| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: horizon to make sure that no official tug was cruising near, he
insidiously accosted his prey. The boy, having been early taught by
his household to regard altruistic advances with extreme suspicion,
received the overtures coldly.
Then Chicken knew that he must make one of those desperate, nerve-
shattering plunges into speculation that fortune sometimes requires of
those who would win her favour. Five cents was his capital, and this
he must risk against the chance of winning what lay within the close
grasp of the youngster's chubby hand. It was a fearful lottery,
Chicken knew. But he must accomplish his end by strategy, since he had
a wholesome terror of plundering infants by force. Once, in a park,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: "To traverse the same road?"
"Yes."
"The deuce! the deuce! And it is twenty leagues?"
M. Madeleine drew from his pocket the paper on which he had
pencilled some figures. He showed it to the Fleming. The figures
were 5, 6, 8 1/2.
"You see," he said, "total, nineteen and a half; as well say
twenty leagues."
"Mr. Mayor," returned the Fleming, "I have just what you want.
My little white horse--you may have seen him pass occasionally;
he is a small beast from Lower Boulonnais. He is full of fire.
Les Miserables |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Ann Veronica by H. G. Wells: evidently pleased that Ann Veronica's heart smote her.
"I am very glad to hear you say it," he repeated, and refrained
from further inquiry. "I think we are growing sensible," he
said. "I think you are getting to understand me better."
He hesitated, and walked away from her toward the house. Her
eyes followed him. The curve of his shoulders, the very angle of
his feet, expressed relief at her apparent obedience. "Thank
goodness!" said that retreating aspect, "that's said and over.
Vee's all right. There's nothing happened at all!" She didn't
mean, he concluded, to give him any more trouble ever, and he was
free to begin a fresh chromatic novel--he had just finished the
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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 Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: needle, and repeated hastily, and almost in the same breath, the
contradictory answers: "Yes, madam--no, my lady--I beg pardon, I
did not hear."
"You need not blush, my love, and still less need you look so
pale and frightened," said Lady Ashton, coming forward; "we know
that maiden's ears must be slow in receiving a gentleman's
language; but you must remember Mr. Hayston speaks on a subject
on which you have long since agreed to give him a favourable
hearing. You know how much your father and I have our hearts set
upon an event so extremely desirable."
In Lady Ashton's voice, a tone of impressive, and even stern,
The Bride of Lammermoor |
