| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson: I nodded.
'Come, come,' said he, 'you must cheer up. Of course it's very
distressing, very painful and all that. But do you know, it ain't
such a bad thing either for you or me? What with his death and
your visit to him I am entirely reassured.'
So I was to owe my life to Goguelat at every point.
'I had rather not discuss it,' said I.
'Well,' said he, 'one word more, and I'll agree to bury the
subject. What did you fight about?'
'Oh, what do men ever fight about?' I cried.
'A lady?' said he.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: riding-whip; and I began to understand that, far from the fight
having set me in my former place, to the old hatred of me were
now added shame and vexation on her own account; shame that she
had so lowered herself, even to save her brother, vexation that
defeat had been her only reward.
Of this I saw a sign at Lectoure, where the inn had but one
common room and we must all dine in company. I secured for them
a table by the fire, and leaving them standing by it, retired
myself to a smaller one near the door. There were no other
guests; which made the separation between us more marked. M. de
Cocheforet seemed to feel this. He shrugged his shoulders and
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