3. befuddle
(bi fəd'at)
(v.) to contuse, make stupid
A difficult scientific experiment with many steps is likely to
most beginners.
SYNONYMS, bewilder, boggle, stupefy
ANTONYMS: enlighten, set straight

- "about the claims : -

making a claim is just a fancy way of saying that you're stating your main point.' claims are not just opinions. a claim tells what you think is true about a topic based on your knowledge .

about the country claims : -

a counterclaim is just the opposite of a claim. counterclaims are also provable and supportable by reasons and evidence. not just, 'because i said so.' when you're planning an argument, you need to know what the counterclaim might be so that you can make sure that you disprove it with your reasons and evidence your research." - (catherineroberts)

the narrator is saying that the old lady made her feel uncomfortable. you know this because they say "i found that rather irksome", "perhaps it was her being so upright and trim", and "i don't think it was that, because i thought that quaintly pleasant." hope this !

caminas makes the most sense here since it means to walk.