Question

a new england nun
by mary e. wilkins freeman

in about half an hour joe dagget came. she heard his heavy step on the walk, and rose and took off her pink and white apron. under that was still another—white linen with a little crochet edging on the bottom, that was louisa’s company apron. she never wore it without her calico covering apron over it unless she had a guest. she had barely folded the pink and white one with methodical haste and laid it in a table drawer when the door opened and joe dagget entered. he seemed to fill up the whole room. a little yellow canary that had been asleep in its green cage at the south window woke up and fluttered wildly, beating its tiny yellow wings against the wires. he always did so when joe dagget came into the room.

“good evening,” said louisa. she extended her hand with a kind of solemn cordiality.

“good evening, louisa,” returned the man, in a loud voice.

she placed a chair for him, and they sat facing each other, with the table between them.

presently, dagget began fidgeting the books on the table. there was a square red album, a ribbon, and a “young lady’s gift book,” which had belonged to louisa’s mother. he took them up one after the other and opened them, then laid them down again, the album on the gift book.

louisa, busy arranging them with mild unconsciousness, finally she rose and changed the position of the books, putting the album underneath. that was the way they had been arranged in the first place.

dagget gave an awkward little laugh. “how what difference did it make which book was on top?” he said.

louisa looked at him with a deprecating smile. “i always keep them that way,” she murmured.

“oh, i know everything!” said dagget, trying to laugh again. his large face was flushed.

source: from mary e. wilkins freeman’s “a new england nun.” 1898

select the correct answer.

what can you infer about joe dagget’s feelings during his visit with louisa?

a. louisa amuses him and makes him laugh.

b. he is excited to read louisa’s books.

c. he feels awkward about expressing his love for louisa.

d. he is uncomfortable in louisa’s house

Explanation:

The text shows Joe Dagger fidgets with books awkwardly, forces laughs, and flushes when interacting with Louisa. His actions (fussing over book order, nervous laughter, flushed face) indicate discomfort expressing his feelings directly, not general discomfort with the house, excitement about books, or being amused.

Answer:

C. He feels awkward about expressing his love for Louisa.