| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: plain cap, called "a la Janseniste," by which fervent female souls of
that sect were recognized, affected, like a nun, to hide her hair. On
the other hand, the rest of her clothing was of a neatness that was
almost dainty, and the gold cross at her throat, suspended by a black
velvet ribbon, excluded the idea of humble and hesitating mendicity.
The morning of the day on which the dinner at the Rocher de Cancale
was to take place, la Peyrade, weary of a performance which had ended
by preoccupying his mind, went up to the woman and asked her
pointblank if she had any request to make of him.
"Monsieur," she answered, in a tone of solemnity, "is, I think, the
celebrated Monsieur de la Peyrade, the advocate of the poor?"
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard: there was a blinding flash and everything vanished. All of this
picture passed so swiftly that we could not grasp its details;
only a general impression remained.
"The Lord Oro, using the strength that is in the world whereof
he alone has the secret, changes the world's balance causing that
which was land to become sea and that which was sea to become
land," said Yva in her chanting, unnatural voice.
Another scene of stupendous and changing awfulness. Countries
were sinking, cities crashing down, volcanoes were spouting fire;
the end of the earth seemed to be at hand. We could see human
beings running to and fro in thousands like ants. Then in huge
When the World Shook |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Frances Waldeaux by Rebecca Davis: I must go. Ring for a cab, please. No, I will wait in
the station. Clara would argue and lecture. I could not
stand that to-night," with her old comical shrug.
Lucy's entreaties were vain.
But as the train rushed through the valley of the Isar
that night, Frances looked forward into the darkness with
a nameless terror. "That child was so healthy and sane,"
she said, "I wish I had stayed with her longer."
CHAPTER XII
Prince Hugo had made no secret of his intentions with
regard to Miss Dunbar, so that when it was known that his
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