| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Frances Waldeaux by Rebecca Davis: brought her as governess from Paris, don't you remember?
They sent the girls to Bryn Mawr last week and turned her
adrift, almost penniless. She wished to go back to
France. I engaged her as assistant chaperone for the
season."
Mrs. Waldeaux's eyebrows went up significantly. She
never commented in words on the affairs of others, but
her face always was indiscreet. George, who had come up
in time to hear the last words, was not so
scrupulous. He surveyed the young woman through his
spectacles as she passed again, with cold disapproval.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Z. Marcas by Honore de Balzac: One evening Juste and I were at work, sitting in perfect silence.
Marcas had just risen to toil at his copying, for he had refused our
assistance in spite of our most earnest entreaties. We had offered to
take it in turns to copy a batch of manuscript, so that he should do
but a third of his distasteful task; he had been quite angry, and we
had ceased to insist.
We heard the sound of gentlemanly boots in the passage, and raised our
heads, looking at each other. There was a tap at Marcas' door--he
never took the key out of the lock--and we heard the hero answer:
"Come in." Then--"What, you here, monsieur?"
"I, myself," replied the retired minister.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: "Nay," quoth Robin gravely. "Speak not so roundly, Your Worship. I do love
thee for the sweet feast thou hast given me this day in merry Nottingham Town;
but there be those here who love thee not so much. If thou wilt look down
the cloth thou wilt see Will Stutely, in whose eyes thou hast no great favor;
then two other stout fellows are there here that thou knowest not, that were
wounded in a brawl nigh Nottingham Town, some time ago--thou wottest when;
one of them was sore hurt in one arm, yet he hath got the use of it again.
Good Sheriff, be advised by me; pay thy score without more ado, or maybe it
may fare ill with thee."
As he spoke the Sheriff's ruddy cheeks grew pale, and he said
nothing more but looked upon the ground and gnawed his nether lip.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
