| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James: thing I lacked. He was as stupid after as he had been before, and
that deepened for me the golden glory in which the mystery was
wrapped. I had of course none the less to recollect that his wife
might have imposed her conditions and exactions. I had above all
to remind myself that with Vereker's death the major incentive
dropped. He was still there to be honoured by what might be done -
he was no longer there to give it his sanction. Who alas but he
had the authority?
Two children were born to the pair, but the second cost the mother
her life. After this stroke I seemed to see another ghost of a
chance. I jumped at it in thought, but I waited a certain time for
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas: "No, madame," replied D'Artagnan.
"But are you no longer aware," continued Anne, giving that
sweet expression to her voice which she could do at will,
"that in former days the queen had once need of a young,
brave and devoted cavalier -- that she found this cavalier
-- and that, although he might have thought that she had
forgotten him, she had kept a place for him in the depths of
her heart?"
"No, madame, I was ignorant of that," said the musketeer.
"So much the worse, sir," said Anne of Austria; "so much the
worse, at least for the queen, for to-day she has need of
Twenty Years After |
