Answer :
Final answer:
The passage that reflects Rowan's intact sense of decency and compassion describes him crying out passionately, and highlights his tenderness, implying a transformative moment where he holds back negative emotions and adopts a gentle, compassionate approach.
Explanation:
The sentence that best supports the claim that Rowan has not lost his sense of decency and compassion is: "What do I care who she is or what she was! he cried, passionately. And he knew it was not his old self speaking. It was this softer, gentler man who had awakened to new thoughts in the quiet valley. Tenderness, masterful in him now, matched the absence of joy and blunted the knife-edge of entering jealousy. Strong and passionate effort of will, surprising to him, held back the poison from piercing his soul."
This sentence illustrates a transformative moment in Rowan's behavior, showing his ability to stifle negative emotions and exhibiting his tenderness and growing compassion. Instead of succumbing to jealousy, the text showcases how he embraces a more gentle persona, one that is capable of overcoming his darker instincts. This change not only indicates a refusal to let bitterness and resentment take hold but also reflects a heartfelt empathy, which goes hand in hand with the concepts of decency and compassion.
