| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tales of Unrest by Joseph Conrad: right. . . ."
She pressed both her hands to her temples.
"Oh, nonsense!" he said, sharply. "You are perfectly capable of
coming down to dinner. No one should even suspect; not even the
servants. No one! No one! . . . I am sure you can."
She dropped her arms; her face twitched. She looked straight into his
eyes and seemed incapable of pronouncing a word. He frowned at her.
"I--wish--it," he said, tyrannically. "For your own sake also. . . ."
He meant to carry that point without any pity. Why didn't she speak?
He feared passive resistance. She must. . . . Make her come. His frown
deepened, and he began to think of some effectual violence, when most
Tales of Unrest |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: from religious motives, or sharing the ambitious views of
Ellieslaw, had given countenance to his scheme; and there were,
also, some fiery young men, like Mareschal, desirous of
signalizing themselves by engaging in a dangerous enterprise, by
which they hoped to vindicate the independence of their country.
The other members of the party were persons of inferior rank and
desperate fortunes, who were now ready to rise in that part of
the country, as they did afterwards in the year 1715, under
Forster and Derwentwater, when a troop, commanded by a Border
gentleman, named Douglas, consisted almost entirely of
freebooters, among whom the notorious Luck-in-a-bag, as he was
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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 Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: The High Coco-Lorum shook his diamond-shaped head.
"Nothing that I know of," said he. "But why should we have anything
else when we have so many thistles? However, if you can't eat what
we eat, don't eat anything. We shall not be offended, and the banquet
will be just as merry and delightful."
Knowing his companions were all hungry, the Wizard said, "I trust you
will excuse us from the banquet, sir, which will be merry enough
without us, although it is given in our honor. For, as Ozma is not in
your city, we must leave here at once and seek her elsewhere."
"Sure we must!" Dorothy, and she whispered to Betsy and Trot,
"I'd rather starve somewhere else than in this city, and who knows, we
The Lost Princess of Oz |
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 Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: who, amidst the scanty wardrobe which his camp-equipage afforded,
was seeking for such articles as might appear to the best
advantage upon the approaching occasion. Sir Dugald entered, and
paid his compliments, with a very grave face, upon his
approaching happiness, which, he said, "he was very sorry he was
prevented from witnessing."
"In plain truth," said he, "I should but disgrace the ceremony,
seeing that I lack a bridal garment. Rents, and open seams, and
tatters at elbows in the apparel of the assistants, might presage
a similar solution of continuity in your matrimonial happiness
--and to say truth, my lord, you yourself must partly have the
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