| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart: made between the flue and the outer wall of the house. There was
revealed, however, on inspection, only the brick of the chimney
on one side and the outer wall of the house on the other; in
depth the space extended only to the flooring. The breach had
been made about four feet from the floor, and inside were all the
missing bits of plaster. It had been a methodical ghost.
It was very much of a disappointment. I had expected a secret
room, at the very least, and I think even Mr. Jamieson had
fancied he might at last have a clue to the mystery. There was
evidently nothing more to be discovered: Liddy reported that
everything was serene among the servants, and that none of them
The Circular Staircase |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: Daisy evidently had a natural talent for performing introductions;
she mentioned the name of each of her companions to the other.
She strolled alone with one of them on each side of her; Mr. Giovanelli,
who spoke English very cleverly--Winterbourne afterward learned
that he had practiced the idiom upon a great many American heiresses--
addressed her a great deal of very polite nonsense; he was extremely
urbane, and the young American, who said nothing, reflected upon
that profundity of Italian cleverness which enables people to appear
more gracious in proportion as they are more acutely disappointed.
Giovanelli, of course, had counted upon something more intimate;
he had not bargained for a party of three. But he kept his
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Mayflower Compact: constitute, and frame, such just and equall Laws, Ordinances,
Acts, Constitutions, and Offices, from time to time,
as shall be thought most meete and convenient for the
Generall Good of the Colonie; unto which we promise
all due Submission and Obedience.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names
at Cape Cod the eleventh of November, in the Raigne of our
Sovereigne Lord, King James of England, France, and Ireland,
the eighteenth, and of Scotland, the fiftie-fourth,
Anno. Domini, 1620.
Mr. John Carver Mr. Stephen Hopkins
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