| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: conceive of the idea of opening a studio for young girls who wished to
take lessons in painting.
About forty years of age, a man of the purest morals, entirely given
up to his art, he had married from inclination the dowerless daughter
of a general. At first the mothers of his pupils bought their
daughters themselves to the studio; then they were satisfied to send
them alone, after knowing the master's principles and the pains he
took to deserve their confidence.
It was the artist's intention to take no pupils but young ladies
belonging to rich families of good position, in order to meet with no
complaints as to the composition of his classes. He even refused to
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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 Europeans by Henry James: "Let me keep it up," said Acton, laughing. "I hope, for our pleasure,
that your brother's marriage will detain you."
"Why should I stop for my brother's marriage when I would not stop
for my own?" asked the Baroness.
"Why should n't you stop in either case, now that, as you say,
you have dissolved that mechanical tie that bound you to Europe?"
The Baroness looked at him a moment. "As I say?
You look as if you doubted it."
"Ah," said Acton, returning her glance, "that is a remnant of my old folly!
We have other attractions," he added. "We are to have another marriage."
But she seemed not to hear him; she was looking at him still.
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