Which transitional phrases indicate time relationships?

Which line from the story of my life by helen keller is an example of a simile? during the whole trip i did not have one fit of temper, there were so many things to keep my mind and fingers busy. i was like that ship before my education began, only i was without compass or sounding-line, and had no way of knowing how near the harbour was. one day, while i was playing with my new doll, miss sullivan put my big rag doll into my lap also, spelled "d-o-l-l" and tried to make me understand that "d-o-l-l" applied to both. child as i was, i at once felt the tenderness and sympathy which endeared dr. bell to so many hearts, as his wonderful achievements enlist their admiration.

Iam trying to  get  a call through to san francisco. (send, put)

Ill she not be here anon? is she not hurrying to upbraid me for my haste? have i not heard her footstep on the stair? do i not distinguish that heavy and horrible beating of her heart? what is the effect of parallelism in this excerpt? it emphasizes usher’s misunderstanding. it emphasizes usher’s love for his sister. it emphasizes usher’s psychological fixation. it emphasizes usher’s melancholy nature.