Question

read the excerpt from the novel alias grace.
on tuesdays we have the woman question, and the emancipation of this or that, with reform - minded persons of both sexes; and on thursdays the spiritualist circle, for tea ..., which is a comfort to the governors wife because of her departed infant son. but mainly it is the ladies. they sit sipping from the thin cups, and the governors wife rings a little china bell. she does not like being the governors wife, she would prefer the governor to be the governor of something other than a prison. the governor had good enough friends to get him made the governor, but not for anything else.
so here she is, and she must make the most of her social position and accomplishments, and although an object of fear, like a spider, and of charity as well, i am also one of the accomplishments. i come into the room and curtsy and move about, mouth straight, head bent, and i pick up the cups or set them down, depending; and they stare without appearing to, out from under their bonnets.
from margaret atwood, alias grace, copyright 1996 by margaret atwood
which analysis best summarizes how the governors wife and her friends view the narrator?
their desire for her company hints that they see the narrator as a potential new member of their social circle.
their sidelong glances indicate that they feel superior to the narrator but also secretly consider her intriguing.
their assessment of her as socially accomplished implies that they envy and resent the narrator.
their dedication to social reform suggests that they empathize with the narrator and are eager to develop a friendship with her.

Explanation:

The text describes the narrator as an "object of fear, like a spider, and of charity as well" and mentions that the ladies stare "without appearing to, out from under their bonnets." This implies a sense of superiority (as they are observing her in a somewhat detached way) but also an element of intrigue (since they are still paying attention to her despite trying not to show it). The first option is incorrect because there's no indication of wanting her as a social - circle member. The third option is wrong as there's no clear sign of envy. The fourth option is incorrect as there's no real evidence of empathy or eagerness for friendship.

Answer:

Their sidelong glances indicate that they feel superior to the narrator but also secretly consider her intriguing.