| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: Strange things always happen in the house where a corpse has thus been
left: so we think that it will be better for you to come away with us. We
can find you good lodging in the other village. But perhaps, as you are a
priest, you have no fear of demons or evil spirits; and, if you are not
afraid of being left alone with the body, you will be very welcome to the
use of this poor house. However, I must tell you that nobody, except a
priest, would dare to remain here tonight."
Muso made answer:--
"For your kind intention and your generous hospitality and am deeply
grateful. But I am sorry that you did not tell me of your father's death
when I came; -- for, though I was a little tired, I certainly was not so
Kwaidan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy: Ann the housemaid came home from their visit to the village.
'Have you heard anything about John Smith? The accident is not so
bad as was reported, is it?' said Elfride intuitively.
'Oh no; the doctor says it is only a bad bruise.'
'I thought so!' cried Elfride gladly.
'He says that, although Nat believes he did not check the beetle
as it came down, he must have done so without knowing it--checked
it very considerably too; for the full blow would have knocked his
hand abroad, and in reality it is only made black-and-blue like.'
'How thankful I am!' said Stephen.
The perplexed Unity looked at him with her mouth rather than with
A Pair of Blue Eyes |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: "They meant to be polite," said Bessie, "because we are going
to meet them."
"It is too late to be polite," Mrs. Westgate replied almost grimly.
"They meant to overawe us by their fine manners and their grandeur,
and to make you lacher prise."
"Lacher prise? What strange things you say!" murmured Bessie Alden.
"They meant to snub us, so that we shouldn't dare to go to Branches,"
Mrs. Westgate continued.
"On the contrary," said Bessie, "the duchess offered to show
me the place herself."
"Yes, you may depend upon it she won't let you out of her sight.
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