| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Underground City by Jules Verne: Madge, as well as the others, was perfectly satisfied to live
independent of the outer world, and was the center of the happiness
enjoyed by the little family in their dark cottage.
The engineer was eagerly expected. Simon Ford was standing at his door,
and as soon as Harry's lamp announced the arrival of his former viewer
he advanced to meet him.
"Welcome, Mr. Starr!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing under
the roof of schist. "Welcome to the old overman's cottage!
Though it is buried fifteen hundred feet under the earth,
our house is not the less hospitable."
"And how are you, good Simon?" asked James Starr, grasping the hand
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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 Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: me?'
'I'm your man,' said John. 'You wouldn't deceive a poor orphan,
I'll take my oath. Morris, you sign that document, or I'll start
in and astonish your weak mind.'
With a sudden alacrity, Morris proffered his willingness. Clerks
were brought in, the discharge was executed, and there was Joseph
a free man once more.
'And now,' said Michael, 'hear what I propose to do. Here, John
and Morris, is the leather business made over to the pair of you
in partnership. I have valued it at the lowest possible figure,
Pogram and Jarris's. And here is a cheque for the balance of your
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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 Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte: wrote again to Linton, expressing his great desire to see him; and,
had the invalid been presentable, I've no doubt his father would
have permitted him to come. As it was, being instructed, he
returned an answer, intimating that Mr. Heathcliff objected to his
calling at the Grange; but his uncle's kind remembrance delighted
him, and he hoped to meet him sometimes in his rambles, and
personally to petition that his cousin and he might not remain long
so utterly divided.
That part of his letter was simple, and probably his own.
Heathcliff knew he could plead eloquently for Catherine's company,
then.
Wuthering Heights |
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 Deserted Woman by Honore de Balzac: him. All at once the immensity of the misery became apparent to him,
and he thought it necessary and charitable to deaden the deadly blow.
He hoped to bring Mme. de Beauseant to a calm frame of mind by
gradually reconciling her to the idea of separation; while Mlle. de la
Rodiere, always like a shadowy third between them, should be
sacrificed to her at first, only to be imposed upon her later. His
marriage should take place later, in obedience to Mme. de Beauseant's
expressed wish. He went so far as to enlist the Marquise's nobleness
and pride and all the great qualities of her nature to help him to
succeed in this compassionate design. He would write a letter at once
to allay her suspicions. /A letter!/ For a woman with the most
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