| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: to be arch, or at any rate to draw the inference. But if he put
the inference by without a smile it was also without irritation.
"She was a most charming person, but she was ten years older
than I. She was my sister's governess," he quietly said.
"She was the most agreeable woman I've ever known in her position;
she would have been worthy of any whatever. It was long ago,
and this episode was long before. I was at Trinity,
and I found her at home on my coming down the second summer.
I was much there that year--it was a beautiful one; and we had,
in her off-hours, some strolls and talks in the garden--
talks in which she struck me as awfully clever and nice.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: Stewart seemed oblivious to her presence. His eyes were closed.
His dark face softened, lost its hardness and fierceness and
sadness, and for an instant became beautiful.
Madeline instantly divined what his action meant. He was leaving
the ranch; this was his good-by to his horse. How strange, sad,
fine was this love between man and beast! A dimness confused
Madeline's eyes; she hurriedly brushed it away, and it came hack
wet and blurring. She averted her face, ashamed of the tears
Stewart might see. She was sorry for him. He was going away, and
this time, judging from the nature of his farewell to his horse,
it was to be forever. Like a stab from a cold blade a pain shot
The Light of Western Stars |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: is covered with inscriptions to catch the eye of the thirsty
wayfarer, such as "Truman, Hanbury, and Co.'s Entire," "Wine,
Rum, and Brandy Vaults," "Old Tom, Rum and Compounds,
etc." This indeed has been a temple of Bacchus and Momus
from time immemorial. It ha always been in the family of the
Wagstaffs, so that its history is tolerably preserved by the
present landlord. It was much frequented by the gallants and
cavalieros of the reign of Elizabeth, and was looked into now
and then by the wits of Charles the Second's day. But what
Wagstaff principally prides himself upon is, that Henry the
Eighth, in one of his nocturnal rambles, broke the head of one
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