The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Touchstone by Edith Wharton: "Much--?" he returned, vaguely.
"The money."
"The money?" That part of it seemed to count so little that for a
moment he did not follow her thought.
"It must be paid back," she insisted. "Can you do it?"
"Oh, yes," he returned, listlessly. "I can do it."
"I would make any sacrifice for that!" she urged.
He nodded. "Of course." He sat staring at her in dry-eyed self-
contempt. "Do you count on its making much difference?"
"Much difference?"
"In the way I feel--or you feel about me?"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: some allusion to her unanswered letter.
"When can I see you?" he asked, as she walked with
him to the door of the room.
"Whenever you like; but it must be soon if you want
to see the little house again. I am moving next week."
A pang shot through him at the memory of his
lamplit hours in the low-studded drawing-room. Few
as they had been, they were thick with memories.
"Tomorrow evening?"
She nodded. "Tomorrow; yes; but early. I'm going
out."
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