| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy: have a soul know that it's an engagement! Perhaps it
is improper? Besides, we are not engaged in the usual
sense, are we? Don't insist, Mr. Boldwood -- don't!"
In her trouble at not being able to get her hand away
from him at once, she stamped passionately on the floor
with one foot, and tears crowded to her eyes again.
"It means simply a pledge -- no sentiment -- the seal
of a practical compact." he said more quietly, but still
retaining her hand in his firm grasp. "Come, now!"
And Boldwood slipped the ring on her finger.
"I cannot wear it." she said, weeping as if her heart
Far From the Madding Crowd |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Pool in the Desert by Sara Jeanette Duncan: Sing Sing! Hadn't altered his will, I suppose. Who could
possibly,' and her face fell visibly, 'have foreseen such a thing?'
'No one, I think,' said Madeline, through a little edged smile. 'On
that point you will hardly be criticized.'
Mrs. Innes, with clasped hands, was sunk in thought. She raised her
eyes with a conviction in them which she evidently felt to be
pathetic.
'After all,' she said, 'there is something in what the padres say
about our reaping the reward of our misdeeds in this world--some of
us, anyway. If I had stayed in New York--'
'Yes?' said Madeline. 'I shall wake up presently,' she reflected,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: There happened to be a sermon, which made the church very full of
people. Porthos took advantage of this circumstance to ogle the
women. Thanks to the cares of Mousqueton, the exterior was for
from announcing the distress of the interior. His hat was a
little napless, his feather was a little faded, his gold lace was
a little tarnished, his laces were a trifle frayed; but in the
obscurity of the church these things were not seen, and Porthos
was still the handsome Porthos.
D'Artagnan observed, on the bench nearest to the pillar against
which Porthos leaned, sort of ripe beauty, rather yellow and
rather dry, but erect and haughty under her black hood. The eyes
The Three Musketeers |
