Final answer:
The mood created by the author in the passage is suspenseful, indicated by the use of dark and eerie descriptions that set a tone of tension and anticipation. Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author creates a suspenseful mood in the passage. This is evidenced by the use of dark and sinister descriptive language such as 'dark and dreary night,' 'rickety front steps,' 'shakily,' and 'wind howled through the leafless trees.'
These elements combine to create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty, priming the reader to anticipate something ominous or significant occurring. The descriptors evoke a sense of impending danger or anxiety, which is characteristic of a suspenseful mood. Therefore, the correct answer to what mood the author creates in this passage is suspenseful.