| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: tune. And here am I, quite out of my true course, and with nothing
in my foolish elderly head but love-stories. This must repose upon
some curious distinction of temperaments. I gather from a phrase,
boldly autobiographical, that you are - well, not precisely growing
thin. Can that be the difference?
It is rather funny that this matter should come up just now, as I
am at present engaged in treating a severe case of middle age in
one of my stories - 'The Justice-Clerk.' The case is that of a
woman, and I think that I am doing her justice. You will be
interested, I believe, to see the difference in our treatments.
SECRETA VITAE, comes nearer to the case of my poor Kirstie. Come
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: into business, "we want some coffee, some tobacco, and other things.
I have come to-day to order them, to settle the price, and to-morrow
Ben Zoof shall fetch the goods away."
"Merciful, heavens!" the Jew began to whine; but Servadac cut him short.
"None of that miserable howling! Business! I am come to buy your goods.
I shall pay for them."
"Ah yes, your Excellency," whispered the Jew, his voice
trembling like a street beggar. "Don't impose on me.
I am poor; I am nearly ruined already."
"Cease your wretched whining!" cried Servadac. "I have told you once,
I shall pay for all I buy."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Tono Bungay by H. G. Wells: queer moment when one realises one is hurt, and perhaps badly
hurt, and has still to discover just how far one is hurt. I
explored my face carefully and found unfamiliar contours on the
left side. The broken end of a branch had driven right through
my cheek, damaging my cheek and teeth and gums, and left a
splinter of itself stuck, like an explorer's fartherest-point
flag, in the upper maxillary. That and a sprained wrist were all
my damage. But I bled as though I had been chopped to pieces,
and it seemed to me that my face had been driven in. I can't
describe just the horrible disgust I felt at that.
"This blood must be stopped, anyhow," I said, thickheadedly.
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