Answer:
b. Deceptiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist", the protagonist Oliver Twist was born out of a workhouse, not knowing his father or mother. Later, when he was brought out of that place, he came upon some youths who taught him unlawful things and thus became a criminal himself, stealing from others.
The character of Noah Claypole is the very first youth Oliver encountered after he was bought by Mr. Sowerberry, a local undertaker. It was here that he met Noah, another apprentice for the undertaker. Noah had made disparaging comments about Oliver's mother leading the boy to attack him. This angered the undertaker, who decided to whip him. In desperation, Oliver escaped and ran away.
The given passage from Chapter VI shows how deceptive Noah is in his 'show' of being bullied and victimized by Oliver. He had taunted Oliver by talking about his dead mother which greatly angered Oliver. And when the young boy attacked him, he acted like he was too scared of him, "perform(ing) some affecting tears and sniffs" so that the others will pity him and punish the boy who did this to him.