| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: chamber. Then he turned himself about, looking first to one side
and then to the other, with a low laugh of derision.
'Father,' he said in his thin voice, 'what does the Psalmist say?
"I am become like a pelican in the wilderness and like an owl
that is in the desert!"'
The monk mumbled assent.
'And later in the same psalm, is it not written, "They shall
perish, but thou shalt endure?"'
'It is so,' the father answered. 'Amen.'
'Doubtless though, that refers to another life,' the Cardinal
said, with his slow wintry smile. 'In the meantime we will go
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery: Matthew, seizing the rake and making for the door. At the
threshold he recollected that he had not paid for it and he
turned miserably back. While Miss Harris was counting out his
change he rallied his powers for a final desperate attempt.
"Well now--if it isn't too much trouble--I might as well--that
is--I'd like to look at--at--some sugar."
"White or brown?" queried Miss Harris patiently.
"Oh--well now--brown," said Matthew feebly.
"There's a barrel of it over there," said Miss Harris, shaking
her bangles at it. "It's the only kind we have."
"I'll--I'll take twenty pounds of it," said Matthew, with beads
 Anne of Green Gables |