Anna's tone in her conversation with Arthur shifts from an ironic and detached manner to one of emotional inquisitiveness and desperation, highlighted by a sudden emotional outburst.
In the passage described, Anna's tone in her conversation with Arthur shifts from detached and possibly ironic to one of intense emotion and inquisitiveness. Initially, there is a sense of distance or coolness, as indicated by phrases like 'she withdrew shrinking from beneath his arm' and the detachment found in Jane Austen's narrative described as 'coolly detached and above all ironic'. However, as the conversation unfolds, Arthur's emotional outburst, 'Can't a man speak of his own child he's lost?', suggests a shift to a more questioning and desperate tone, reflecting a deep personal anguish.
In the passage provided, Anna's tone shifts from an initial state of detachment to one that becomes more inquisitive and probing. At first, the tone is coolly detached which can be seen in the way she pulls away and gives a daunting look. This standoffishness precedes a moment where Arthur is caught off guard, questioning aloud about the ability to speak of his own child that he's lost. This question introduces a shift towards a more introspective tone as he reflects on the situation and his emotions. Throughout the different excerpts, we can see how tone plays an integral role in both setting the scene and conveying the emotional states of characters.