| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: I always heard he was a most excellent man; and you know,
my dear, we are not to suppose but what, if you had had a
suitable fortune, he would have come down with something more,
for I am sure he must be a most liberal-minded man."
"Nobody can think better of Mr. Morland than I do,
I am sure. But everybody has their failing, you know,
and everybody has a right to do what they like with their
own money." Catherine was hurt by these insinuations.
"I am very sure," said she, "that my father has promised
to do as much as he can afford."
Isabella recollected herself. "As to that,
Northanger Abbey |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: "Mr. Ellenwood," said he, soothingly, yet with somewhat of
authority, "you are not well. Your mind has been agitated by the
unusual circumstances in which you are placed. The ceremony must
be deferred. As an old friend, let me entreat you to return
home."
"Home! yes, but not without my bride," answered he, in the same
hollow accents. "You deem this mockery; perhaps madness. Had I
bedizened my aged and broken frame with scarlet and
embroidery--had I forced my withered lips to smile at my dead
heart--that might have been mockery, or madness. But now, let
young and old declare, which of us has come hither without a
Twice Told Tales |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Adam Bede by George Eliot: the political bearings of the fact and with its striking interest
as an anecdote in natural history.
"Come, Craig," said Adam, "that's a little too strong. You don't
believe that. It's all nonsense about the French being such poor
sticks. Mr. Irwine's seen 'em in their own country, and he says
they've plenty o' fine fellows among 'em. And as for knowledge,
and contrivances, and manufactures, there's a many things as we're
a fine sight behind 'em in. It's poor foolishness to run down
your enemies. Why, Nelson and the rest of 'em 'ud have no merit
i' beating 'em, if they were such offal as folks pretend."
Mr. Poyser looked doubtfully at Mr. Craig, puzzled by this
Adam Bede |
