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tension
A curated path through fragments connected by a shared motif, atmosphere, or recurring literary concern.
2026-04-01
Bennet, as the carriage drove up to the door; her husband looked impenetrably grave; her daughters, alarmed, anxious, uneasy. Lydia’s voice was heard in the vestibule; the door was thrown open, and she ran into the room. Her mother stepped forwards, embraced h...
2026-03-30
The coal has given out.” “Burn my vessel!” cried Captain Speedy, who could scarcely pronounce the words. “A vessel worth fifty thousand dollars!” “Here are sixty thousand,” replied Phileas Fogg, handing the captain a roll of bank-bills. An American can scarcel...
2026-03-29
They hastened into the forest, followed by the soldiers, who fired a volley after the fugitives; but the latter rapidly increased the distance between them, and ere long found themselves beyond the reach of the bullets and arrows. IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DESCEND...
2026-03-29
Then the charge against him will break down.” “Hum! And now let us hear a true account of the next act. How came the stone into the goose, and how came the goose into the open market? Tell us the truth, for there lies your only hope of safety.” Ryder passed hi...
2026-03-29
“‘Yes, I promise.’ “‘Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No reference to the matter at all, either in word or writing?’ “‘I have already given you my word.’ “‘Very good.’ He suddenly sprang up, and darting like lightning across the room he...
2026-03-29
There was not a breath of wind this morning, and everything was strangely still. Even the birds were hushed, and as we hurried along I and the artilleryman talked in whispers and looked now and again over our shoulders. After a time we drew near the road, and ...
2026-03-24
They wouldn’t let me go to the end of the garden wall.” “_You_! I should be sorry to ask you to cross the threshold, for my convenience, on such a night,” I cried. “I want you to _tell_ me my way, not to _show_ it: or else to persuade Mr. Which would you have?...
2026-03-22
About five o’clock the gathering crowd in the station was immensely excited by the opening of the line of communication, which is almost invariably closed, between the South-Eastern and the South-Western stations, and the passage of carriage trucks bearing hug...
2026-03-22
It was a perfect day, with a bright sun and a few fleecy clouds in the heavens. The trees and wayside hedges were just throwing out their first green shoots, and the air was full of the pleasant smell of the moist earth. To me at least there was a strange cont...
2026-03-16
The conjecture was at least a plausible one, and the detective began to seriously regret that he had embarked on the affair. As for Captain Speedy, he continued to howl and growl in his cabin; and Passepartout, whose duty it was to carry him his meals, courage...
2026-03-03
In each case, not only are the ‘e’s’ slurred and the ‘r’s’ tailless, but you will observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well.” Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and pick...
2026-03-01
“He’s in the court,” he replied, “talking to Doctor Kenneth; who says uncle is dying, truly, at last. I’m glad, for I shall be master of the Grange after him. All her nice books are mine; she offered to give me them, and her pretty birds, and her pony Minny, i...
2026-02-28
It was a few minutes past nine that night when these three sentinels were joined by four other Martians, each carrying a thick black tube. A similar tube was handed to each of the three, and the seven proceeded to distribute themselves at equal distances along...
2026-02-27
“No; but it must be done soon.” Most earnestly did she then entreat him to lose no more time before he wrote. my dear father,” she cried, “come back and write immediately.
2026-02-21
Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with,-- “I hope Mr. Bingley will like it, Lizzy.” “We are not in a way to know _what_ Mr. Bingley likes,” said her mother, resentfully, “since we are not to visit.” “But you fo...