How does Elizabeth Gaskell use imagery in North and South?

Imagery:

"That night Mr. Hale laid his head down on the pillow on which it never more should stir with life."

"Neither the loss of father, nor loss of mother, dear as she was to Mr. Thornton, could have poisoned the remembrance of the weeks, the days, the hours, when a walk of two miles, every step of which was pleasant, as it brought him nearer to her, took him to her sweet presence- every step of which was rich, as each recurring moment bore him away from her made him recall some fresh grace in her demeanor, or pleasant pungency in her character."