| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Pupil by Henry James: extraordinary confidence they had placed in him.
After all, Pemberton reflected, it was only a difference of theory
and the theory didn't matter much. They had hitherto gone on that
of remunerated, as now they would go on that of gratuitous,
service; but why should they have so many words about it? Mrs.
Moreen at all events continued to be convincing; sitting there with
her fifty francs she talked and reiterated, as women reiterate, and
bored and irritated him, while he leaned against the wall with his
hands in the pockets of his wrapper, drawing it together round his
legs and looking over the head of his visitor at the grey negations
of his window. She wound up with saying: "You see I bring you a
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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 Koran: evil, but we overtook those who did wrong with punishment;- evil was
the abomination that they did, but when they rebelled against what
they were forbidden, we said to them, 'Become ye apes, despised and
spurned!' and then thy Lord proclaimed that He would surely send
against them till the resurrection day, those who should wreak them
evil torment; verily, thy Lord is quick at following up, but,
verily, He is forgiving, merciful.
We cut them up in the earth into nations. Of them are the righteous,
and of them are the reverse of that; we have tried them with good
things and with bad things; haply they may return.
But there succeeded them successors who inherited the Book! They
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Soul of a Bishop by H. G. Wells: some of the mistresses at her new school. The feeling that
something was expected had got upon Scrope's nerves. He talked a
little in a flat and obvious way, and lapsed into thoughtful
silences. While supper was being cleared away he went back into
his study.
Thence he returned to the dining-room hearthrug as his family
resumed their various occupations.
He tried to speak in a casual conversational tone.
"I want to tell you all," he said, "of something that has
happened to-day."
He waited. Phoebe had begun to figure at a fresh sheet of
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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 An International Episode by Henry James: If she was shy, she carried it off very well.
"Mr. Beaumont," she had said, "please tell me something about Lord
Lambeth's family. How would you say it in England--his position?"
"His position?" Percy Beaumont repeated.
"His rank, or whatever you call it. Unfortunately we haven't got
a PEERAGE, like the people in Thackeray."
"That's a great pity," said Beaumont. "You would find it all set
forth there so much better than I can do it."
"He is a peer, then?"
"Oh, yes, he is a peer."
"And has he any other title than Lord Lambeth?"
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