| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from McTeague by Frank Norris: dentist spoke for a glass of beer.
"Say, look here," suddenly exclaimed Heise as they took
their glasses. "Look here, you fellahs," he had turned to
Marcus and the dentist. "You two fellahs have had a grouch
at each other for the last year or so; now what's the matter
with your shaking hands and calling quits?"
McTeague was at once overcome with a great feeling of
magnanimity. He put out his great hand.
"I got nothing against Marcus," he growled.
"Well, I don't care if I shake," admitted Marcus, a little
shamefacedly, as their palms touched. "I guess that's all
McTeague |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Cruise of the Jasper B. by Don Marquis: taken my advice! Do you wet your hair when you part it, sir?"
"What," said Cleggett, carefully concealing from Walter the fact
that he spoke of himself, "would be your advice to a man with
$100,000 who wished to double it in a few weeks?"
"Double it!" cried Walter. "Why, I could show such a person how
to multiply it by ten inside of two months." And he rapidly
outlined to Cleggett a scheme so audacious and so brilliant that
it fairly took our hero's breath away. Moreover, it stood the
test of reflection; it was sound. Not to descend to the sordid
details, in three weeks Cleggett found himself possessed of a
million dollars' gain. Half of this he gave to the excellent
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: all stopped, and she had turned round and was looking at Winterbourne.
Her face wore a charming smile, her pretty eyes were gleaming,
she was swinging her great fan about. No; it's impossible to be prettier
than that, thought Winterbourne.
"There are half a dozen boats moored at that landing place," he said,
pointing to certain steps which descended from the garden to the lake.
"If you will do me the honor to accept my arm, we will go and select
one of them."
Daisy stood there smiling; she threw back her head and gave a little,
light laugh. "I like a gentleman to be formal!" she declared.
"I assure you it's a formal offer."
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