole reality thing, so he's not exactly sure of what it is thats "coming for him as much as for anybody"

ironic because he's blind to a good portion of reality.

the skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by an individual or population, viewed in terms of their value or cost to an organization or country.

I wonder who/what she's referring to when she says "them"

I feel the narrator chose "prattle" here to describe Aggie speaking because it's how Bill Peak feels about it (insignificant chatter), but she's talking about something serious, going to see her dead sister who's name people throw a lot of shade on apparently. And this is especially serious for an almost 9yr old little girl to go through, w/ nobody else by her side, her sister was her last living family member... the more I think about it, the more serious it sounds to me, but I guess since it has nothing to do with my guy Bill's situation, this girl's just foolishly rambling about something inconsequential.

foolish or inconsequential talk.

the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral; convenience.

This makes me think Bill didn't nod his head yes, but instead as part of a cheat code for the game. (up,down,up,down,right,left,left) for wrist knives.

This laying out sounds like a funeral.

I feel the narrator is trying to deliver the moral that imperfection on earth is perfect because thats how its supposed to be. If Alymer didn't find this birthmark as a flaw, he would have been happy with his wife instead of seeking out perfection when its already there.

Aminadab had no problem with the mark; If Georgiana were his wife he would've loved her the way she was and in that aspect he would have a sort of "heaven on earth." The celestial, being heaven, or wherever her soul goes, carries the same texture because it is perfect. And Alymer's life would have been so, if he could see that his wife was perfect with her "imperfection."

I think they're talking about perfection. Earlier in the paragraph the birthmark is described as a token of human imperfection" So perfection in a realm where imperfection is natural, demands the "completeness of a higher state" meaning an inhuman state, bringing death to her current human state.

show or feel elation or jubilation, especially as the result of a success.

synonyms: rejoice

Aminadab is putting things into perspective, implying that Aylmer is irrational in his feelings for this birthmark. Unlike Aylmer, Aminadab doesn't think the birthmark subtracts from Georgiana's beauty at all.

Alymer believes that a birthmark like hers could compliment and add to the appearance of less physically attractive people. But his wife is so beautiful, this mark takes away from her beauty.

He was jealous of his wife's beauty?

very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

a person's face or facial expression.

a devoted follower, adherent, or advocate of someone or something.

The first thing that came to mind was the double standard on sex: If a woman sleeps around she's condemned by society, but its socially acceptable for a man to do the same thing.

This is what is foreshadowed by the line about black cats being witches in disguise.