What is Merriton going to investigate? a. downstairs in his house to see what a noise is

b. outside to the edges of the marsh to look at the strange stars

C. throughout his house to see what his butler is doing

d. outside to see what flickering flames are near the marsh

d. outside to see what flickering flames are near the marsh

Explanation: Merriton was going to investigate flames that were flickering outside near the marsh just like a signal fire would do. Watching the flames for a good twenty minutes made him nervous and informed his decision to go see what was causing it.

to leave the reader thinking and wandering on their own. without a resolution we are clueless to what happens next, and why it does. it may even cause suspension with the reader.

explanation:

often a noun phrase is just a noun or a pronoun:

people like to have money.

i am tired.

it is getting late.