| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Hero of Our Time by M.Y. Lermontov: continued to entertain the public till sunset.
Princess Mary passed by me a few times, arm-in-
arm with her mother, and accompanied by a
certain lame old man. A few times her glance
as it fell upon me expressed vexation, while en-
deavouring to express indifference. . .
"What has he been telling you?" she in-
quired of one of the young men, who had gone
back to her out of politeness. "No doubt
a most interesting story -- his own exploits in
battle?" . . .
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Unsocial Socialist by George Bernard Shaw: any cause to complain of her treatment here, or of the step which
she has compelled us to take, she will doubtless make it known to
you.
"Perhaps you will be so good as to communicate with Miss Wylie's
guardian, Mr. Jansenius, with whom I shall be happy to make an
equitable arrangement respecting the fees which have been paid in
advance for the current term.
"I am, dear madam,
"Yours faithfully,
"Maria Wilson."
"A nice young lady, that!" said Mrs. Jansenius.
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac: to be alone, like an alchemist in his laboratory. There, no doubt,
some hiding-place had been ingeniously constructed; there the title-
deeds of property were stored; there hung the scales on which to weigh
the louis; there were devised, by night and secretly, the estimates,
the profits, the receipts, so that business men, finding Grandet
prepared at all points, imagined that he got his cue from fairies or
demons; there, no doubt, while Nanon's loud snoring shook the rafters,
while the wolf-dog watched and yawned in the courtyard, while Madame
and Mademoiselle Grandet were quietly sleeping, came the old cooper to
cuddle, to con over, to caress and clutch and clasp his gold. The
walls were thick, the screens sure. He alone had the key of this
Eugenie Grandet |
