| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Prince Otto by Robert Louis Stevenson: 'I will never believe it,' she said. 'An order in her own hand? I
will never believe it, Heinrich.'
'I swear to you,' said he.
'O, what do you care for oaths - or I either? What would you swear
by? Wine, women, and song? It is not binding,' she said. She had
come quite close up to him and laid her hand upon his arm. 'As for
the order - no, Heinrich, never! I will never believe it. I will
die ere I believe it. You have some secret purpose - what, I cannot
guess - but not one word of it is true.'
'Shall I show it you?' he asked.
'You cannot,' she answered. 'There is no such thing.'
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling: own shape." She answered, "Whether you live or die, or are
made different, I am your Mother."'
'True,' said Puck. 'The Old Ones themselves cannot change
men's mothers even if they would.'
'Let us thank the Old Ones! I spoke to my Maiden, the Priestess
who waited for me at the Dew-ponds. She promised fine things
too.' The man laughed. 'I went away to that place where I had
seen the magician with the knife. I lay out two days on the short
grass before I ventured among the Trees. I felt my way before me
with a stick. I was afraid of the terrible talking Trees. I was afraid
of the ghosts in the branches; of the soft ground underfoot; of the
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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 Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: that the boys know you're comin'."
Alfred, standing in the door, swept the gray valley with his
field-glass.
"Bill, I see running stock-horses or cattle; I can't make out
which. I guess we'd better rustle over there."
Both men hurried out, and while the horses were being brought up
and saddled Madeline and Florence put away the breakfast-dishes,
then speedily donned spurs, sombreros, and gauntlets.
"Here are the horses ready," called Alfred. "Flo, that black
Mexican horse is a prince."
The girls went out in time to hear Stillwell's good-by as he
The Light of Western Stars |
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 The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: wind and scattering clouds of smoke and tufts of flame, and the
rear brought up by the six archers.
Close upon the heels of these, Dick followed. He had, of course,
heard no word of this conversation; but he had recognised in the
second of the speakers old Lord Shoreby himself, a man of an
infamous reputation, whom even Sir Daniel affected, in public, to
condemn.
Presently they came close down upon the beach. The air smelt salt;
the noise of the surf increased; and here, in a large walled
garden, there stood a small house of two storeys, with stables and
other offices.
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