Read the excerpt from “The Oval Portrait,” by Edgar Allan Poe. The rays of the numerous candles (for there were many) now fell within a niche of the room which had hitherto been thrown into deep shade by one of the bed-posts. I thus saw in vivid light a picture all unnoticed before. It was the portrait of a young girl just ripening into womanhood. I glanced at the painting hurriedly, and then closed my eyes. Why I did this was not at first apparent even to my own perception. But while my lids remained thus shut, I ran over in my mind my reason for so shutting them. It was an impulsive movement to gain time for thought?—to make sure that my vision had not deceived me—to calm and subdue my fancy for a more sober and more certain gaze.

Which statement best describes the effect of the narration on the story?
The narration imparts romance.
The narration imparts curiosity.
The narration imparts frustration.
The narration imparts apprehension.