Mark Twain’s humorous tone, or amused attitude toward his subject, is part of his famous writing style. Notice the way Twain’s word choice and use

of irony create humor in this passage: Tom gave up the brush with reluctance in his face but alacrity in his heart. And while the late steamer ‘Big Missouri’ worked and sweated in the sun, the retired artist sat on a barrel . . . and planned the slaughter of more innocents.

Explain why the passage in bold type

is an example of how an omniscient third-person point of view can create dramatic irony