| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: here. Why do you linger?'
'For warmth,' he replied, spreading out his hands before the fire.
'For warmth. You are rich, perhaps?'
'Very,' she said faintly. 'Very rich. No doubt I am very rich.'
'At least you are not penniless. You have some money. You were
making purchases to-night.'
'I have a little left. It is but a few shillings.'
'Give me your purse. You had it in your hand at the door. Give it
to me.'
She stepped to the table and laid it down. He reached across, took
it up, and told the contents into his hand. As he was counting
 Barnaby Rudge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: went down flat over the pommel like a wild-riding Indian. Target kept that
straining run for a longer distance than I could judge. With the same
breakneck speed he thundered on over logs and little washes, through the
thick, bordering bushes, and around the sudden turns. His foam moistened my
face and flecked my sleeves. The wind came stinging into my face, the heavy
roar followed at my back with its menace.
Swift and terrible as the forest fire was, Target was winning the race. I
knew it. Steadily the roar softened, but it did not die away. Pound! pound!
pound! The big bay charged up the trail. How long could he stand that
killing pace? I began to talk soothingly to him, to pull on the bridle; but
he might have been an avalanche for all he heeded. Still I kept at him,
 The Young Forester |