| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: "I suppose I'm scarcely entitled to ask for a fresh one to-morrow," I
ventured. I am so fond of this cake."
Her officialness met me adequately. "Certainly the public is entitled to
whatever we print upon our bill-of-fare."
Now this was going to be too bad! Henceforth I was to rank merely as "the
public," no matter how much Lady Baltimore I should lunch upon! A happy
thought seized me, and I spoke out instantly on the strength of it.
"Miss La Heu, I've a confession to make."
But upon this beginning of mine the inauspicious door opened and young
John Mayrant came in. It was all right about his left eye; anybody could
see that bruise!
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: XXXIV
MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN
--- Hotel
I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you
are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority
such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the
imposition I have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate
and eternal separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude.
Langford! Langford! that word will be sufficient. I received my information
in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have
loved you; you can intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so
Lady Susan |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: They repaired to the hall and took their seats at the head of the long
table. For the Spanish centuries of stately custom lived at Santa YsabeI
del Mar, inviolate, feudal, remote.
They were the only persons of quality present; and between themselves and
the gente de razon a space intervened. Behind the Padre's chair stood an
Indian to waft upon him, and another stood behind the chair of Gaston
Villere. Each of these servants wore one single white garment, and
offered the many dishes to the gente fina and refilled their glasses. At
the lower end of the table a general attendant wafted upon mesclados--the
half-breeds. There was meat with spices, and roasted quail, with various
cakes and other preparations of grain; also the brown fresh olives and
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