| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: "No trouble, I assure you, madam." Then forming
his features into a set smile, and affectedly softening
his voice, he added, with a simpering air, "Have you
been long in Bath, madam?"
"About a week, sir," replied Catherine, trying not
to laugh.
"Really!" with affected astonishment.
"Why should you be surprised, sir?"
"Why, indeed!" said he, in his natural tone.
"But some emotion must appear to be raised by your reply,
and surprise is more easily assumed, and not less
Northanger Abbey |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Three Taverns by Edwin Arlington Robinson: Have you come with eyes afire to find me now and ask me that?
If I were not their father and if you were not their mother,
We might believe they made a noise. . . . What are you -- driving at!"
"Well, be glad that you can hear them, and be glad they are so near us, --
For I have heard the stars of heaven, and they were nearer still.
All within an hour it is that I have heard them calling,
And though I pray for them to cease, I know they never will;
For their music on my heart, though you may freeze it, will fall always,
Like summer snow that never melts upon a mountain-top.
Do you hear them? Do you hear them overhead -- the children -- singing?
Do you hear the children singing? . . . God, will you make them stop!"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: next door to me in the box?"
I said, "Yes."
"Well, then," he said, "I hope you are good-tempered;
I do not like any one next door who bites."
Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond;
the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.
This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.
She looked across to me and said:
"So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing
for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home."
"I beg your pardon," I said, "I have turned no one out;
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