| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: spot rising in each cheek.
"I can't do what I think would be -- would be -- -- "
"Right?"
"No: wise."
"You have made an admission now, Mr. Oak." she
exclaimed, with even more hauteur, and rocking her
head disdainfully. "After that, do you think I could
marry you? Not if I know it."
He broke in passionately. "But don't mistake me
like that! Because I am open enough to own what
every man in my shoes would have thought of, you
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: and grass; and the river kept unweariedly carrying us on at its
best pace. There was a manufacturing district about Chauny; and
after that the banks grew so high that they hid the adjacent
country, and we could see nothing but clay sides, and one willow
after another. Only, here and there, we passed by a village or a
ferry, and some wondering child upon the bank would stare after us
until we turned the corner. I daresay we continued to paddle in
that child's dreams for many a night after.
Sun and shower alternated like day and night, making the hours
longer by their variety. When the showers were heavy, I could feel
each drop striking through my jersey to my warm skin; and the
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: think, will bring us again together in more than one life to come. But for
this present existence of ours, the relation is now ended;-- we are about
to be separated. Repeat for me, I beseech you, the Nembutsu-prayer,--
because I am dying."
"Oh! what strange wild fancies!" cried the startled husband,-- "you are
only a little unwell, my dear one!... lie down for a while, and rest; and
the sickness will pass."...
"No, no!" she responded -- "I am dying! -- I do not imagine it;-- I
know!... And it were needless now, my dear husband, to hide the truth from
you any longer:-- I am not a human being. The soul of a tree is my soul;--
the heart of a tree is my heart;-- the sap of the willow is my life. And
Kwaidan |
