| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: and the chief mate came to meet me, touching his cap.
There was a sort of curiosity in his eye that I did not like.
I don't know whether the steward had told them that I was "queer" only,
or downright drunk, but I know the man meant to have a good look at me.
I watched him coming with a smile which, as he got into point-blank range,
took effect and froze his very whiskers. I did not give him time
to open his lips.
"Square the yards by lifts and braces before the hands go to breakfast."
It was the first particular order I had given on board that ship;
and I stayed on deck to see it executed, too. I had felt the need
of asserting myself without loss of time. That sneering young cub
The Secret Sharer |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: and he returned upon it with a smile. "Talking of political
economy," said he, "you said if there were two of us to bear the
expense, the profits would increase. How do you make out
that?"
"I'll show you! I'll figure it out for you!" cried Hadden, and with
a pencil on the back of the bill of fare proceeded to perform
miracles. He was a man, or let us rather say a lad, of unusual
projective power. Give him the faintest hint of any speculation,
and the figures flowed from him by the page. A lively
imagination and a ready though inaccurate memory supplied
his data; he delivered himself with an inimitable heat that made
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The School For Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan: to your Humour[,] but I ought to have my own way in everything,
and what's more I will too--what! tho' I was educated in the country
I know very well that women of Fashion in London are accountable
to nobody after they are married.
SIR PETER. Very well! ma'am very well! so a husband is to have
no influence, no authority?
LADY TEAZLE. Authority! no, to be sure--if you wanted authority
over me, you should have adopted me and not married me[:] I am sure
you were old enough.
SIR PETER. Old enough--aye there it is--well--well--Lady Teazle,
tho' my life may be made unhappy by your Temper--I'll not be ruined
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