| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Paz by Honore de Balzac: "Oh, as for that," replied Paz, "I can't keep it out of the
newspapers, so I may as well tell you at once. The Emperor Nicholas
has had the grace to appoint me captain in a regiment which is to take
part in the expedition to Khiva."
"You are not going?" cried Adam.
"Yes, I shall go, my dear fellow. Captain I came, and captain I
return. We shall dine together to-morrow for the last time. If I don't
start at once for St. Petersburg I shall have to make the journey by
land, and I am not rich, and I must leave Malaga a little
independence. I ought to think of the only woman who has been able to
understand me; she thinks me grand, superior. I dare say she is
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: The voice interrupted negligently.
"I will come on board."
"Mr. Van Wyk," Sterne suddenly broke out with an
eager effort, "will you do me the favor . . ."
The mate walked away quickly towards the gangway.
A silence fell. Mr. Massy in the dark did not move.
He did not move even when he heard slow shuffling
footsteps pass his cabin lazily. He contented himself
to bellow out through the closed door--
"You--Jack!"
The footsteps came back without haste; the door
End of the Tether |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: the farther side of the hearth, a little red skull-cap on his
head, his fine hands lying still in his lap. The collar of lawn
which fell over his cape was quite plain, but the skirts of his
red robe were covered with rich lace, and the order of the Holy
Ghost, a white dove on a gold cross, shone on his breast. Among
the multitudinous papers on the great table near him I saw a
sword and pistols; and some tapestry that covered a little table
behind him failed to hide a pair of spurred riding-boots. But as
I advanced he looked towards me with the utmost composure; with a
face mild and almost benign, in which I strove in vain to read
the traces of last night's passion. So that it flashed across me
|
