| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: monsieur!--But I will not give way as long as I live," she said,
turning to her husband. "I am a mother.--Tell my father that I
have never sinned against him in spite of appearances!" she cried
aloud in her despair.
Eugene bowed to the husband and wife; he guessed the meaning of
the scene, and that this was a terrible crisis in the Countess'
life. M. de Restaud's manner had told him that his errand was a
fruitless one; he saw that Anastasie had no longer any liberty of
action. He came away mazed and bewildered, and hurried to Mme. de
Nucingen. Delphine was in bed.
"Poor dear Eugene, I am ill," she said. "I caught cold after the
Father Goriot |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Beast in the Jungle by Henry James: "Why you are present--since you know."
"I see." She turned it over. "But I mean at the catastrophe."
At this, for a minute, their lightness gave way to their gravity;
it was as if the long look they exchanged held them together. "It
will only depend on yourself--if you'll watch with me."
"Are you afraid?" she asked.
"Don't leave me now," he went on.
"Are you afraid?" she repeated.
"Do you think me simply out of my mind?" he pursued instead of
answering. "Do I merely strike you as a harmless lunatic?"
"No," said May Bartram. "I understand you. I believe you."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: name, in every way like unto him: it is impossible to distinguish
the one from the other. He is of our opinion, and was my teacher
in studies. I will give him the hint, and go by night, and tell
him the full tale. Then will we blazon it abroad that Barlaam
hath been caught; but we shall exhibit Nachor, who, calling
himself Barlaam, shall feign that he is pleading the cause of the
Christians and standing forth as their champion. Then, after
much disputation, he shall be worsted and utterly discomfited.
The prince, seeing Barlaam worsted, and our side victorious, will
doubtless join the victors; the more so that he counteth it a
great duty to reverence thy majesty, and do thy pleasure. Also
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