| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: Boers were in danger from an attack upon them which had been arranged
between Allan Quatermain and Dingaan; that he also had written to Retief
and tried to speak to him but was refused a hearing. Thereon he had
ridden away from Umgungundhlovu to try to save his daughter and warn the
Boers. That was all he had to say.
As there were no further witnesses for the prosecution I cross-examined
these two at full length, but absolutely without results, since every
vital question that I asked was met with a direct negative.
Then I called my witnesses, Marie, whose evidence they refused to hear
on the ground that she was my wife and prejudiced, the Vrouw Prinsloo
and her family, and the Meyers. One and all told a true story of my
 Marie |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: of it. I am not competent to judge in such affairs, you know,
still I believe that on his part it is the most ordinary man's
feeling, though it is masked. He says that this love arouses his
energy and is Platonic, but I know that even if it is
exceptional, still at the bottom it is degrading."
Mary Pavlovna had wandered from the subject, having started on
her favourite theme.
"Well, but what am I to do?" Nekhludoff asked.
"I think you should tell her everything; it is always best that
everything should be clear. Have a talk with her; I shall call
her. Shall I?" said Mary Pavlovna.
 Resurrection |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: ill-success."
But she laughed and would have none of it.
Will you ever forget that day, Athanasia? How the little gamins,
Creole throughout, came half shyly near the log, fishing, and
exchanging furtive whispers and half-concealed glances at the
silent couple. Their angling was rewarded only by a little black
water-moccasin that wriggled and forked its venomous red tongue
in an attempt to exercise its death-dealing prerogative. This
Athanasia insisted must go back into its native black waters, and
paid the price the boys asked that it might enjoy its freedom.
The gamins laughed and chattered in their soft patois; the Don
 The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |