| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: answering the description of mine on the car. I slammed my way to
the dressing-room, washed, choked my fifteen and a half neck into a
fifteen collar, and was back again in less than five minutes. The
car, as well as its occupants, was gradually taking on a daylight
appearance. I hobbled in, for one of the shoes was abominably tight,
and found myself facing a young woman in blue with an unforgettable
face. ("Three women already." McKnight says: "That's going some,
even if you don't count the Gilmore nurse.") She stood, half-turned
toward me, one hand idly drooping, the other steadying her as she
gazed out at the flying landscape. I had an instant impression that
I had met her somewhere, under different circumstances, more cheerful
The Man in Lower Ten |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: You cannot help returning the compliment and assuring him that his
English is remarkable, good enough for all practical purposes,
better than any of the other guides can speak. And so it is.
Francois is a little taller, a little thinner, and considerably
quieter than Ferdinand. He laughs loyally at his brother's jokes,
and sings the response to his songs, and wields a good second
paddle in the canoe.
Jean--commonly called Johnny--Morel is a tall, strong man of fifty,
with a bushy red beard that would do credit to a pirate. But when
you look at him more closely, you see that he has a clear, kind
blue eye and a most honest, friendly face under his slouch hat. He
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: to the exiled priest as sweet as was his traveled conversation.
They repaired to the hall and took their seats at the head of the long
table. For the Spanish centuries of stately custom lived at Santa YsabeI
del Mar, inviolate, feudal, remote.
They were the only persons of quality present; and between themselves and
the gente de razon a space intervened. Behind the Padre's chair stood an
Indian to waft upon him, and another stood behind the chair of Gaston
Villere. Each of these servants wore one single white garment, and
offered the many dishes to the gente fina and refilled their glasses. At
the lower end of the table a general attendant wafted upon mesclados--the
half-breeds. There was meat with spices, and roasted quail, with various
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