Kipling uses alliteration in his description of Michael's development from infant to boy. This alliteration contributes to the easygoing rhythm of the story and reinforces the reader's positive feelings around Helen and Michael.
In a few years Michael took his place, as accepted as Helen had always been – fearless, philosophical, and fairly good-looking.
Besides including many words that contain an s-sound, this sentence is punctuated by the alliteration of the f-sound. The pleasant, flowing sound of this alliterative description indicates that, despite the suggestions that Michael is Helen's illegitimate son and that the people in the village know it, both Helen and Michael are appreciated members of the community. The aunt/mother and nephew/son are both known for their courageous, thoughtful personalities and agreeable looks. Perhaps more importantly, the description indicates that their traits emphasize their similarities. Not only does Michael grow up to have the "Turrell forehead" and "widely spaced eyes" that are typical in the family, the emotional and intellectual aspects of his disposition consolidate him as a "Turrell all over." Helen is careful with directly pointing out that he looks like her, but puts effort into denying that he bears any resemblance to his supposed mother.
The soft, flowing quality of the repeated f-sound adds to the reader's impression that Helen and Michael have a sweet rapport, even if their happy and simple life springs out of circumstances that are both mired in dishonesty and possess a tragic facade.
