| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Silas Marner by George Eliot: "and a Durham it was."
"Then you needn't tell _me_ who you bought it of," said the
farrier, looking round with some triumph; "I know who it is has got
the red Durhams o' this country-side. And she'd a white star on her
brow, I'll bet a penny?" The farrier leaned forward with his hands
on his knees as he put this question, and his eyes twinkled
knowingly.
"Well; yes--she might," said the butcher, slowly, considering
that he was giving a decided affirmative. "I don't say
contrairy."
"I knew that very well," said the farrier, throwing himself
 Silas Marner |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: in default of another informant, Bessie Alden, who on doubtful
questions was able to suggest a great many alternatives, found herself
again applying for intellectual assistance to Lord Lambeth.
But he again assured her that he was utterly helpless in such matters--
that his education had been sadly neglected.
"And I am sorry it makes you unhappy," he added in a moment.
"You are very disappointing, Lord Lambeth," she said.
"Ah, now don't say that," he cried. "That's the worst thing
you could possibly say."
"No," she rejoined, "it is not so bad as to say that I had expected
nothing of you."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: your distresses. You have been completely selfish, and now reap the
consequence. Had you once thought of your husband, instead of
singly thinking of yourself, you would not now have been alone, a
fugitive, with blood upon your hands, and hearing from a morose old
Englishman truth more bitter than scandal.'
'I thank you,' she said, quivering. 'This is very true. Will you
stop the carriage?'
'No, child,' said Sir John, 'not until I see you mistress of
yourself.'
There was a long pause, during which the carriage rolled by rock and
woodland.
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