Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of the story.
Read this excerpt from "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry.
“Bless my heart!” exclaimed the new arrival, grasping both the other’s hands with his own. “It’s Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I’d find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well, well!—twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant’s gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?”
Which statement best describes how the pacing of the passage affects the story?
It creates a sense of surprise by having the newly arrived character speak with short phrases and exclamations.
It creates tension by slowing down the narrative and having the new character make some key mistakes that reveal that he is not Jimmy Wells.
It creates a sense of disappointment by slowing down the text to introduce a new character who will not be able to resolve the conflict Bob faces.
It creates humor by moving very quickly through the new character's greeting without having him identify himself to Bob.
