Par. 9. The narrator says, "The light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested there and, falling, lit up
the hand upon the railing. It fell over one side of her dress and caught the
white border of a petticoat, just visible as she stood at ease." Which of the
following words from that passage is the most important in communicating
the narrator's state of mind?