20 "Monkey's paw?" said Mrs. White curiously.
21"Well, it's just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps," said the sergeant-major off-handedly.
22 His three listeners leaned forward eagerly. The visitor absent-mindedly put his empty glass to his lips and then set it down again. His host filled it for him again.
23 "To look at," said the sergeant-major, fumbling in his pocket, "it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy."
24 He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.
"He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously."
What is the MOST PROBABLE explanation for Mrs. White's initial reaction to the monkey's paw?
A) Mrs. White is extremely superstitious.
B) Mrs. White is disgusted by the appearance of the monkey's paw.
C) Mrs. White is suddenly reminded that it is time for her to get supper ready.
D) Mrs. White is annoyed by the sergeant-major's bad manners in displaying the monkey's paw.