| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Daughter of Eve by Honore de Balzac: it to any one. I feel sure that Schmucke will make no objection. To
divert all suspicion I told Madame de Nucingen you wanted to oblige
our old music-master who was in distress, and I asked her to keep the
matter secret."
"You have the sense of angels! I only hope Madame de Nucingen won't
tell of it until after she gives me the money," said the countess.
"Schmucke lives in the rue de Nevers on the quai Conti; don't forget
the address, and go yourself."
"Thanks!" said the countess, pressing her sister's hand. "Ah! I'd give
ten years of life--"
"Out of your old age--"
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: 'so that I can pay you that ten pounds I lost to you in New York.
I saw the other day you remembered our bet; here are the ten pounds,
Mr. Butterworth. Goodbye, Mr. Butterworth.' And off he goes,
and that's the last they see of the Duke of Green-Erin."
"Is that your story?" asked Bessie Alden.
"Don't you think it's interesting?" her sister replied.
"I don't believe it," said the young girl.
"Ah," cried Mrs. Westgate, "you are not so simple after all!
Believe it or not, as you please; there is no smoke without fire."
"Is that the way," asked Bessie after a moment, "that you expect
your friends to treat you?"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: To thee I bring greetings from our noble Queen Eleanor. Oft hath
she heard thee spoken of and thy merry doings hereabouts,
and fain would she behold thy face; therefore she bids me
tell thee that if thou wilt presently come to London Town,
she will do all in her power to guard thee against harm,
and will send thee back safe to Sherwood Forest again.
Four days hence, in Finsbury Fields, our good King Henry,
of great renown, holdeth a grand shooting match, and all
the most famous archers of merry England will be thereat.
Our Queen would fain see thee strive with these, knowing that if thou
wilt come thou wilt, with little doubt, carry off the prize.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
