• magic is intriguing
• reader expects wish to be fulfilled
• Morris’s behavior has suggested the paw’s power
• paw moves, suggesting wish will be fulfilled
• wish isn’t immediately fulfilled, so reader won- ders what will happen
when the nicely dressed stranger arrives, because • no one knows who he is or what he wants
• seems his appearance is tied to wish
• his behavior suggests something isn’t right when Mrs. White tries to open the door near end of story, because
• it isn’t certain what’s on other side
• reader doesn’t know if she’ll get it open before
husband stops her
• reader expects her to be confronted by son
• reader is anxious about son’s arrival