| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: composer absorbed in beloved toil; how much less for a young
gentleman haunted by alarms and awaiting the arrival of a corpse!
He sat down, cleared away a piece of the table, and attacked the
cold luncheon in his basket. In case of any subsequent inquiry
into the fate of Jimson, It was desirable he should be little
seen: in other words, that he should spend the day entirely in
the house. To this end, and further to corroborate his fable, he
had brought in the leather case not only writing materials, but a
ream of large-size music paper, such as he considered suitable
for an ambitious character like Jimson's. 'And now to work,'
said he, when he had satisfied his appetite. 'We must leave
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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 Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie: to make a mistake! But that will not occur. For one thing, a
country jury is not anxious to take responsibility upon itself,
and Mr. Inglethorp stands practically in the position of local
squire. Also," he added placidly, "I should not allow it!"
"*YOU would not allow it?"
"No."
I looked at the extraordinary little man, divided between
annoyance and amusement. He was so tremendously sure of himself.
As though he read my thoughts, he nodded gently.
"Oh, yes, mon ami, I would do what I say." He got up and laid his
hand on my shoulder. His physiognomy underwent a complete
The Mysterious Affair at Styles |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Pool in the Desert by Sara Jeanette Duncan: vulgar. In a story I should have no patience with it.' But she
went on stirring her coffee with a little uncontrollable smile.
A moment later she had to contemplate the circumstance that her
hostess was addressing her. Mrs. Innes wished to be introduced.
Mrs. Innes, incarnate, conscious sensation, was smiling at her,
saying that she must know so great a friend of her husband's. He
made so few friends, and she was so grateful to anybody who was good
to him. Eyes and voice tolerably in rein, aware of the situation at
every point, she had a meretricious daring; and it occurred to
Madeline, looking at her, that she was after all a fairly competent
second-class adventuress. She would not refuse the cue. It would
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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 The Odyssey by Homer: took it from the door; then he sat in the doorway and stretched
his hands in front of it to catch anyone going out with the
sheep, for he thought I might be foolish enough to attempt this.
"As for myself I kept on puzzling to think how I could best save
my own life and those of my companions; I schemed and schemed,
as one who knows that his life depends upon it, for the danger
was very great. In the end I deemed that this plan would be the
best; the male sheep were well grown, and carried a heavy black
fleece, so I bound them noiselessly in threes together, with
some of the withies on which the wicked monster used to sleep.
There was to be a man under the middle sheep, and the two on
The Odyssey |
