SI: The boy felt his way up the creaking stairs through thick darkness. S6 : He was just telling himself he was safe when the door was flung open and the gaunt old man grabbed his shoulder. P : All he had to do was just get past the central door on the landing. Q : He stopped as the great clock below whined for a few seconds and gave out a single, solemn stroke. R : His eyes were raised to the faint moonlight that shone above the landing. S: He hesitated as the sound died down and then crept on, thinking that if they could sleep through that, they would sleep through any noise he could make. The proper sequence should be
- AP Q S R
- BR Q S P
- CP R Q S
- DR Q P S
Explanation
R sets the scene: eyes raised to the faint moonlight above the landing. Q interrupts with the clock's whine and single stroke. S has him hesitate as the sound dies and creep on. P states his immediate goal: get past the central door on the landing. S6 delivers the twist: just as he tells himself he is safe, the door is flung open and the old man grabs him. Hence RQSP, i.e. option B.