| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Lady Susan by Jane Austen: accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a most eager
desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of my
children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved
with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own child, should be
attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London
before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake and my own.
It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl of
sixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very
desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the
captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon.
I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love,
Lady Susan |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Desert Gold by Zane Grey: stood up, dizzily but unaided, and he gazed across the crater.
Yaqui had reached the side of Mercedes, was bending over her.
She stirred. Yaqui lifted her to her feet. She appeared weak,
unable to stand alone. But she faced across the crater and waved
her hand. She was unharmed. Thorne lifted both arms above head,
and from his lips issued a cry. It was neither call nor holloa nor
welcome nor answer. Like the Yaqui's, it could scarcely be named.
But it was deep, husky, prolonged, terribly human in its intensity.
It made Gale shudder and made his heart beat like a trip hammer.
Mercedes again waved a white hand. The Yaqui waved, too, and Gale
saw in the action an urgent signal.
Desert Gold |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: hammers, ratchet-drills--things I abominate, because I don't get
on with them. I tended the little forge we fortunately had aboard;
I toiled wearily in a wretched scrap-heap--unless I had the shakes
too bad to stand.
"One evening coming in with a candle I was startled to hear him say
a little tremulously, `I am lying here in the dark waiting for death.'
The light was within a foot of his eyes. I forced myself to murmur,
`Oh, nonsense!' and stood over him as if transfixed.
"Anything approaching the change that came over his features I have
never seen before, and hope never to see again. Oh, I wasn't touched.
I was fascinated. It was as though a veil had been rent.
Heart of Darkness |
