The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: "Isn't that almost irreverent?" she asked. "Surely the righteous
must have their reward. And your father is good. See how much
he gives to all the established charities, how many things he has
founded.
He's always thinking of others, and planning for them. And
surely,
for us, he does everything. How well he has planned this trip
to Europe for me and the girls--the court-presentation at Berlin,
the season on the Riviera, the visits in England with the
Plumptons and
the Halverstones. He says Lord Halverstone has the finest
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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 Pupil by Henry James: last reason, and Morgan blushed and said: "Well, dash it, you know
what I mean." Pemberton knew perfectly what he meant; but there
were a good many things that - dash it too! - it didn't make any
clearer. This episode of his second sojourn in Paris stretched
itself out wearily, with their resumed readings and wanderings and
maunderings, their potterings on the quays, their hauntings of the
museums, their occasional lingerings in the Palais Royal when the
first sharp weather came on and there was a comfort in warm
emanations, before Chevet's wonderful succulent window. Morgan
wanted to hear all about the opulent youth - he took an immense
interest in him. Some of the details of his opulence - Pemberton
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