The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Main Street by Sinclair Lewis: you, and whoever agrees with you, make a minority report?"
"No reports made in a case like this. Our rule is to just
decide the thing and announce the final decision, whether it's
unanimous or not."
"Rules! Against a girl's future! Dear God! Rules of a
school-board! Sam! Won't you stand by Fern, and threaten
to resign from the board if they try to discharge her?"
Rather testy, tired of so many subtleties, he complained,
"Well, I'll do what I can, but I'll have to wait till the board
meets."
And "I'll do what I can," together with the secret admission
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: wandering to the portrait and he said in his measured, breathed-out
tones:
"I owe the pleasure of having this admirable work here to the
gracious attention of Madame de Lastaola, who, knowing my
attachment to the royal person of my Master, has sent it down from
Paris to greet me in this house which has been given up for my
occupation also through her generosity to the Royal Cause.
Unfortunately she, too, is touched by the infection of this
irreverent and unfaithful age. But she is young yet. She is
young."
These last words were pronounced in a strange tone of menace as
The Arrow of Gold |