| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Silas Marner by George Eliot: one of the beaux of the evening, and at your own house! What do you
mean by such freaks, young fellow? Has Miss Nancy been cruel, and
do you want to spite her by spoiling your pumps?"
"Oh, everything has been disagreeable to-night. I was tired to
death of jigging and gallanting, and that bother about the
hornpipes. And I'd got to dance with the other Miss Gunn," said
Godfrey, glad of the subterfuge his uncle had suggested to him.
The prevarication and white lies which a mind that keeps itself
ambitiously pure is as uneasy under as a great artist under the
false touches that no eye detects but his own, are worn as lightly
as mere trimmings when once the actions have become a lie.
Silas Marner |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: "Reckon he's dead, all right, or nobody'd hev his hoss an'
guns," presently said Euchre.
"Mister Duane," began Bosomer, in low, stinging tones, "I
happen to be Luke Stevens's side-pardner."
Duane looked him over, from dusty, worn-out boots to his
slouchy sombrero. That look seemed to inflame Bosomer.
"An' I want the hoss an' them guns," he shouted.
"You or anybody else can have them, for all I care. I just
fetched them in. But the pack is mine," replied Duane. "And
say, I befriended your pard. If you can't use a civil tongue
you'd better cinch it."
The Lone Star Ranger |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Glasses by Henry James: "To follow to the letter her oculist's prescription, whatever it is
and at whatever cost to her prettiness. It's not a thing to be
trifled with."
"Upon my honour it SHAN'T be!" he roundly declared; and he adjusted
himself to his position again as if we had quite settled the
business. After a considerable interval, while I botched away, he
suddenly said: "Did they make a great difference?"
"A great difference?"
"Those things she had put on."
"Oh the glasses--in her beauty? She looked queer of course, but it
was partly because one was unaccustomed. There are women who look
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