阅读下面短文, 从短文后各题所给的四个选项(A、B、C、D)中, 选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

    A strong wind was blowing hard, thunder was rumbling（雷声隆隆地响）, and lightning flashed across the dark sky. Rain was 1 down; it looked as if heaven had been broken open.

    Gleams（闪光）of light appeared from windows of faraway houses, 2 like jewels in all the dark.

    A 3 woman dressed in rags and trembling with cold was 4 on a lonely road, while the merciless rain was 5 her without pause.

    She knocked at a door, and a 6 answered it. She begged him to let her stay a while 7. The boy then let her into the sitting room and 8 her sitting by the fire.

    The woman 9 old and tired under the bright electric light, 10she was only in her early thirties. She sat 11 for a moment, and then her eyes began to look about the 12. When her wandering eyes rested on the picture of a young man, she 13 up, looking thunderstruck（大吃一惊）.

    Just then, the boy came with his14. The man at once recognized the woman as his 15. They had 16 touch with each other during the war, and he thought he had lost her forever. 17words needed to be spoken. They ran into each other's arms 18the boy stared at them, puzzled.

    The storm was over and the sky cleared. Feeling very 19, the couple stood face to face with their child between them, watching the rain as it gradually 20.