Read this excerpt from chapter 2 of the scarlet letter.
meagre, indeed, and cold, was the sympathy that a transgressor might look for, from such bystanders at the scaffold. on
the other hand, a penalty which, in our days, would infer a degree of mocking infamy and ridicule, might then be
invested with almost as stern a dignity as the punishment of death itself.
which best describes the purpose of the words "meagre," "scaffold," "stern," and "punishment of death"?
they impart a judgmental, reproachful mood.
they impart a gloomy and woeful mood.
they establish the municipal setting of the town square,
they establish the boisterous setting at the scaffold.

13 points : ) which two aspects of scrooge's character does this excerpt from a christmas carol by charles dickens reveal? "i wish to be left alone," said scrooge. "since you ask me what i wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. i don’t make merry myself at christmas and i can't afford to make idle people merry. i to support the establishments i have mentioned—they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there." "many can’t go there; and many would rather die." "if they would rather die," said scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. besides—excuse me—i don't know that." "but you might know it," observed the gentleman. his stingy attitude and conduct his distrust of government institutions his indifference to others' suffering his support for the community