Select the word segment that substitutes (replaces) the bracketed word segment correctly and completes the sentence meaningfully:
Estella had hardly heard the news (after) she began to weep.

Correct option is C

The correct substitution of the highlighted words is (c) when.
Explanation:
· The correct correlative pair is “ Hardly…when” – used for immediate succession of two events.
· "Hardly had she heard the news when she began to weep."
· Grammatical Rule Used:
· Hardly/scarcely is followed by "when" and not "after" in formal constructions for past perfect and past simple tense sequences.
· Example:
· Hardly had I reached the station when the train departed.
�� Exception Note:
Avoid using “than” with “hardly”; it is incorrect.
Let’s now review the other options:
· (a) than – Used for comparison, not time. ❌
· (b) well – Not grammatically linked with "hardly." ❌
· (d) while – Indicates duration, not sudden succession. ❌