What atmosphere is reflected in this excerpt from Yei Theodora Ozaki’s “The Story of the Old Man Who Made Withered Trees to Flower”?
A strange thing happened! His wife put the rice into the mortar, and no sooner had he begun to pound it to make the cakes, than it began to increase in quantity gradually till it was about five times the original amount, and the cakes were turned out of the mortar as if an invisible hand were at work.
When the old man and his wife saw this, they understood that it was a reward to them from Shiro for their faithful love to him. They tasted the cakes and found them nicer than any other food. So from this time they never troubled about food, for they lived upon the cakes with which the mortar never ceased to supply them.

A.
peace and happiness
B.
wonder and excitement
C.
horror and unease
D.
dullness and boredom