| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Death of the Lion by Henry James: mean," I pursued, "that you've a passion for Mr. Paraday's books?"
"They've been everything to me and a little more beside - I know
them by heart. They've completely taken hold of me. There's no
author about whom I'm in such a state as I'm in about Neil
Paraday."
"Permit me to remark then," I presently returned, "that you're one
of the right sort."
"One of the enthusiasts? Of course I am!"
"Oh there are enthusiasts who are quite of the wrong. I mean
you're one of those to whom an appeal can be made."
"An appeal?" Her face lighted as if with the chance of some great
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from La Grande Breteche by Honore de Balzac: a Fleming, who ought to have seen the light in a picture by Teniers.
" 'Well, monsieur,' said she, 'Monsieur Regnault has no doubt been
giving you his history of la Grande Breteche?'
" 'Yes, Madame Lepas.'
" 'And what did he tell you?'
"I repeated in a few words the creepy and sinister story of Madame de
Merret. At each sentence my hostess put her head forward, looking at
me with an innkeeper's keen scrutiny, a happy compromise between the
instinct of a police constable, the astuteness of a spy, and the
cunning of a dealer.
" 'My good Madame Lepas,' said I as I ended, 'you seem to know more
La Grande Breteche |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Deserted Woman by Honore de Balzac: an essentially kindly heart. The resolution which he made as he
entered the house at Courcelles was in keeping with his frank nature
and ardent imagination. But, bold has he was with love, his heart beat
violently when he had crossed the great court, laid out like an
English garden, and the man-servant, who had taken his name to the
Vicomtesse, returned to say that she would receive him.
"M. le Baron de Nueil."
Gaston came in slowly, but with sufficient ease of manner; and it is a
more difficult thing, be it said, to enter a room where there is but
one woman, than a room that holds a score.
A great fire was burning on the hearth in spite of the mild weather,
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