I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait.
Which words from the excerpt convey the tone?

Question

I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait.
Which words from the excerpt convey the tone?

anonymous · Answer

"quietly retreated" makes the writer sound meek. "blast of air conditioning assailed me" makes it sound negative and perhaps sad. Finally "clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob" adds a sad touch to the very end.