Final answer:
Mr. Van Dan's secretive behavior of sneaking up the stairs suggests that he might be greedy and selfish as he may be taking food for himself. Without direct evidence or context of his character from other parts of the text, this interpretation aligns with actions of someone who moves sneakily.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stage directions describing the dim figure seen to be stealing back up the stairs suggest a sneaky and possibly selfish behavior. In the context of the play and the character Mr. Van Dan, this action could potentially reveal his true nature. From what we've learned about Mr. Van Dan, if he were sneaking food for himself, it would align with a character who is greedy and selfish, hence making option A the most fitting description of his behavior. If he were instead getting a snack for his wife, this would show a kind and considerate side, which seems less likely given the secretive manner in which he moves.
None of the provided excerpts directly mention Mr. Van Dan or the specific incident in question. However, analyzing characters from literature requires an understanding of the subtleties in their behavior throughout the text. The correct assessment would require comprehensive knowledge of Mr. Van Dan's actions and personality traits established earlier in the narrative. Therefore, based on the information provided and without further context, saying that Mr. Van Dan's behavior indicates greed and selfishness (option A) would be an assumption, but one that seems consistent with a person sneaking around furtively.