| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: day, and the two women remained for hours in consultation.
It was nine o'clock, and the card tables were still without players,
for every one was talking of the murder. Monsieur de Grandville
entered the room.
"We have arrested the murderer of old Pingret," he said, joyfully.
"Who is it?" was asked on all sides.
"A porcelain workman; a man whose character has always been excellent,
and who was in a fair way to make his fortune. He worked in your
husband's old factory," added Monsieur de Grandville, turning to
Madame Graslin.
"What is his name?" asked Veronique, in a weak voice.
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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 Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan by Honore de Balzac: season the fine flower we missed in the spring and summer."
"That's not the question," resumed the marquise, after a meditative
pause. "We are both still beautiful enough to inspire love, but we
could never convince any one of our innocence and virtue."
"If it were a lie, how easy to dress it up with commentaries, and
serve it as some delicious fruit to be eagerly swallowed! But how is
it possible to get a truth believed? Ah! the greatest of men have been
mistaken there!" added the princess, with one of those meaning smiles
which the pencil of Leonardo da Vinci alone has rendered.
"Fools love well, sometimes," returned the marquise.
"But in this case," said the princess, "fools wouldn't have enough
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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 Ruling Passion by Henry van Dyke: stayed on as steadily as a native, never showing, from the first,
the slightest wish or intention to leave the woodland village.
I do not mean that he was an idler. Bytown had not yet arrived at
that stage of civilization in which an ornamental element is
supported at the public expense.
He worked for his living, and earned it. He was full of a quick,
cheerful industry; and there was nothing that needed to be done
about Moody's establishment, from the wood-pile to the ice-house, at
which he did not bear a hand willingly and well.
"He kin work like a beaver," said Bill Moody, talking the stranger
over down at the post-office one day; "but I don't b'lieve he's got
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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 Enoch Arden, &c. by Alfred Tennyson: Slight was his answer `Well--I care not for it:'
Then playing with the blade he prick'd his hand,
`A gracious gift to give a lady, this!'
`But would it be more gracious' ask'd the girl
`Were I to give this gift of his to one
That is no lady?' `Gracious? No' said he.
`Me?--but I cared not for it. O pardon me,
I seem to be ungraciousness itself.'
`Take it' she added sweetly `tho' his gift;
For I am more ungracious ev'n than you,
I care not for it either;' and he said
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