| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rewards and Fairies by Rudyard Kipling: whenever he rode out.
'"He is as bad as Big Hand is good, but he is not as strong as
Big Hand," says Red Jacket. "When he talks with Big Hand he
will feel this in his heart. The French have sent away a great chief.
Presently he will go back and make them afraid."
'Now wasn't that comical? The French woman that knew him
and owed all her losses to him; the Indian that picked him up, cut
and muddy on the street, and played dice with him; they neither
of 'em doubted that Talleyrand was something by himself -
appearances notwithstanding.'
'And was he something by himself?' asked Una.
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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 Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "I didn't know you were here," said Kiki.
"I didn't come until after you did," said the queer old man.
"Who are you?" asked Kiki.
"My name's Ruggedo. I used to be the Nome King; but I got kicked
out of my country, and now I'm a wanderer."
"What made them kick you out?" inquired the Hyup boy.
"Well, it's the fashion to kick kings nowadays. I was a pretty good
King--to myself--but those dreadful Oz people wouldn't let me alone.
So I had to abdicate."
"What does that mean?"
"It means to be kicked out. But let's talk about something
The Magic of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Kenilworth by Walter Scott: pretty Mistress Janet," said the Earl, "and I think your father
is of the same congregation in sincerity? I like you both the
better for it; for I have been prayed for, and wished well to, in
your congregations. And you may the better afford the lack of
ornament, Mistress Janet, because your fingers are slender, and
your neck white. But here is what neither Papist nor Puritan,
latitudinarian nor precisian, ever boggles or makes mouths at.
E'en take it, my girl, and employ it as you list."
So saying, he put into her hand five broad gold pieces of Philip
and Mary,
"I would not accept this gold either," said Janet, "but that I
Kenilworth |
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: whom he honoured by that reverence. To judge from the haste with
which they dispersed, the domestics of the Marquis were scarce
more pleased with their late occupation than the anxious Captain
Dalgetty; indeed, many of them being Highlandmen, had the excuse
of not understanding a single word which the clergyman spoke,
although they gave their attendance on his doctrine by the
special order of M'Callum More, and would have done so had the
preacher been a Turkish Imaum.
But although the congregation dispersed thus rapidly, the divine
remained behind in the chapel, and, walking up and down its
Gothic precincts, seemed either to be meditating on what he had
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