Inferences can be tough. It involves you to use all of the information surrounding it in order to make a conclusion based on what is happening. As you read the passage, document or highlight the townspeople reactions to Mr. Hooper. Are they sad for him? Happy? Surprised? For example, if his happiness makes the townspeople feel sad towards him, that says that his happiness in life hasn’t really been present (possibly because of some tragedy). Therefore their feeling of sadness stems from the fact that his happiness has long since been overdue.