| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Manon Lescaut by Abbe Prevost: strictest propriety, the tranquil life we led served to restore
me by degrees to a sense of duty.
I resolved to effect, if possible, a reconciliation with my
parent. My mistress was to me so perfectly lovable, that I could
not a doubt her power of captivating my father, if I could only
find the means of making him acquainted with her good conduct and
merit. In a word, I relied on obtaining his consent to our
marriage, having given up all idea of accomplishing it without
his approval. I mentioned the project to Manon, and explained to
her that, besides every motive of filial love and duty, the
weightier one of necessity should also have some influence; for
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: twenty thousand francs, together with those of his ward, in the public
Funds before the 18th Brumaire, which, as we all know, sent those
stocks up from twelve to eighteen francs.
The chateau of Cinq-Cygne had long been empty and denuded of
furniture. The prudent guardian was careful not to alter its aspect
during the revolutionary troubles; but after the peace of Amiens he
made a journey to Troyes and brought back various relics of the
pillaged mansions which he obtained from the dealers in second-hand
furniture. The salon was furnished for the first time since their
occupation of the house. Handsome curtains of white brocade with green
flowers, from the hotel de Simeuse, draped the six windows of the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Second Home by Honore de Balzac: office who has moved to the Marais.--Why!" she exclaimed, after
glancing down the street, "our gentleman of the brown coat has taken
to wearing a wig; how much it alters him!"
The gentleman of the brown coat was, it would seem, the individual who
commonly closed the daily procession, for the old woman put on her
spectacles and took up her work with a sigh, glancing at her daughter
with so strange a look that Lavater himself would have found it
difficult to interpret. Admiration, gratitude, a sort of hope for
better days, were mingled with pride at having such a pretty daughter.
At about four in the afternoon the old lady pushed her foot against
Caroline's, and the girl looked up quickly enough to see the new
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