| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: when, breakfast over, she was tightening the sling that held the
broken arm. I had prolonged the morning meal as much as I could,
but when the wooden clock with the pink roses on the dial pointed
to half after ten, and the mother with the duplicate youngsters had
not come back, Miss West made the move I had dreaded.
"If we are to get into Baltimore at all we must start," she said,
rising. "You ought to see a doctor as soon as possible."
"Hush," I said warningly. "Don't mention the arm, please; it is
asleep now. You may rouse it."
"If I only had a hat," she reflected. "It wouldn't need to be much
of one, but - " She gave a little cry and darted to the corner.
The Man in Lower Ten |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs: that the chest was not on board her.
Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir still
squatted in his hiding place, for no friendly prahu
or sampan had passed his way since dawn. His keen eyes
roving constantly up and down the long stretch of river
that was visible from his position finally sighted a
war prahu coming toward him from down stream. As it
drew closer he recognized it as one which had belonged
to his own fleet before his unhappy encounter with the
wild white man and his abhorrent pack, and a moment later
his heart leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several
The Monster Men |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: "My dear Derville, how could you know what I was saying to Camille in
a whisper?"
"I knew it from your looks," answered Derville, seating himself in a
low chair by the fire.
Camille's uncle went to her side, and Mme. de Grandlieu took up her
position on a hearth stool between her daughter and Derville.
"The time has come for telling a story, which should modify your
judgment as to Ernest de Restaud's prospects."
"A story?" cried Camille. "Do begin at once, monsieur."
The glance that Derville gave the Vicomtesse told her that this tale
was meant for her. The Vicomtesse de Grandlieu, be it said, was one of
Gobseck |
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 Lin McLean by Owen Wister: "Wish I was. They couldn't get me back to Laramie then; but, oh, bother!
I'd not go for 'em! I'd like to see 'em try! Lin wouldn't leave me go.
You ain't married, are you? No more is Lin now, I guess. A good many are,
but I wouldn't want to. I don't think anything of 'em. I've seen mother
take 'pothecary stuff on the sly. She's whaled me worse than Lin ever
does. I guess he wouldn't want to be mother's husband again, and if he
does," said Billy, his voice suddenly vindictive, "I'll quit him and
skip."
"No danger, Bill," said I.
"How would the nice lady inside please you?" inquired the driver.
"Ah, pshaw! she ain't after Lin!" sang out Billy, loud and scornful.
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