As she went behind the bar to the kitchen, she heard a sound repeated at regular intervals. Chirk, chirk, chirk, it went, the sound of a spoon being rapidly whisked round a basin. “That girl!” she said. “There! I clean forgot it. It’s her being so long!” And while she herself finished mixing the mustard, she gave Millie a few verbal stabs for her excessive slowness. She had cooked the ham and eggs, laid the table, and done everything, while Millie (help indeed!) had only succeeded in delaying the mustard. And him a new guest and wanting to stay! What is the most likely meaning of the phrase verbal stabs as it is used in these sentences?
a) compliments; words of praise
b) harsh metallic sounds
c)insults aimed at encouraging action.
d)words spoken randomly, with little thought.
(Explain why that is the answer)