Read the excerpt from The Jester's Sword by Annie Fellows Johnston. Then answer the question that follows.
But in the night a storm swept down the mountain pass with sudden fury, uprooting trees a century old, and rending mighty rocks with sword thrusts of its lightning. And when it passed Aldebaran lay prone upon the earth borne down by rocks and fallen trees. Lay as if dead until two passing goat-herds found him and bore him down in pity? to their hut.
Long weeks went by before the fever craze and pains began to leave him, and when at last he crawled out in the sun, he found himself a poor misshapen thing, all maimed and marred, with twisted back and face all drawn awry and foot that dragged. One hand hung nerveless by his side. Nevermore would it be strong enough to use the Sword. He could not even draw it from its scabbard.
The connotation of the bolded words and phrases creates a certain mood in this passage. Which word best represents that mood?
Confidence
Difficulty
Happiness
Silliness
