Read the excerpt from Irving’s "The Mysterious Stranger." His eyes rolled upwards, until nothing but the whites were visible; his hands were clasped together, until the fingers were deeply imprinted in the flesh. When the music expressed the dying agony, his face gradually sunk upon his knees; and at the touching words resounding through the church, “Jesu mori,” sobs burst from him uncontrolled. Which statement best describes Irving’s tone in the excerpt?

Explanation: In the given excerpt from Irving's "The Mysterious Stranger" we can see the description of a man struggling with strong emotions, his gestures (like clasping his hands together until his fingers were imprinted in his flesh, or sinking his face upon his knees) are signs of despair and suffering. So the statement that best describes the tone in the excerpt is: His melancholy tone highlights the despair of the excerpt.