What literary device is this quote?

Read these paragraphs from the story. i told him my address. it would take an hour’s quick walk to get back home. “it’s like this,” he said. “we’ll look at the matter straight. if you go back home tonight, you take your chance of accidents. a cart may run over you, and there’s always banana skins and orange peel, to say nothing of fallen ladders.” he spoke of the improbable with an intense seriousness that would have been laughable six hours before. but i did not laugh. what does this interaction between the two men reveal about james? james is skeptical and thinks mr. atkinson is overreacting to the situation. james is dismayed by the things mr. atkinson says and begins to feel uncomfortable. james is surprised by mr. atkinson's solemnness and thinks there is value in what the man is saying. james is appreciative of mr. atkinson's concern and wonders if he should hurry home. the correct answer is; "james is surprised by mr. atkinson's solemnness and thinks there is value in what the man is saying." i am not putting this up so someone can answer but so when people search this they will know the correct the correct answer is not; "james is skeptical and thinks mr. atkinson is overreacting to the situation." everyone said that was the right answer but its your