| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: surprise, that it appeared to produce a much deeper effect upon
the mind of Sir Duncan Campbell, than he could possibly have
anticipated from his age and character. He well knew that the
Highlanders of that period possessed a much greater sensibility
both for tale and song than was found among their Lowland
neighbours; but even this, he thought, hardly accounted for the
embarrassment with which the old man withdrew his eyes from the
songstress, as if unwilling to suffer them to rest on an object
so interesting. Still less was it to be expected, that features
which expressed pride, stern common sense, and the austere habit
of authority, should have been so much agitated by so trivial a
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Albert Savarus by Honore de Balzac: dignity. Gina, her half-grown-up /confidante/, also seemed to have a
mocking expression as she gave a covert or a side glance at Rodolphe.
This obvious disagreement between the Italian lady's rank and her
manners was a fresh puzzle to Rodolphe, who suspected some further
trick like Gina's assumed dumbness.
"Where would you go, Signora Lamporani?" he asked.
"Towards Lucerne," replied Francesca in French.
"Good!" said Rodolphe to himself, "she is not startled by hearing me
speak her name; she had, no doubt, foreseen that I should ask Gina--
she is so cunning.--What is your quarrel with me?" he went on, going
at last to sit down by her side, and asking her by a gesture to give
Albert Savarus |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Aspern Papers by Henry James: "Here she is--she can tell you herself," I said; for Miss Tita
now appeared on the threshold of the old woman's parlor.
"Have you got confidence, Miss Tita? Your aunt wants very
much to know."
"Not in her, not in her!" the younger lady declared, shaking her
head with a dolefulness that was neither jocular not affected.
"I don't know what to do with her; she has fits of horrid imprudence.
She is so easily tired--and yet she has begun to roam--
to drag herself about the house." And she stood looking down
at her immemorial companion with a sort of helpless wonder,
as if all their years of familiarity had not made her perversities,
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