Question

read the excerpt from the open window.
in the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window; they all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was additionally burdened with a white coat hung over his shoulders. a tired brown spaniel kept close at their heels. noiselessly they neared the house, and then a hoarse young voice chanted out of the dusk: \i said, bertie, why do you bound?\
framton grabbed wildly at his stick and hat; the hall - door, the gravel - drive, and the front gate were dimly - noted stages in his headlong retreat. a cyclist coming along the road had to run into the hedge to avoid an imminent collision.
\here we are, my dear,\ said the bearer of the white mackintosh, coming in through the window; \fairly muddy, but most of its dry. who was that who bolted out
how does the author use indirect characterization to create satire?

• the author describes the dog as a tired brown spaniel to highlight the demand of the hunting trip.
• the author uses mr. sappletons curiosity about framtons sudden departure to showcase framtons rudeness.
• the author employs mrs. sappletons dialogue to critique the cyclists reaction to the near collision.
• the author uses framtons frantic and overexaggerated gestures as humor to show his fearfulness.

Explanation:

Satire here targets Framton's extreme, irrational fear. The author uses his frantic, over-the-top retreat (grabbing his stick/hat, running into a hedge to avoid a cyclist) as humorous, exaggerated behavior to mock his overwhelming timidity. The other options do not relate to satire: describing the dog highlights the hunting trip, focusing on Mr. Sappleton shows curiosity, and Mrs. Sappleton's dialogue does not critique the cyclist.

Answer:

The author uses Framton's frantic and overexaggerated gestures as humor to show his fearfulness.