| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: "That is a very nice idea. But first I must remove my corsets and my
boots. Ah, what a relief to wear sandals again. I am needing the 'cure'
very badly this year. My nerves! I am a mass of them. During the entire
journey I sat with my handkerchief over my head, even while the guard
collected the tickets. Exhausted!"
She came into the arbour wearing a black and white spotted dressing-gown,
and a calico cap peaked with patent leather, followed by Kathi, carrying
the little blue jugs of malt coffee. We were formally introduced. Frau
Fischer sat down, produced a perfectly clean pocket handkerchief and
polished her cup and saucer, then lifted the lid of the coffee-pot and
peered in at the contents mournfully.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Aspern Papers by Henry James: over my strangeness.
"I mean only from one of those windows--such grand ones
as you have here--if you will let me open the shutters."
And I walked toward the back of the house. When I had advanced
halfway I stopped and waited, as if I took it for granted she would
accompany me. I had been of necessity very abrupt, but I strove
at the same time to give her the impression of extreme courtesy.
"I have been looking at furnished rooms all over the place,
and it seems impossible to find any with a garden attached.
Naturally in a place like Venice gardens are rare. It's absurd
if you like, for a man, but I can't live without flowers."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: foreign countries, and as Prince Tuan, the father of the future
Emperor, had expressed himself so strongly, they hesitated to
offer an adverse opinion. But when it came to Prince Su, a man of
strong character, widely versed in foreign affairs, and of
independent thought, he opposed the measure most vigorously.
"Who," he asked, "are these Boxers? Who are their leaders? How
can they, a mere rabble, hope to vanquish the armies of foreign
nations?'
Prince Tuan answered that "by their incantations they were able
to produce heaven-sent soldiers."
Prince Su denounced such superstition as childish. But when after
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