| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: anything in this wide world that can't happen now!"
"One doesn't go out to bring home a piano every day,"
he made answer. "Besides, I want to make such an impression
upon the man that he will deal gently with that first cash
payment down. Do you know," he added, watching her turn
the felt brim under the wisp-broom's strokes, "I'm thinking
some of getting me a regular silk stove-pipe hat."
"Why don't you, then?" she rejoined, but without any ring
of glad acquiescence in her tone. He fancied that her
face lengthened a little, and he instantly ascribed it
to recollections of the way in which the roses had been
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
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 Touchstone by Edith Wharton: egregious conceit as yours could delude a man to that degree!"
Struggling for a foothold in the small landslide of his dignity,
he added, in a steadier tone, "My wife learned the facts from me."
Flamel received this in silence. The other's outbreak seemed to
have reinforced his self-control, and when he spoke it was with a
deliberation implying that his course was chosen. "In that case I
understand still less--"
"Still less--?"
"The meaning of this." He pointed to the check. "When you began
to speak I supposed you had meant it as a bribe; now I can only
infer it was intended as a random insult. In either case, here's
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