| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: you might still call me Dumay, even when you box my ears!"
"Swear to me," said her mother, "that you have not engaged a word or a
look with any young man."
"I can swear that, my dear mother," said Modeste, laughing, and
looking at Dumay who was watching her and smiling to himself like a
mischievous girl.
"She must be false indeed if you are right," cried Dumay, when Modeste
had left them and gone into the house.
"My daughter Modeste may have faults," said her mother, "but falsehood
is not one of them; she is incapable of saying what is not true."
"Well! then let us feel easy," continued Dumay, "and believe that
Modeste Mignon |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Nada the Lily by H. Rider Haggard: Now the white man came, but his face was pale, because of that which
he had seen befall the Boers, for he was gentle and hated such sights.
The king bade him be seated and spoke to him saying:--
"The other day, O White Man, thou toldest me of a place of fire
whither those go after death who have done wickedly in life. Tell me
now of thy wisdom, do my fathers lie in that place?"
"How can I know, King," answered the prayer-doctor, "who may not judge
of the deeds of men? This I say only: that those who murder and rob
and oppress the innocent and bear false witness shall lie in that
place of fire."
"It seems that my fathers have done all these things, and if they are
Nada the Lily |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: "With pleasure. I will make them at you!" answered Felix.
"How much longer," asked Eugenia, in a moment, "do you propose to remain
in this lovely spot?"
Felix stared. "Do you want to go away--already?"
" 'Already' is delicious. I am not so happy as you."
Felix dropped into a chair, looking at the fire. "The fact is I am happy,"
he said in his light, clear tone.
"And do you propose to spend your life in making love to Gertrude Wentworth?"
"Yes!" said Felix, smiling sidewise at his sister.
The Baroness returned his glance, much more gravely; and then,
"Do you like her?" she asked.
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