| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Pupil by Henry James: completest account of them - it was the law of their being. Even
when this truth became vivid to their ingenious inmate he remained
unconscious of how much his mind had been prepared for it by the
extraordinary little boy who had now become such a complication in
his life. Much less could he then calculate on the information he
was still to owe the extraordinary little boy.
CHAPTER V
But it was during the ensuing time that the real problem came up -
the problem of how far it was excusable to discuss the turpitude of
parents with a child of twelve, of thirteen, of fourteen.
Absolutely inexcusable and quite impossible it of course at first
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare: XVII
Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were fill'd with your most high deserts?
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes,
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellow'd with their age,
Be scorn'd, like old men of less truth than tongue,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: "Now, Ellen," she said, "I want you to take the two young ladies for a ride
on the donkeys." Off we went; solemn little loves they were; each had a
hand. But when we came to the donkeys they were too shy to go on. So we
stood and watched instead. Beautiful those donkeys were! They were the
first I'd seen out of a cart--for pleasure as you might say. They were a
lovely silver-grey, with little red saddles and blue bridles and bells
jing-a-jingling on their ears. And quite big girls--older than me, even--
were riding them, ever so gay. Not at all common, I don't mean, madam,
just enjoying themselves. And I don't know what it was, but the way the
little feet went, and the eyes--so gentle--and the soft ears--made me want
to go on a donkey more than anything in the world!
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: Omsk," replied the mujik.
"What wound can I have received which could have thus
prostrated me? It was not a gunshot wound?"
"No; a lance-thrust in the head, now healing," replied
the mujik. "After a few days' rest, little father, thou wilt
be able to proceed. Thou didst fall into the river; but the
Tartars neither touched nor searched thee; and thy purse
is still in thy pocket."
Michael Strogoff gripped the mujik's hand. Then, re-
covering himself with a sudden effort, "Friend," said he,
"how long have I been in thy hut?"
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