| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Daisy Miller by Henry James: addressed her a great deal of very polite nonsense; he was extremely
urbane, and the young American, who said nothing, reflected upon
that profundity of Italian cleverness which enables people to appear
more gracious in proportion as they are more acutely disappointed.
Giovanelli, of course, had counted upon something more intimate;
he had not bargained for a party of three. But he kept his
temper in a manner which suggested far-stretching intentions.
Winterbourne flattered himself that he had taken his measure.
"He is not a gentleman," said the young American;
"he is only a clever imitation of one. He is a music master,
or a penny-a-liner, or a third-rate artist. D__n his good looks!"
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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 Adieu by Honore de Balzac: the mare. Philippe saw upon his face the joy these preparations gave
him. The Comte de Vandieres, who, for the last few days, had fallen
into a state of second childhood, was seated on a cushion beside his
wife, looking fixedly at the fire, which was beginning to thaw his
torpid limbs. He had shown no emotion of any kind, either at
Philippe's danger, or at the fight which ended in the pillage of the
carriage and their expulsion from it.
At first de Sucy took the hand of the young countess, as if to show
her his affection, and the grief he felt at seeing her reduced to such
utter misery; then he grew silent; seated beside her on a heap of snow
which was turning into a rivulet as it melted, he yielded himself up
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