Question

victoriano bowed, saying, “will you go to my house?
“no, i’d rather not. i am not dressed to be seen by ladies. i
would rather speak to you here.”
“you are going to build a large house, mr. darrell?” said
victoriano, turning his horse so as to ride beside clarence; “judging
by the amount of lumber being hauled.”
“yes, rather. we are a large family, and require a good deal of
room. but before we do any more work i want to speak with your
father. i want to ask him—ask him as a favor—and yet, as a
business proposition”—he hesitated; he was evidently embarrassed;
but victoriano, not guessing the drift of his words, remained waiting
silently, offering no assistance. “well,” he continued, “i mean this: i
don’t like this fashion of taking people’s lands, and i would like to pay
to señor alamar for what has been located by us, but at the same
time i do not wish my father to know that i have paid for the land, as i
am sure he would take my action as a reproach—as a disclaimer of
his own action, and i don’t wish to hurt his feelings, or seem to be
disrespectful.”
“i understand, and i think my father will be willing to sell the
land. he is at home now. let us go up to see him.”
“had you not better speak to him, and make an appointment for
me to see him to - morrow, or some other time? i’d rather not risk
belong seen by the ladies in this blue flannel shirt and heavy boots. i
look too rough—like a smuggler or a squatter, sure.”
“i can call my father to speak to you outside, so that the ladies
need not see you. but if they should, that needn’t disturb you. they
have too much sense not to know that you would not be working in
white kid gloves. come on. the front veranda is empty. mother and
three of my sisters are at the méchlin’s. mercedes is the only one at
home, and she is too busy with her embroidery in madam halier’s
room to come near you. i’ll bring father to the front veranda.”
clarence and victoriano tied their horses by the garden gate
and walked to the piazza. the hall door was ajar. clarence saw no
ladies about and felt reassured.
select the correct answer.
which statement expresses why the author most likely includes the last sentence in the passage?
a. to slow down the pace of the narrative by revealing clarence’s internal monologue.
b. to foreshadow that clarence will in fact run into one of the women in the house.
c. to characterize clarence as an extremely shy person who avoids most interaction.
d. to show that clarence is relieved that he will not have to confront don mariano.

Answer:

D. To show that Clarence is relieved that he will not have to confront Don Mariano.