| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Elixir of Life by Honore de Balzac: life annuity to some old woman whom he scarcely knows; both live
in the country with a brook between them, both sides are free to
hate cordially, without offending against the social conventions
that require two brothers to wear a mask if the older will
succeed to the entail, and the other to the fortune of a younger
son. The whole civilization of Europe turns upon the principle of
hereditary succession as upon a pivot; it would be madness to
subvert the principle; but could we not, in an age that prides
itself upon its mechanical inventions, perfect this essential
portion of the social machinery?
If the author has preserved the old-fashioned style of address To
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Riverman by Stewart Edward White: her hands.
"It is no use, Jack," she said. "I care for you too much. I will
marry you whenever you say."
XIX
Orde left that evening early. This was at Carroll's request. She
preferred herself to inform her family of the news.
"I don't know yet how mother is going to get along," said she.
"Come back to-morrow afternoon and see them all."
The next morning Orde, having at last finished and despatched the
letter to his mother, drifted up the avenue and into the club. As
he passed the smoking room he caught sight of Gerald seated in an
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Burning Daylight by Jack London: secret service system he had been compelled to establish for
himself. Jones, who affected to be surprised at nothing after
his crushing experience with railroad freight rates on firweood
and charcoal, betrayed no surprise now when the task was given to
him to locate the purchaser of a certain sorrel mare.
"How high shall I pay for her?" he asked.
"Any price. You've got to get her, that's the point. Drive a
sharp bargain so as not to excite suspicion, but her. Then you
deliver her to that address up in Sonoma County. The man's the
caretaker on a little ranch I have there. Tell him he's to take
whacking good care of her. And after that forget all about it.
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