| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Atheist's Mass by Honore de Balzac: all our goods; if you like, we will try to find lodgings
together, since we are both turned out of this. It is not the
earthly paradise, when all is said and done.'
" 'I know that, my good Bourgeat,' said I. 'But I am in a great
fix. I have a trunk downstairs with a hundred francs' worth of
linen in it, out of which I could pay the landlord and all I owe
to the porter, and I have not a hundred sous.'
" 'Pooh! I have a few dibs,' replied Bourgeat joyfully, and he
pulled out a greasy old leather purse. 'Keep your linen.'
"Bourgeat paid up my arrears and his own, and settled with the
porter. Then he put our furniture and my box of linen in his
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from My Antonia by Willa Cather: had washed the field dust from their hands and faces at the wash-basin
by the kitchen door, we sat down at the oilcloth-covered table.
Mrs. Shimerda ladled meal mush out of an iron pot and poured milk
on it. After the mush we had fresh bread and sorghum molasses,
and coffee with the cake that had been kept warm in the feathers.
Antonia and Ambrosch were talking in Bohemian; disputing about which of
them had done more ploughing that day. Mrs. Shimerda egged them on,
chuckling while she gobbled her food.
Presently Ambrosch said sullenly in English: `You take them ox
tomorrow and try the sod plough. Then you not be so smart.'
His sister laughed. `Don't be mad. I know it's awful
My Antonia |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: Susan behaved with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I
could perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James
talked a great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he
had taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his
discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over again,
and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few
evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently
her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips--her
eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; while Reginald
observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I
believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and we left the two gentlemen
Lady Susan |
