Answer:
D.The author uses a subjective observer to present subtle judgments about the characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
In these lines, the author uses a subjective observer in order to present subtle judgements about the characters. We see in this passage that the narrator judges the actions of the characters. For example, he calls the offer to escort the woman "lame" and the concern "tactless." This shows that the narrator does not only want to factually present the events, but he also wants to judge the actions and motives of the characters.