| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Adam Bede by George Eliot: brunette, whose rich-toned complexion is well set off by the
complex wrappings of pure white cambric and lace about her head
and neck. She is as erect in her comely embonpoint as a statue of
Ceres; and her dark face, with its delicate aquiline nose, firm
proud mouth, and small, intense, black eye, is so keen and
sarcastic in its expression that you instinctively substitute a
pack of cards for the chess-men and imagine her telling your
fortune. The small brown hand with which she is lifting her queen
is laden with pearls, diamonds, and turquoises; and a large black
veil is very carefully adjusted over the crown of her cap, and
falls in sharp contrast on the white folds about her neck. It
Adam Bede |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Mountains by Stewart Edward White: and a fat gorgeously dressed Chinaman. The men
held their cards close to their bodies, and wagered in
silence. Slowly and regularly the great drops of sweat
gathered on their faces. As regularly they raised the
backs of their hands to wipe them away. Only the
Chinaman, broad-faced, calm, impassive as Buddha,
save for a little crafty smile in one corner of his eye,
seemed utterly unaffected by the heat, cool as autumn.
His loose sleeve fell back from his forearm when he
moved his hand forward, laying his bets. A jade
bracelet slipped back and forth as smoothly as on
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Two Poets by Honore de Balzac: should no sooner read the opening pages of An Archer of Charles IX.
than they should open their cash-boxes with "How much do you want?"
And besides all this, he understood that this journey with Mme. de
Bargeton would virtually give her to him; that they should live
together.
So at the words, "Would you rather not go?" tears came into his eyes,
he flung his arms about Louise, held her tightly to his heart, and
marbled her throat with impassioned kisses. Suddenly he checked
himself, as if memory had dealt him a blow.
"Great heavens!" he cried, "my sister is to be married on the day
after to-morrow!"
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