The passage describes Ethan Rome's feelings for Mattle Silver a young cousin of his wife's who has come to live in the Prome household Mattie Silver had lived under his roof for a year, and from early morning till they met at supper he had frequent chances of seeing her but
no moments in her company were comparable to those when her arm in his and her light step flying to keep time with his long stride they walked
back through the night to the farm. He had taken to the girl from the first day when he had driven over to the Flats to meet her, and she had smiec
and waved to him from the train crying out "You must be Ethant as she jumped down with her bundles, while he reflected looking over her sent
person: "She don't look much on housework but she ain't a fretter, anyhow. But it was not only that the coming to his house of a bit of hoper
young life was like the lighting of a fire on a cold hearth. The girl was more than the bright serviceable creature he had thought her. She had an eve
to see and an ear to hear he could show her things and tell her things and taste the bliss of feeling that all he imparted left long reverberations and
echoes he could wake at will.
(hom than one by dith Wharton
What does the underlined simile in the passage help the reader understand?
1. Ethan appreciates Nattie's work tending the fire in his kitchen
02 Mattie is very young and relies on Ethan for advice and comfort
Mattie's presence has brought warmth and cheer to a gloomy household
Ethan's concerns about Matties ability to do housework were unfounded