| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: at - her fortune and estate must cease to be a pleasant pasture land
for bovine Richard. The boy thought at first of making terms with
Wilding; the idea was old; it had come to him when first he had
counted the chances of his sister's marrying. But he found himself
hesitating to lay his proposal before Mr. Wilding. And whilst he
hesitated Mr. Wilding made obvious headway. Still Richard dared not
do it. There was a something in Wilding's eye that cried him
danger. Thus, in the end, since he could not attempt a compromise with
this fine fellow, the only course remaining was that of direct
antagonism - that is to say, direct as Richard understood directness.
Slander was the weapon he used in that secret duel; the countryside
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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 Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: of the same enemies--it is IMPOSSIBLE I should harm him!"
"That you WILL do so," answered Ranald, "is certain, though the
cause be hid in the darkness of futurity. You say," he
continued, suppressing his own emotions with difficulty, "that
side by side you have pursued your prey like bloodhounds--have
you never seen bloodhounds turn their fangs against each other,
and fight over the body of a throttled deer?"
"It is false!" said M'Aulay, starting up, "these are not the
forebodings of fate, but the temptation of some evil spirit from
the bottomless pit!" So saying, he strode out of the cabin.
"Thou hast it!" said the Son of the Mist, looking after him with
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