| 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: was always done before she could lift her hand.
During the day she passed hours in her little room, and most of them were
dreamed away by her window. Lydia and Alice came over sometimes and whiled
away the tedious moments with their bright chatter and merry laughter, their
castle-building, and their romancing on heroes and love and marriage as girls
always will until the end of time. They had not forgotten Mr. Clarke, but as
Betty had rebuked them with a dignity which forbade any further teasing on
that score, they had transferred their fun-making to the use of Mr. Miller's
name.
Fearing her brothers' wrath Betty had not told them of the scene with Miller
at the dance. She had learned enough of rough border justice to dread the
Betty Zane |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cousin Betty by Honore de Balzac: beautiful shoulders--for Parisian women, Heaven knows how, have some
way of preserving their fine flesh and remaining slender. She wore a
black velvet gown that looked as if it might at any moment slip off
her shoulders, and her hair was dressed with lace and drooping
flowers. Her arms, not fat but dimpled, were graced by deep ruffles to
her sleeves. She was like a luscious fruit coquettishly served in a
handsome dish, and making the knife-blade long to be cutting it.
"Valerie," the Brazilian was saying in her ear, "I have come back
faithful to you. My uncle is dead; I am twice as rich as I was when I
went away. I mean to live and die in Paris, for you and with you."
"Lower, Henri, I implore you----"
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: is very fond of you, my dear fellow, but your liaison with her,
in her interests and in yours, ought not to be serious. You with
your seven or eight thousand francs a year, what could you do
toward supplying all the luxuries which a girl like that is in
need of? It would not be enough to keep her carriage. Take
Marguerite for what she is, for a good, bright, pretty girl; be
her lover for a month, two months; give her flowers, sweets,
boxes at the theatre; but don't get any other ideas into your
head, and don't make absurd scenes of jealousy. You know whom you
have to do with; Marguerite isn't a saint. She likes you, you are
very fond of her; let the rest alone. You amaze me when I see you
Camille |
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 Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: toward Aaanthor and water. Well, she, too, would go
first to Aaanthor, where she might find more than
the water she needed.
With Komal by her side she felt little fear, for he
would protect her from all other savage beasts.
Even the great white apes would flee the mighty banth
in terror. Men only need she fear, but she must take
this and many other chances before she could hope to
reach her father's court again.
When at last Carthoris found her, only to be struck
down by the long-sword of a green man, Thuvia prayed
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
