| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Adam Bede by George Eliot: more. Let's see if Seth's ready with breakfast now."
That is a simple scene, reader. But it is almost certain that
you, too, have been in love--perhaps, even, more than once, though
you may not choose to say so to all your feminine friends. If so,
you will no more think the slight words, the timid looks, the
tremulous touches, by which two human souls approach each other
gradually, like two little quivering rain-streams, before they
mingle into one--you will no more think these things trivial than
you will think the first-detected signs of coming spring trivial,
though they be but a faint indescribable something in the air and
in the song of the birds, and the tiniest perceptible budding on
Adam Bede |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: eyes. Then she sat up and put her hand to her head.
"No, lean back, my dear," said our hostess. "I will spray you."
She sprayed her with eau-de-Cologne.
"That's lovely," said the girl, with closed eyes. "Thank you so
much."
The other stopped for a moment to take off the jaunty little hat
and lightly push the dark hair away from the white temples.
The girl thanked her with a smile. Then she started up again.
"Oh, but where is- "
She saw me, and stopped, colouring.
"He is here, in the car."
The Brother of Daphne |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: "Dear me, dear me," she remarked, pushing her chair back a little
way, "that is too bad, isn't it? Why, I never thought of that.
To be sure, the extension WILL interfere with your view, Mrs.
Manstey."
"You do understand?" Mrs. Manstey gasped.
"Of course I do. And I'm real sorry about it, too. But there,
don't you worry, Mrs. Manstey. I guess we can fix that all
right."
Mrs. Manstey rose from her seat, and Mrs. Black slipped toward
the door.
"What do you mean by fixing it? Do you mean that I can induce
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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 Adventure by Jack London: various sauces and dressings, sweet and sour, that were served,
according to preparation, with dishes that ranged from fish to
pudding. She taught Sheldon the superiority of cocoanut cream over
condensed cream, for use in coffee. From the old and sprouting
nuts she took the solid, spongy centres and turned them into
salads. Her forte seemed to be salads, and she astonished him with
the deliciousness of a salad made from young bamboo shoots. Wild
tomatoes, which had gone to seed or been remorselessly hoed out
from the beginning of Berande, were foraged for salads, soups, and
sauces. The chickens, which had always gone into the bush and
hidden their eggs, were given laying-bins, and Joan went out
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