| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw: besides ourselves in it; but we hold most of the capital; and
your mother's indispensable as managing director. Youve noticed,
I daresay, that she travels a good deal. But you see you cant
mention such things in society. Once let out the word hotel and
everybody thinks you keep a public-house. You wouldnt like
people to say that of your mother, would you? Thats why we're so
reserved about it. By the way, youll keep it to yourself, wont
you? Since it's been a secret so long, it had better remain so.
VIVIE. And this is the business you invite me to join you in?
CROFTS. Oh no. My wife shant be troubled with business. Youll
not be in it more than youve always been.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin: in Patagonia to a height of between 300 and 400 feet), within
the period of the now existing sea-shells. The old and
weathered shells left on the surface of the upraised plain still
partially retain their colours. The uprising movement has
been interrupted by at least eight long periods of rest, during
which the sea ate, deeply back into the land, forming at
successive levels the long lines of cliffs, or escarpments,
which separate the different plains as they rise like steps one
behind the other. The elevatory movement, and the eating-back
power of the sea during the periods of rest, have been
equable over long lines of coast; for I was astonished to
The Voyage of the Beagle |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson: Two guilders was the man's demand - between three and four shillings
English money - for each passenger. But at this Catriona began to cry
out with a vast deal of agitation. She had asked of Captain Sang, she
said, and the fare was but an English shilling. "Do you think I will
have come on board and not ask first?" cries she. The patroon scolded
back upon her in a lingo where the oaths were English and the rest
right Hollands; till at last (seeing her near tears) I privately
slipped in the rogue's hand six shillings, whereupon he was obliging
enough to receive from her the other shilling without more complaint.
No doubt I was a good deal nettled and ashamed. I like to see folk
thrifty, but not with so much passion; and I daresay it would be rather
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