| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: George's name. Remember what I have said. Good night!'
There was no more parley. A shower of stones and other missiles
compelled the keeper of the jail to retire; and the mob, pressing
on, and swarming round the walls, forced Gabriel Varden close up to
the door.
In vain the basket of tools was laid upon the ground before him,
and he was urged in turn by promises, by blows, by offers of
reward, and threats of instant death, to do the office for which
they had brought him there. 'No,' cried the sturdy locksmith, 'I
will not!'
He had never loved his life so well as then, but nothing could move
Barnaby Rudge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Adventure by Jack London: whacking big Colt's dangling on your hip--why, I am only too ready
to admit that you were the quintessence of adventure."
"Very good," she cried exultantly. "It's mere simple arithmetic--
the adding of your adventure and my adventure together. So that's
settled, and you needn't jeer at adventure any more. Next, I don't
think there was anything romantic in Tudor's attempting to kiss me,
nor anything like adventure in this absurd duel. But I do think,
now, that it was romantic for you to fall in love with me. And
finally, and it is adding romance to romance, I think . . . I think
I do love you, Dave--oh, Dave!"
The last was a sighing dove-cry as he caught her up in his arms and
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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 The Yates Pride by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: him unexpectedly?"
"I certainly do think so. And she might show her feelings in a
way which she would ever afterward regret."
"You think, then, that she --"
Sophia gave her sister a look. Amelia fled after Eudora and the
baby-carriage. She overtook her at the gate. She laid her hand
on Eudora's arm, draped with India shawl.
"Eudora!" she gasped.
Eudora turned her serene face and regarded her questioningly.
"Eudora," said Amelia, "have you heard of anybody's coming to
stay at the inn lately?"
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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 A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: he had evidently been occupied in repairing some damage
when surprised by the green warriors.
They were now almost upon him; their flying mounts
charging down on the relatively puny figure at terrific speed,
while the warriors leaned low to the right, with their great
metal-shod spears. Each seemed striving to be the first to
impale the poor Zodangan and in another moment his fate
would have been sealed had it not been for my timely arrival.
Driving my fleet air craft at high speed directly behind
the warriors I soon overtook them and without diminishing
my speed I rammed the prow of my little flier between the
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