How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Goodness me!" exclaimed the woman, relieved. "One would think the house was afire." She replaced the glass and waited a moment before turning up the wick. A pale shadow was seen floating vaguely on the floor. (1.69)
Even before Elizabeth admits to herself/the reader that she's worried about her husband, she seems mighty jumpy. In this moment, she seems unduly startled when her daughter gets excited about the flowers Elizabeth has in her apron.
Quote #2
While for an hour or more the children played, subduedly intent, fertile of imagination, united in fear of the mother's wrath, and in dread of their father's home-coming, Mrs Bates sat in her rocking-chair making a "singlet" of thick cream-coloured flannel, which gave a dull wounded sound as she tore off the grey edge. (1.80)
The tension is palpable here. Even though the children are playing, they are also apparently nervous, making a concerted effort not to tick their mom off. Of course, we know their mother is a bit jumpy as well . . .
Quote #3
When Mrs Bates came down, the room was strangely empty, with a tension of expectancy. She took up her sewing and stitched for some time without raising her head. Meantime her anger was tinged with fear. (1.90)
After putting her kids to bed, Elizabeth tries to get back to sewing. Whereas her prevailing emotion toward the beginning of the story seemed to be anger, the narrator admits here that she's feeling fear as well.