| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas: "Diavolo!" said the cardinal, pensively gazing at the two
friends with lively admiration; "I should have cried, I
should."
At this moment the tumult was heard nearer.
Mazarin wiped his forehead and looked around him. He had a
great desire to go to the window, but he dared not.
"See what is going on, Monsieur D'Artagnan," said he.
D'Artagnan went to the window with his habitual composure.
"Oho!" said he, "what is this? Marechal de la Meilleraie
returning without a hat -- Fontrailles with his arm in a
sling -- wounded guards -- horses bleeding; eh, then, what
Twenty Years After |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen: "Oh dear, yes! very entertaining indeed. A very odd game.
I do not know what it is all about. I am never to see
my cards; and Mr. Crawford does all the rest."
"Bertram," said Crawford, some time afterwards, taking the
opportunity of a little languor in the game, "I have never
told you what happened to me yesterday in my ride home."
They had been hunting together, and were in the midst of a
good run, and at some distance from Mansfield, when his horse
being found to have flung a shoe, Henry Crawford had been
obliged to give up, and make the best of his way back.
"I told you I lost my way after passing that old farmhouse
Mansfield Park |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: that in keeping on he is not at bottom honestly thinking of the girl and
her welfare, but of himself and the public opinion he's afraid of, if he
breaks his engagement. And I shall tell him that if I'm in church and
they come to the place where they ask if any man knows just cause or
impediment, I shall probably call out, 'He does! His heart's not in it.
This is not marriage that he's committing. You're pronouncing your
blessing upon a fraud.'"
John sat now a long time silent, holding his extinct cigar. The lamp was
almost burned dry; we had blown out the expiring candles some while
since. "That is a very curious view," he repeated. "I should like to hear
what your friend says in answer."
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