Mr. Utterson had been some minutes at his post, when he was aware of an odd light footstep drawing near. In the course of his ni
ghtly patrols, he had long grown accustomed to the quaint effect with which the footfalls of a single person, while he is still a great way off, suddenly spring out distinct from the vast hum and clatter of the city. Yet his attention had never before been so sharply and decisively arrested; and it was with a strong, superstitious prevision of success that he withdrew into the entry of the court. What is the mood of the excerpt?
I'd say that the mood of this excerpt is suspenseful.
First of all, the setting is during the night, and this centers around a man by himself on patrol and hearing footsteps drawing near. Passages like this would usually create a feeling of anticipation for what's going to happen next.
