| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: him no son. Yet he never made her feel her childlessness as a
reproach--she herself admits this in her evidence--but seemed to
try to make her forget it by showering gifts and favours on her.
Rich though he was, he had never been open-handed; but nothing
was too fine for his wife, in the way of silks or gems or linen,
or whatever else she fancied. Every wandering merchant was
welcome at Kerfol, and when the master was called away he never
came back without bringing his wife a handsome present--something
curious and particular--from Morlaix or Rennes or Quimper. One
of the waiting-women gave, in cross-examination, an interesting
list of one year's gifts, which I copy. From Morlaix, a carved
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: 'As for the absurd position in which you and Uncle Joseph have
been making yourselves an exhibition,' resumed Michael, 'it is
more than time it came to an end. I have prepared a proper
discharge in full, which you shall sign as a preliminary.'
'What?' cried Morris, 'and lose my seven thousand eight hundred
pounds, and the leather business, and the contingent interest,
and get nothing? Thank you.'
'It's like you to feel gratitude, Morris,' began Michael.
'O, I know it's no good appealing to you, you sneering devil!'
cried Morris. 'But there's a stranger present, I can't think why,
and I appeal to him. I was robbed of that money when I was an
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Manon Lescaut by Abbe Prevost: "Before we parted, we agreed as to the time and place for our
meeting. He was so considerate as to appoint the afternoon of
the same day.
"I waited for him at a cafe, where he joined me about four
o'clock, and we went together towards the Magdalen; my knees
trembled under me as I crossed the courts. `Ye heavenly powers!'
said I, `then I shall once more behold the idol of my heart--the
dear object of so many sighs and lamentations! All I now ask of
Providence is, to vouchsafe me strength enough to reach her
presence, and after that, to dispose as it pleaseth of my future
fate, and of my life itself. Beyond this, I have no prayer to
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