What was the cause of the "living dead" men, according to the underlined passage of Sec. 2 of "The Californian's Tale"?

A. They had lost their wealth but had lived on in a dead-like state of longing and regret.

B. Their state was entirely a result of the "lonesome land," of not having any neighbors to talk to.

C. They were newcomers with so much hope and unreal expectation that they acted like dead men.​