| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: "In short," said Madame de l'Estorade, "you are trying to make me
admit that the surest way to think of a person is to put him out of
sight."
"Listen to me, my dear," said Madame de Camps, with a slight touch of
gravity. "I have read and re-read your letters. You were there your
own self, more natural and less quibbling than you are now, and an
impression has remained upon my mind: it is that Monsieur de
Sallenauve has touched your heart, though he may not have entered it."
Madame de l'Estorade made a gesture of denial, but the confessor went
on:--
"I know that idea provokes you; you can't very well admit to me what
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from 'Twixt Land & Sea by Joseph Conrad: obedience, it appears, to Heemskirk's orders given beforehand to
the gunner - the tow-rope had been let go at the blast of the
whistle, before he had time to cry out or to move a limb, he saw
her cast adrift and shooting across the gunboat's stern with the
impetus of her speed. He followed her fine, gliding form with eyes
growing big with incredulity, wild with horror. The cries on board
of her came to him only as a dreadful and confused murmur through
the loud thumping of blood in his ears, while she held on. She ran
upright in a terrible display of her gift of speed, with an
incomparable air of life and grace. She ran on till the smooth
level of water in front of her bows seemed to sink down suddenly as
'Twixt Land & Sea |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: letter, is not a friend's opera-hat, which you might have taken,
carelessly, on leaving a ball."
Eugene, discomfited, looked at the marquise with an air that was both
stupid and conceited. He felt that he was becoming ridiculous; and
after stammering a few juvenile phrases he left the room.
A few days later the marquise acquired undeniable proofs that Eugene
had told the truth. For the last fortnight she has not been seen in
society.
The marquis tells all those who ask him the reason of this
seclusion:--
"My wife has an inflammation of the stomach."
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