In the story, Doris Lessing makes extensive use of imagery and symbolism to present to the reader the painful conflict that is disturbing the relationship between an old man and his favourite granddaughter, Alice.
             Alice is obviously likened to the favourite pigeon. The old man can keep the bird in where he cannot control Alice. But when he receives the new pigeon, he is able to release the favourite: he accepts that shutting it in is not right. The present suggests that there may be some compensation for the old man in the new situation.
             The old man feelings are made clear through the symbolism of the favourite pigeon which he:
             "deliberately held out on his wrist for the bird to take flight" before suddenly withdrawing it and fastening it back in "a small box". This is what he would like to do to his granddaughter who is also about to take 'flight' into the freedom of the adult world.
             The author has used the gate as a symbol to suggest the point of transition between home and the outside world, childhood and maturity. The fact that Alice is swinging on the gate suggests that she is ready to leave her childhood behind her. When she gazes up the road it is clear that her thoughts are elsewhere.
             Throughout the story, Alice, the young woman, is closely connected with nature. As she swings on the gate: "her long bare legs repeated the angles of the frangipani tree".
             At the end of the story, the old man comes to realise that he cannot keep his beloved granddaughter forever. Comforted by the gift of another young pigeon, he sets his favourite free to fly in a symbolic gesture that proves his painful acceptance of the fact that he must allow Alice the freedom to grow into maturity. The birds wheel "in a wide circle" before returning to "the shadowed earth" and this circular movement both reflects the movement of the story – which starts and finishes with the old man at the dovecote – and suggests the idea ...