Question

So now Della's beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knee and made itself almost a garment for her. And then she did it up again nervously and quickly. Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.

—"The Gift of the Magi,"
O. Henry

Based on evidence in the passage, what inference can be made about Della?

Della is very vain about her hair and cuts it often.
Della has never really cared much about her hair.
Della is proud of her beautiful hair and feels scared and sad about giving it up.
Della puts her hair up much too quickly and twists it so tight that it makes her cry.

Answer 1

Della is proud of her beautiful hair and feels scared and sad about giving it up.

Evidence: the passage emphasizes how beautiful and long her hair is and describes her doing it up "nervously and quickly" and pausing with "a tear or two," showing pride and emotional distress about losing it.