| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Middlemarch by George Eliot: he acquiesced. He did not care himself about spending money,
and was not reluctant to give it. If he ever felt keenly any question
of money it was through the medium of another passion than the love
of material property.
Dorothea told him that she had seen Lydgate, and recited the gist
of her conversation with him about the Hospital. Mr. Casaubon did
not question her further, but he felt sure that she had wished to know
what had passed between Lydgate and himself "She knows that I know,"
said the ever-restless voice within; but that increase of tacit
knowledge only thrust further off any confidence between them.
He distrusted her affection; and what loneliness is more lonely
Middlemarch |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: "It's the woo', man,--it's the woo', and no the beasts themsells,
that makes them be ca'd lang or short. I believe if ye were to
measure their backs, the short sheep wad be rather the langer-
bodied o' the twa; but it's the woo' that pays the rent in thae
days, and it had muckle need."
"Odd, Bauldie says very true,--short sheep did make short rents--
my father paid for our steading just threescore punds, and it
stands me in three hundred, plack and bawbee.--And that's very
true--I hae nae time to be standing here clavering--Landlord,
get us our breakfast, and see an' get the yauds fed--I am for
doun to Christy Wilson's, to see if him and me can gree about the
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