Question

if all stories were true, dr. heideggers study must have been a very curious place. it was a dim, old - fashioned chamber, festooned with cobwebs, and besprinkled with antique dust. around the walls stood several oaken bookcases, the lower shelves of which were filled with rows of gigantic folios and black - letter quartos, and the upper with little parchment - covered duodecimos. over the central bookcase was a bronze bust of hippocrates, with which, according to some authorities, dr. heidegger was accustomed to hold consultations in all difficult cases of his practice. in the darkest corner of the room stood a tall and narrow oaken closet, with its door ajar, within which doubtfully appeared a skeleton. between two of the bookcases hung a looking - glass, presenting its high and dusty plate within a tarnished gilt frame. among many wonderful stories related of this mirror, it was fabled that the spirits of all the doctors deceased patients dwelt within its verge, and would stare him in the face whenever he looked thitherward. the opposite side of the chamber was ornamented with the full - length portrait of a young lady, arrayed in the faded magnificence of silk, satin, and brocade, and with a visage as faded as her dress. above half a century ago, dr. heidegger had been on the point of marriage with this young lady; but, being affected with some slight disorder, she had swallowed one of her lovers prescriptions, and died on the bridal morning. the principal curiosity of the study remains to be mentioned; it was a 4. part a: as it is used in paragraph 9, the word peevish most nearly means: a. bad - tempered b. amused c. hopeful d. nauseous

Explanation:

The word "peevish" means irritable or ill - tempered. Among the options, "bad - tempered" is the closest in meaning.

Answer:

A. Bad - tempered