Answer:
The word affects the tone of the given excerpt in many ways.
Explanation:
Like it conveys the tone of surprise as why she was interested in the conversation. It also adds to the question mark as to what will happen next like probably the holding of hands. It is also about the boy who suffers from the mental illness and thus the question is mostly aroused about the formation of the story. It moreover supports the passionate nature in the excerpt. The tone of hilarity also forms association with the word gasp.
