Final answer:
The mood of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan at the start of the story is depicted as sullen and short-tempered, as indicated by the absence of positive descriptions and the inclusion of words that convey a negative emotional setting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan at the opening of the story can be sullen and short-tempered. To understand mood, it is essential to look at the context, dialogue, and descriptions given in the story. The mood reflects the emotional setting that surrounds the readers and characters and is often created through word choice and the attitudes of the characters. For instance, words like gloomy, scornful, aloof, and astounded in different contexts hint at a more sullen or negative atmosphere. In contrast, words associated with more positive emotions like joyful, happy, or humorous are absent in the description of Mr. and Mrs. Jordan's demeanor. Furthermore, the lack of excitement or pleasure, as indicated by the fact that they are not described using words like revelry or as being happy, reinforces the sense of their being in a negative mood.