| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Ebb-Tide by Stevenson & Osbourne: 'Deaths?' from Attwater.
'Two,' said Herrick.
'Well, it is a dreadful sickness,' said Attwater.
"Ad you any deaths?' asked Huish, ''ere on the island?'
'Twenty-nine,' said Attwater. 'Twenty-nine deaths and thirty-one
cases, out of thirty-three souls upon the island.--That's a
strange way to calculate, Mr Hay, is it not? Souls! I never say
it but it startles me.'
'Oh, so that's why everything's deserted?' said Huish.
'That is why, Mr Whish,' said Attwater; 'that is why the
house is empty and the graveyard full.'
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: every sensible man--after making a final remonstrance to his child--
and before she proceeds to the respectful summons--to leave her at
liberty to--"
Monsieur Roguin stopped, perceiving that he might talk on for two
hours without obtaining any answer; he felt, moreover, a singular
emotion at the aspect of the man he was attempting to convert. An
extraordinary revolution had taken place on Piombo's face; his
wrinkles, contracting into narrow lines, gave him a look of
indescribable cruelty, and he cast upon the notary the glance of a
tiger. The baroness was mute and passive. Ginevra, calm and resolute,
waited silently; she knew that the notary's voice was more potent than
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