| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: Oh, we shock our old people! We don't expect them to change, but they
mustn't expect us not to. And even some of them have begun to whisper a
little doubtfully. But never mind them--here's the negro. We can't kick
him out. That plan is childish. So, it's like two men having to live in
one house. The white man would keep the house in repair, the black would
let it rot. Well, the black must take orders from the white. And it will
end so."
She was eager. "Slavery again, you think?"
"Oh, never! It was too injurious to ourselves. But something between
slavery and equality." And I ended with a quotation: "'Patience, cousin,
and shuffle the cards.'"
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: the desperate bitterness of his feelings that it surprised even
himself. He asked himself who spoke, and, after looking slowly
round as if expecting to see somebody, turned again his eyes
towards the sea.
"You say that because you do not understand the meaning of my
words," she said sadly. "Between you and my mother there never
was any love. When I returned to Sambir I found the place which
I thought would be a peaceful refuge for my heart, filled with
weariness and hatred--and mutual contempt. I have listened to
your voice and to her voice. Then I saw that you could not
understand me; for was I not part of that woman? Of her who was
Almayer's Folly |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honore de Balzac: to set Lucien at liberty forthwith."
"My duty forbids it," said Camusot very good-naturedly; "but if a
sinner may make a compromise with heaven, justice too has its softer
side, and if you can give me sufficient reasons--speak; your words
will not be taken down."
"Well, then," Jacques Collin went on, taken in by Camusot's apparent
goodwill, "I know what that poor boy is suffering at this moment; he
is capable of trying to kill himself when he finds himself a
prisoner----"
"Oh! as to that!" said Camusot with a shrug.
"You do not know whom you will oblige by obliging me," added Jacques
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