| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: "Hello, there!" exclaimed a gay voice. The lovers turned to see the smiling
face of Isaac, and over his shoulder Myeerah's happy face beaming on them.
"Alfred, you are a lucky dog. You can thank Myeerah and me for this; because
if I had not taken to the river and nearly drowned myself to give you that
opportunity you would not wear that happy face to-day. Blush away, Betts, it
becomes you mightily."
"Bessie, here they are!" cried Col. Zane, in his hearty voice. "She is tamed
at last. No excuses, Alfred, in to dinner you go."
Col. Zane pushed the young people up the steps before him, and stopping on the
threshold while he knocked the ashes from his pipe, he smiled contentedly.
AFTERWORD.
Betty Zane |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: dotage, gazing about them at things they did not see. Their deserted
salon, so filled with memories to them, was feebly lighted by a single
lamp which seemed expiring. Without the sparkling of the flame upon
the hearth, they might soon have been in total darkness.
A friend had just left them; and the chair on which he had been
sitting, remained where he left it, between the two Corsicans. Piombo
was casting glances at that chair,--glances full of thoughts, crowding
one upon another like remorse,--for the empty chair was Ginevra's.
Elisa Piombo watched the expressions that now began to cross her
husband's pallid face. Though long accustomed to divine his feelings
from the changeful agitations of his face, they seemed to-night so
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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 Reign of King Edward the Third by William Shakespeare: his chivered Lance, and the King of Boheme, borne
before, wrapped in the Colours. They run and imbrace him.]
AUDLEY.
O joyful sight! victorious Edward lives!
DERBY.
Welcome, brave Prince!
KING EDWARD.
Welcome, Plantagenet!
PRINCE EDWARD.
[Kneels and kisses his father's hand.]
First having done my duty as beseemed,
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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 The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: "I met them bringing the poor man home, and--and quite
without thinking, I obeyed the impulse to follow them in,
and didn't realize--"
He stopped short, annoyed by the reflection that this
was his second apology. The girl smiled placidly at him,
the while she put up her parasol.
"It did me good to see you there," she said, quite as if
she had known him all her life. "And so it did the rest
of us."
Father Forbes permitted himself a soft little chuckle,
approving rather than mirthful, and patted her on the
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
