| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Aspern Papers by Henry James: She had not betrayed me, but the old woman's brooding instinct had
served her; she had turned me over and over in the long, still hours,
and she had guessed. The worst of it was that she looked terribly
like an old woman who at a pinch would burn her papers. Miss Tita pushed
a chair forward, saying to me, "This will be a good place for you to sit."
As I took possession of it I asked after Miss Bordereau's health;
expressed the hope that in spite of the very hot weather it was satisfactory.
She replied that it was good enough--good enough; that it was a great
thing to be alive.
"Oh, as to that, it depends upon what you compare it with!"
I exclaimed, laughing.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: understand South Carolina a little. You came from the 'up-country,' you
call your dog General; his name is General Hampton!"
Her laughter assented. "Tell me some more about South Carolina," she
added with her caressing insinuation.
"Well, to begin with--"
"Go sit down at your lunch-table first. Aunt Josephine would never
tolerate my encouraging gentlemen to talk to me over the counter."
I went back obediently, and then resumed: "Well, what sort of people are
those who own the handsome garden behind Mrs. Trevise's!"
"I don't know them."
"Thank you; that's all I wanted."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Hamlet by William Shakespeare: He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,
I saw him yesterday, or tother day;
Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say,
There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse,
There falling out at Tennis; or perchance,
I saw him enter such a house of saile;
Videlicet, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now;
Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth;
And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach
With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias,
By indirections finde directions out:
Hamlet |
