She had thought that of course Tom had deserted long ago, and she wondered at seeing him place himself in her power again in this intrepid way.

Gemini:

Wondered AT

The Logic: Why do we use At? In English, verbs that describe an emotional reaction to a specific stimulus follow the Target/Point mental model.

Aunt Polly’s wonder is not a general feeling about the world; it is focused on a specific point or event (specifically, seeing Tom return). Her amazement is "aimed" directly at Tom's unexpected behavior. Just as you aim a physical object at a target, your mind aims an emotion at the thing that triggered it.

Similar Examples (Targeting a Point):

Surprised at: Being startled by a specific event or news.

Shocked at: A reaction directed at a specific disturbing fact.

Laugh at: Directing your laughter toward a specific person or joke (the target).

Angry at: Directing your anger toward a specific individual or situation.

Summary: Whenever an emotion is a reaction to a specific trigger, think of that trigger as a "point" on a map and use At.

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His soul was at peace, now that he had settled with Sid for calling attention to his black thread and getting him into trouble.

Gemini:

AT peace (State of Being)

Mental Model: Functional Point / Status.

Explanation: When we describe a person's "functional status" or their position on a scale of emotion/activity, we use At. It suggests the soul has reached its "destination" of calmness.

Examples: At rest, At play, At risk.

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The young lady teachers “showed off”—bending sweetly over pupils that were lately being boxed, lifting pretty warning fingers at bad little boys and patting good ones lovingly.

Gemini:

Lifting fingers AT bad little boys

Mental Model: Target / Direction.

Logic: The finger is used as a pointer or a "weapon" of warning. The "bad boys" are the specific targets of this gesture. Whenever a gesture is directed toward someone to get their attention or send a message, we use At.

Key Concept: Think of At as the arrowhead in a vector; it shows exactly where the action is aimed

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Presently a vagrant poodle dog came idling along, sad at heart, lazy with the summer softness and the quiet, weary of captivity, sighing for change.

Gemini:

Sad AT heart

Mental Model: Focal Point / Core.

Logic: The "heart" is treated as the central coordinate of one's true nature or feelings. Instead of viewing the body as a large container, At heart pinpoints the exact origin of the sadness.

Modern Usage: We use this to describe someone's true character: "He is a kind man at heart

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He surveyed the prize; walked around it; smelt at it from a safe distance; walked around it again; grew bolder, and took a closer smell; then lifted his lip and made a gingerly snatch at it, just missing it; made another, and another;

Gemini:

Smelt AT vs. Snatch AT

Smelt AT it

Mental Model: Focused Target.

Logic: The dog isn't just perceiving a scent in the air; he is directing his sense of smell toward a specific point (the beetle). At turns the beetle into a coordinate for his nose.

Snatch AT it

Mental Model: Attempted Contact / Directional Aim.

Logic: Using At with verbs of "taking" or "hitting" often implies that you moved toward the target but missed, or the focus is on the direction of the movement rather than the result.

Key Rule: Action + AT = Trying to hit a target