Question

Which two parts of this excerpt from W. W. Jacobs's "The Monkey's Paw" develop a suspenseful mood? "Likely," said Herbert, with pretended horror. "Why, we're going to be rich, and famous, and happy. Wish to be an emperor, father, to begin with; then you can't be henpecked." He darted around the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar. Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly. “It seems to me I've got all I want." "If you only cleared the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you!" said Herbert, with his hand on his shoulder. "Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that'll just do it." His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down and struck a few impressive chords. "I wish for two hundred pounds," said the old man distinctly. A fine crash from the piano greeted his words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man. His wife and son ran toward him. "It moved," he cried, with a glance of disgust at the object as it lay on the floor. "As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake." "Well, I don't see the money," said his son, as he picked it up and placed it on the table, "and I bet I never shall." "It must have been your fancy, father," said his wife, regarding him anxiously. He shook his head. "Never mind, though; there's no harm done, but it gave me a shock all the same."

Answer 1

The parts of the except that develop a suspenseful mood are, first:  

He darted around the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar. Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously. "I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact," he said slowly.  

In this lines, the author is explaining the anxiety the character was feeling, moving around the table, having doubts about what to do, staring at the paw questioning if it was a good idea or what would the best possible wish to make. The whole description makes the reader feel the doubt and the fear of not making the right decision.  

The second part that involves suspense is:

His father, smiling shamefacedly at his own credulity, held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down and struck a few impressive chords.

In this sentence, the author is describing the way the father and his son were expecting something incredible, decided to make the wish and not knowing what would happen next. The father seems quite afraid and nervous and the son, a little bit more relaxed but as expectant as their parents is waiting in silence the next move. The reader cannot stop asking ‘what will happen next? Is it really going to work?’ The suspense is evident and everyone wants to know how the paw with ‘help’ the family and grant the wish. Therefore, I believe this two parts are the ones that best develop an atmosphere of suspense and fear at the same time.