Answer:
C. The simile comparing Clara to a skittish cat creates an anxious tone .
Step-by-step explanation:
Figurative languages are the use of words that are not simple in such a way that they break away from the conventional pattern and convey a complicated meaning. One such figurative language is a simile, which refers to the use of words such as "like" or "as" to compare one thing to another.
In the given sentence, the word "skittish" is used to present an image of Clara. The word "skittish" means 'uncertain, easily frightened, anxious, nervous', etc. And in the comparison of Clara with a "skittish cat", the tone created is that of an anxious one where she seems to be eager to be let in, for the door to be opened.
Thus, the correct answer is option C.