| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard: when they dig them up again and use the fibres to make mats with,
and for various other purposes. As this process has been going
on for generations, the condition of the shore can be better
imagined than described. I have smelt many evil odours in the
course of my life, but the concentrated essence of stench which
arose from that beach at Lamu as we sat in the moonlit night
-- not under, but on our friend the Consul's hospitable roof
-- and sniffed it, makes the remembrance of them very poor and
faint. No wonder people get fever at Lamu. And yet the place
was not without a certain quaintness and charm of its own, though
possibly -- indeed probably -- it was one which would quickly
Allan Quatermain |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: "He is very susceptible," she said. "He thinks everyone clever,
and sometimes they are."
"Sometimes," Bessie assented, smiling still.
The duchess looked at her a little and then went on;
"Lambeth is very susceptible, but he is very volatile, too."
"Volatile?" asked Bessie.
"He is very inconstant. It won't do to depend on him."
"Ah," said Bessie, "I don't recognize that description.
We have depended on him greatly--my sister and I--and he has
never disappointed us."
"He will disappoint you yet," said the duchess.
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: "Yes, sir. It would." Sterne stuck out his chin
cheerily and blinked at close quarters with that uncon-
scious impudence which had the power to enrage Massy
beyond anything.
The engineer spoke very distinctly.
"Listen well to me, then, Mr. Sterne: I wouldn't--
d'ye hear?--I wouldn't promise you the value of two
pence for anything YOU can tell me."
He struck Sterne's arm away with a smart blow, and
catching hold of the handle pulled the door to. The
terrific slam darkened the cabin instantaneously to his
End of the Tether |
