| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton: streaks of hair on her temples, and thence descended to straighten
the brooch beneath her collar.
"You're looking very well to-day, Miss Bunner," said Mr. Ramy,
following her gesture with a smile.
"Oh," said Ann Eliza nervously. "I'm always well in health,"
she added.
"I guess you're healthier than your sister, even if you are
less sizeable."
"Oh, I don't know. Evelina's a mite nervous sometimes, but
she ain't a bit sickly."
"She eats heartier than you do; but that don't mean nothing,"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: slowly darkened. A faint wind sprang up and beat the tree branches against
the window. The dining-room looked over the breakwater of the harbour, and
the sea swung heavily in rolling waves. Wind crept round the house,
moaning drearily.
"We're in for a storm. That means I'm boxed up here all day. Well,
there's one blessing; it'll clear the air." He heard the servant girl
rushing importantly round the house, slamming windows. Then he caught a
glimpse of her in the garden, unpegging tea towels from the line across the
lawn. She was a worker, there was no doubt about that. He took up a book,
and wheeled his arm-chair over to the window. But it was useless. Too
dark to read; he didn't believe in straining his eyes, and gas at ten
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