| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Emma McChesney & Co. by Edna Ferber: the seashore?"
But something in Emma McChesney's eyes, and something in her set,
unsmiling face, told him that she was not seeing seashores. She
was staring straight at him, straight through him, miles beyond
him. There was about her that tense, electric, breathless air of
complete detachment, which always enveloped her when her
lightning mind was leaping ahead to a goal unguessed by the
slower thinking.
"What's your tailor's name?"
"Name? Trotter. Why?"
Emma McChesney had the telephone operator before he could finish.
Emma McChesney & Co. |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The White Moll by Frank L. Packard: I said I had been trying to find you to-night. It was the truth.
I went to Gypsy Nan's - and might have been spared my pains. I
told her about last night, and that I knew you were in danger, and
that I wanted to help you. I mention this so that you will
understand that I am not just speaking on the spur of the moment,
now that I have an opportunity of repeating that offer in person."
She looked at him impassively for a moment. He had neglected to
state that he had also told Gypsy Nan he desired to enter into a
partnership with her - in
crime.
"It is very kind of you," she said sweetly. "I presume, then, that
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Bronte Sisters: latter: this assumption of brotherly nonchalance was very hard to
sustain, and I often felt myself a most confounded hypocrite with
it all; I saw too, or rather I felt, that, in spite of herself, 'I
was not indifferent to her,' as the novel heroes modestly express
it, and while I thankfully enjoyed my present good fortune, I could
not fail to wish and hope for something better in future; but, of
course, I kept such dreams entirely to myself.
'Where are you going, Gilbert?' said Rose, one evening, shortly
after tea, when I had been busy with the farm all day.
'To take a walk,' was the reply.
'Do you always brush your hat so carefully, and do your hair so
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall |
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 Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: wanted to be kidnapped!"
And he felt a nameless fear creep into his heart, making him
shiver again.
CHAPTER IV.
That year, towards the breaking up of the south-west monsoon,
disquieting rumours reached Sambir. Captain Ford, coming up to
Almayer's house for an evening's chat, brought late numbers of
the Straits Times giving the news of Acheen war and of the
unsuccessful Dutch expedition. The Nakhodas of the rare trading
praus ascending the river paid visits to Lakamba, discussing with
that potentate the unsettled state of affairs, and wagged their
Almayer's Folly |
