point of honour.] He would feel himself disgraced if he gave way.
Mother Earth.] Earth is here pictured as a person. There is a well-known story of a giant who gained fresh power every time his body touched the earth, which was his Mother.
Furies.] These were supposed to be certain demons, who pursued guilty men with loud cries.
the servant was master.] Notice the play of words here. The "servant" and "master" change places.
critical juncture.] At this exact moment when things were so dangerous.
Dada.] The usual Bengal word for "Brother."
no love was lost.] This is a mild way of saying that they disliked one another.
on pins and needles.] Exceedingly restless; like some one standing on sharp points.
in perpetuity.] The phrase is a mock legal one, meaning "for all time."
by no means pleased.] She was very displeased, because she had already children of her own. In English a phrase is often put in a negative way to imply a very strong positive statement. Thus "by no means happy" may mean "very unhappy."