| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: they are too delicate for eyes that see only the outside of nature.
Her gaiety is betrayed to me by the tones of her voice, by certain
accents which I alone can catch and understand. Modeste then, instead
of sitting still and thoughtful, gives vent to a wild, inward activity
by impulsive movements,--in short, she is happy. There is a grace, a
charm in the very ideas she utters. Ah, my friends, I know happiness
as well as I know sorrow; I know its signs. By the kiss my Modeste
gives me I can guess what is passing within her. I know whether she
has received what she was looking for, or whether she is uneasy or
expectant. There are many gradations in a kiss, even in that of an
innocent young girl, and Modeste is innocence itself; but hers is the
Modeste Mignon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery: But the bitterness of her old grievance promptly stiffened up her
wavering determination. That scene of two years before flashed
back into her recollection as vividly as if it had taken place
yesterday. Gilbert had called her "carrots" and had brought
about her disgrace before the whole school. Her resentment,
which to other and older people might be as laughable as its
cause, was in no whit allayed and softened by time seemingly.
She hated Gilbert Blythe! She would never forgive him!
"No," she said coldly, "I shall never be friends with you,
Gilbert Blythe; and I don't want to be!"
"All right!" Gilbert sprang into his skiff with an angry color in
Anne of Green Gables |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery: the wind that is blowing up there in those tree tops. When I
get tired of the trees I'll imagine I'm gently waving down here
in the ferns--and then I'll fly over to Mrs. Lynde's garden and
set the flowers dancing--and then I'll go with one great swoop
over the clover field--and then I'll blow over the Lake of
Shining Waters and ripple it all up into little sparkling waves.
Oh, there's so much scope for imagination in a wind! So I'll not
talk any more just now, Marilla."
"Thanks be to goodness for that," breathed Marilla in
devout relief.
CHAPTER XI
Anne of Green Gables |
