| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Dead Souls by Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol: his fresh, spring-rose-pink cheeks a-quiver. "Have you been doing much
trade in departed souls lately?" With that he turned to the Governor.
"I suppose your Excellency knows that this man traffics in dead
peasants?" he bawled. "Look here, Chichikov. I tell you in the most
friendly way possible that every one here likes you--yes, including
even the Governor. Nevertheless, had I my way, I would hang you! Yes,
by God I would!"
Chichikov's discomfiture was complete.
"And, would you believe it, your Excellency," went on Nozdrev, "but
this fellow actually said to me, 'Sell me your dead souls!' Why, I
laughed till I nearly became as dead as the souls. And, behold, no
 Dead Souls |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Hated Son by Honore de Balzac: years yet."
"I wish I could see Maximilien here," continued the duke, with a smile
of satisfaction. "My fine boy! He commands a company in the King's
Guard. The Marechal d'Ancre takes care of my lad, and our gracious
Queen Marie thinks of allying him nobly, now that he is created Duc de
Nivron. My race will be worthily continued. The lad performed
prodigies of valor in the attack on--"
At this moment Bertrand entered, holding a letter in his hand.
"What is this?" said the old lord, eagerly.
"A despatch brought by a courier sent to you by the king," replied
Bertrand.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: silence. After a minute:
"Well?" said my companion from behind the brim.
"I hate it when the blinds are down," said I, " but- "
"But what?"
"Happily, they are only short blinds. In other words, just as
the ostrich, when pursued, is said to thrust its head into the
sand, believing- "
"And now please can I be shown over the house?"
I glanced at the order-to-view which she had handed me. It
referred to The Grange, which stood in its own grounds about half
a mile away. Its lodge gates were rather like ours. The same
 The Brother of Daphne |