How we cite our quotes: (Paragraph)
Quote #1
He spent all that day roaming over the house. He nearly drowned himself in the bath-tubs, put his nose into the ink on a writing-table, and burned it on the end of the big man's cigar, for he climbed up in the big man's lap to see how writing was done. (15)
The world inside the human's bungalow sure sounds dangerous, but it's a playful danger. Picture this scene with the Benny Hill theme in the background, and you'll see what we mean.
Quote #2
It was a large garden, only half cultivated, with bushes as big as summer-houses of Marshal Niel roses, lime and orange trees, clumps of bamboos, and thickets of high grass. Rikki-tikki licked his lips. "This is a splendid hunting-ground," he said, […]. (18)
Although it's technically a garden, this description invokes vast, untamed stretches of a jungle. But once it's "fully cultivated" instead of only "half cultivated," will the family even need Rikki-tikki anymore?
Quote #3
When he had lifted one-third of himself clear of the ground, he stayed balancing to and fro exactly as a dandelion-tuft balances in the wind, and he looked at Rikki-tikki with the wicked snake's eyes that never changed their expression, whatever the snake may be thinking of. (23)
Nag gets a little natural description with that "dandelion-tuft." Maybe not too sinister, but those snake eyes sure look evil.