Read Ethan’s inference about Response to Erik of Sweden.

Question

Queen Elizabeth thinks Erik of Sweden is needlessly vain.

Which sentence from Response to Erik of Sweden is the best textual evidence for Ethan to use to support his inference?

A: A letter truly yours both in the writing and sentiment was given us on 30 December by your very dear brother, the Duke of Finland.
B: And while we perceive there from that the zeal and love of your mind towards us is not diminished, yet in part we are grieved that we cannot gratify your Serene Highness with the same kind of affection.
C: And we in our turn shall take care that whatever can be required for the holy preservation of friendship between Princes we will always perform towards your Serene Highness.
D: But that we are not to give you an answer until we have seen your person is so far from the thing itself that we never even considered such a thing.

Answer 1

The best textual evidence for Ethan to support his inference that Queen Elizabeth thinks Erik of Sweden is needlessly vain is:

D: But that we are not to give you an answer until we have seen your person is so far from the thing itself that we never even considered such a thing.

This sentence implies that Queen Elizabeth finds Erik's expectation of a response contingent upon seeing him to be unnecessary and perhaps overly self-important, which aligns with the characterization of him as needlessly vain.