| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Emma by Jane Austen: thousand thanks, and says you really quite oppress her."
"We consider our Hartfield pork," replied Mr. Woodhouse--"indeed it
certainly is, so very superior to all other pork, that Emma and I
cannot have a greater pleasure than---"
"Oh! my dear sir, as my mother says, our friends are only too good
to us. If ever there were people who, without having great wealth
themselves, had every thing they could wish for, I am sure it is us.
We may well say that `our lot is cast in a goodly heritage.'
Well, Mr. Knightley, and so you actually saw the letter; well--"
"It was short--merely to announce--but cheerful, exulting, of course."--
Here was a sly glance at Emma. "He had been so fortunate as to--
 Emma |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: and I will make with thee a covenant of everlasting friendship."
The tutor, himself a prudent man, knowing how bright and mature
was the boy's wit and that he would not betray him, to his peril,
discovered to him the whole matter the persecution of the
Christians and especially of the anchorets decreed by the king,
and how they were driven forth and banished from the country
round about; also the prophecies of the astrologers at his birth.
"'Twas in order," said he, "that thou mightest never hear of
their teaching, and choose it before our religion, that the king
hath thus devised that none but a small company should dwell with
thee, and hath commanded us to acquaint thee with none of the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: this bankruptcy probable.
Fanny is still out of sorts; Bogue better; self fair, but a
stranger to the blessings of sleep. - Ever affectionate son,
R. L. S.
Letter: TO W. E. HENLEY
BONALLIE TOWERS, BOURNEMOUTH, [DECEMBER 1884].
DEAR LAD, - I have made up my mind about the P. M. G., and send you
a copy, which please keep or return. As for not giving a
reduction, what are we? Are we artists or city men? Why do we
sneer at stock-brokers? O nary; I will not take the 40 pounds. I
took that as a fair price for my best work; I was not able to
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