| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: saw a long fishing-rod. What was there so familiar in the poise of that
figure? Madcap dislodged a stone from the path and it went rattling down the
rock, slope and fell with a splash into the water. The man heard it, turned
and faced the hillside. Betty recognized Alfred Clarke. For a moment she
believed she must be dreaming She had had many dreams of the old sycamore. She
looked again. Yes, it was he. Pale, worn, and older he undoubtedly looked, but
the features were surely those of Alfred Clarke. Her heart gave a great bound
and then seemed to stop beating while a very agony of joy surged over her and
made her faint. So he still lived. That was her first thought, glad and
joyous, and then memory returning, her face went white as with clenched teeth
she wheeled Madcap and struck her with the switch. Once on the level bluff she
Betty Zane |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: ever saw! I think you're reading the riddle all wrong. Perhaps she's
the wife of the First Consul."
"Pooh! the First Consul's wife is old, and this woman is young," said
Hulot. "Besides, the order I received from the minister gives her name
as Mademoiselle de Verneuil. She is a /ci-devant/. Don't I know 'em?
They all plied one trade before the Revolution, and any man could make
himself a major, or a general in double-quick time; all he had to do
was to say 'Dear heart' to them now and then."
While each soldier opened his compasses, as the commandant was wont to
say, the miserable vehicle which was then used as the mail-coach drew
up before the inn of the Trois Maures, in the middle of the main
The Chouans |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Moby Dick by Herman Melville: you don't get it (SNEEZES). Come, come, you old Smut, there, bear a
hand, and let's have that ferule and buckle-screw; I'll be ready
for them presently. Lucky now (SNEEZES) there's no knee-joint to
make; that might puzzle a little; but a mere shinbone--why it's
easy as making hop-poles; only I should like to put a good finish on.
Time, time; if I but only had the time, I could turn him out as neat
a leg now as ever (SNEEZES) scraped to a lady in a parlor. Those
buckskin legs and calves of legs I've seen in shop windows wouldn't
compare at all. They soak water, they do; and of course get
rheumatic, and have to be doctored (SNEEZES) with washes and lotions,
just like live legs. There; before I saw it off, now, I must call his
Moby Dick |
