| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: and then at the blank pages of the note-book. The thought that
Doctor Lombard was enjoying his discomfiture at length roused
him, and he began to write.
He was interrupted by a knock on the iron door. Doctor Lombard
rose to unlock it, and his daughter entered.
She bowed hurriedly to Wyant, without looking at him.
"Father, had you forgotten that the man from Monte Amiato was to
come back this morning with an answer about the bas-relief? He
is here now; he says he can't wait."
"The devil!" cried her father impatiently. "Didn't you tell him--"
"Yes; but he says he can't come back. If you want to see him you
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Paz by Honore de Balzac: "I have lost a friend," said Adam, with tears in his eyes, when he
heard that Paz had gone,--"a friend in the true meaning of the word. I
don't know what has made him abandon me as if a pestilence were in my
house. We are not friends to quarrel about a woman," he said, looking
intently at Clementine. "You heard what he said yesterday about
Malaga. Well, he has never so much as touched the little finger of
that girl."
"How do you know that?" said Clementine.
"I had the natural curiosity to go and see Mademoiselle Turquet, and
the poor girl can't explain even to herself the absolute reserve which
Thad--"
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