| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Louis Stevenson: was staggered besides at her sudden vehemence of word and manner,
and got forth from the room, under this shower of curses, like a
beaten dog. But even then I was not quit, for the vixen threw up
her window, and, leaning forth, continued to revile me as I went up
the wynd; the freetraders, coming to the tavern door, joined in the
mockery, and one had even the inhumanity to set upon me a very
savage small dog, which bit me in the ankle. This was a strong
lesson, had I required one, to avoid ill company; and I rode home
in much pain from the bite and considerable indignation of mind.
Mr. Henry was in the steward's room, affecting employment, but I
could see he was only impatient to hear of my errand.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: deposed to have locked both gates before leaving the pavilion. The
gates when examined showed no sign of being forced.
"When we turned him off he must have taken some duplicate keys with
him," remarked Grevin. "No doubt he has been meditating a desperate
step, for he has lately sold his whole property, and he received the
money for it in my office day before yesterday."
"The others have followed his lead!" exclaimed Lechesneau, struck with
the circumstances. "He has been their evil genius."
Moreover, who could know as well as the Messieurs de Simeuse the ins
and outs of the chateau. None of the assailants seemed to have
blundered in their search; they had gone through the house in a
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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 To-morrow by Joseph Conrad: suits some. But you are a fine figure of a girl, Miss
Bessie."
She was all in a flutter. Nobody had ever said
so much to her before.
His tone changed. "I am getting middling
hungry, though. Had no breakfast to-day.
Couldn't you scare up some bread from that tea
for me, or--"
She was gone already. He had been on the point
of asking her to let him come inside. No matter.
Anywhere would do. Devil of a fix! What would
To-morrow |
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 In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: studying them."
"Nu," cried Herr Erchardt. "Fancy that! What a bond already! I have made
up my mind to know Shakespeare in his mother tongue before I die, but that
you, Frau Professor, should be already immersed in those wells of English
thought!"
"From what I have read," she said, "I do not think they are very deep
wells."
He nodded sympathetically.
"No," he answered, "so I have heard...But do not let us embitter our
excursion for our little English friend. We will speak of this another
time."
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