| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Market-Place by Harold Frederic: "He must marry money," the other replied. In an unexpected
burst of candour she went on: "He would have asked me to
marry him if I had had money. There is no harm in telling
you that. It was quite understood--oh, two years ago.
And I think I wished I had the money--then."
"And you don't wish it now?"
A slight shake of Edith's small, shapely head served
for answer. After a little, she spoke in a musing tone:
"He is going to have money of his own, very soon, but I
don't think it would attract me now. I like him personally,
of course, but--there is no career, no ambition, no future."
The Market-Place |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: utter a word or move a finger.
"So," he said, "we have proved our false faces, Master Shelton. I
will now adventure my poor carcase where ye please."
"Good!" returned Richard. "It irks me to be doing. Set we on for
Shoreby!
CHAPTER II - "IN MINE ENEMIES' HOUSE"
Sir Daniel's residence in Shoreby was a tall, commodious, plastered
mansion, framed in carven oak, and covered by a low-pitched roof of
thatch. To the back there stretched a garden, full of fruit-trees,
alleys, and thick arbours, and overlooked from the far end by the
tower of the abbey church.
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane: "Fleming!"
"What?"
The friend put his hand up to his mouth and
coughed again. He fidgeted in his jacket.
"Well," he gulped, at last, "I guess yeh might
as well give me back them letters." Dark, prick-
ling blood had flushed into his cheeks and brow.
"All right, Wilson," said the youth. He
loosened two buttons of his coat, thrust in his
hand, and brought forth the packet. As he ex-
tended it to his friend the latter's face was turned
The Red Badge of Courage |
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 Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: If we met in the village street we bowed and passed on; when we shook hands
we did so silently, and did not look at each other. But I thought she felt
my presence in a room just as I felt hers.
At last the time for my going came. I was to leave the next day. Some one
I knew gave a party in my honour, to which all the village was invited.
It was midwinter. There was nothing in the gardens but a few dahlias and
chrysanthemums, and I suppose that for two hundred miles round there was
not a rose to be bought for love or money. Only in the garden of a friend
of mine, in a sunny corner between the oven and the brick wall, there was a
rose tree growing which had on it one bud. It was white, and it had been
promised to the fair haired girl to wear at the party.
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