Final answer:
The excerpts about the infant illustrate the range of interactions with and perceptions of children, from their vulnerability to their unexpected role in influencing adult emotions and behaviors. They are depicted as protective triggers, observers, and links to deeper emotional experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the various excerpts provided, we learn that the infant being referred to is seen differently through various characters' perspectives, highlighting innocence, vulnerability, and the development of awareness and bonding. For instance, in the passage 'Little Fay lay in her arms with wide-open eyes...', it is evident that the presence of the infant arouses protective instincts, as seen in the awakening of Jane Withersteen to a 'lion-ess' spirit.
In 'You sit here, Angel, and watch me pack,' we perceive the observant nature of the child, hinting at an early development of understanding and emotional response. The child is described as a quaint and grave figure, possibly reflecting the serious nature sometimes bestowed upon children who are closely attentive to the adults around them.
This reoccurring theme is also seen in passages that discuss children's growth in perception and language, the emotional connection forming between a child and an adult, as articulated in 'He who had yearned for the touch of a hand felt ... the heart-beat of a woman.' Such interactions suggest that children, despite their smallness and seeming insignificance, play a major role in the emotional world of adults, often prompting profound changes and deep connections.