| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: had formerly hung down before the picture, until the duskiness of
time had so effectually concealed it. But, after all, it was the
most singular part of the affair that so many of the pompous
governors of Massachusetts had allowed the obliterated picture to
remain in the state chamber of the Province House.
"Some of these fables are really awful," observed Alice Vane, who
had occasionally shuddered, as well as smiled, while her cousin
spoke. "It would be almost worth while to wipe away the black
surface of the canvas, since the original picture can hardly be
so formidable as those which fancy paints instead of it."
"But would it be possible," inquired her cousin, "to restore this
Twice Told Tales |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: inspired the stipulation of old Mathias; and Mathias must have
enlightened Paul. Horrible reflection! Even if he had not yet done so,
as soon as that contract was signed the old wolf would surely warn his
client of the dangers he had run and had now escaped, were it only to
receive the praise of his sagacity. He would put him on his guard
against the wily woman who had lowered herself to this conspiracy; he
would destroy the empire she had conquered over her son-in-law! Feeble
natures, once warned, turn obstinate, and are never won again. At the
first discussion of the contract she had reckoned on Paul's weakness,
and on the impossibility he would feel of breaking off a marriage so
far advanced. But now, she herself was far more tightly bound. Three
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: not intended for you."
The marquise could not help smiling, though she wished to seem
offended.
"Why deceive?" she said, with a disdainful air, although the tones of
her voice were gentle. "Now that I have duly scolded you, I am willing
to laugh at a subterfuge which is not without cleverness. I know many
women who would be taken in by it: 'Heavens! how he loves me!' they
would say."
Here the marquise gave a forced laugh, and then added, in a tone of
indulgence:--
"If we desire to continue friends let there be no more MISTAKES, of
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