| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen: that of music and dancing he was passionately fond,
she gave him such a look of approbation as secured the
largest share of his discourse to herself for the rest
of his stay.
It was only necessary to mention any favourite
amusement to engage her to talk. She could not be
silent when such points were introduced, and she
had neither shyness nor reserve in their discussion.
They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing
and music was mutual, and that it arose from a general
conformity of judgment in all that related to either.
Sense and Sensibility |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Moby Dick by Herman Melville: heard from aft,--"Man the mast-heads!"--and all through the day,
till after sunset and after twilight, the same voice every hour, at
the striking of the helmsman's bell, was heard--"What d'ye
see?--sharp! sharp!"
But when three or four days had slided by, after meeting the
children-seeking Rachel; and no spout had yet been seen; the
monomaniac old man seemed distrustful of his crew's fidelity; at
least, of nearly all except the Pagan harpooneers; he seemed to
doubt, even, whether Stubb and Flask might not willingly overlook the
sight he sought. But if these suspicions were really his, he
sagaciously refrained from verbally expressing them, however his
Moby Dick |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: am weary with a man's work, and you are weary of your playthings,
you return to make me a scene of conjugal reproaches - the grocer
and his wife! The positions are too much reversed; and you should
understand, at least, that I cannot at the same time do your work of
government and behave myself like a little girl. Scandal is the
atmosphere in which we live, we princes; it is what a prince should
know. You play an odious part. Do you believe this rumour?'
'Madam, should I be here?' said Otto.
'It is what I want to know!' she cried, the tempest of her scorn
increasing. 'Suppose you did - I say, suppose you did believe it?'
'I should make it my business to suppose the contrary,' he answered.
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