Answer:
1. The author is emphasizing the sense of loss that Della must feel when she realizes she can’t use them.
Explanation:
O. Henry's short story "The Gift of the Magi," tells the story of a young couple and their selfless sacrifice to make each other happy. The story deals with themes of generosity, love, selfless acts, and consideration for others, etc.
In the given excerpt from the story, the author talks of the sacrifice that Della and Jim had made to make way for the other person's happiness. Even though Della wanted to get the comb with "pure tortoise shell", she decided to sell her hair and get Jim a gift instead.
And in describing the beauty of the combs, the author wants to emphasize the sense of loss that Della must feel when she realizes that the combs are of no use for her.
Thus, the correct answer is option 1.