The Mole had been working very hard all the morning, spring-cleaning

his little home. First with brooms, then with dusters; then on ladders

and steps and chairs, with a brush and a pail of whitewash; till he

had dust in his throat and eyes, and splashes of whitewash all over

his black fur, and an aching back and weary arms.

How does the author’s word choice help express the tone of the excerpt?

The negative connotations of the words "dust," "aching," and "weary" give the excerpt a tone of relaxation.

The negative connotations of the words "dust," "aching," and "weary" give the excerpt a tone of tiredness.

The positive connotations of the words "home," "morning," and "splashes" give the excerpt a tone of relaxation.

The positive connotations of the words "home," "morning," and "splashes" give the excerpt a tone of tiredness.