| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Second Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: Island, the land to the southward behind them.
"This has never been before," said Kotuko, staring stupidly.
"This is not the time. How can the floe break NOW?"
"Follow THAT! the girl cried, pointing to the Thing half
limping, half running distractedly before them. They followed,
tugging at the hand- sleigh, while nearer and nearer came the
roaring march of the ice. At last the fields round them cracked
and starred in every direction, and the cracks opened and
snapped like the teeth of wolves. But where the Thing rested,
on a mound of old and scattered ice-blocks some fifty feet high,
there was no motion. Kotuko leaped forward wildly, dragging the
The Second Jungle Book |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: friend is a very distinguished Harley Street physician.
Chiefly nervous and mental cases. His name is Dr. Martineau.
He is quite as civilized as I am. He is also a philosophical
writer. He is really a very wise and learned man indeed. He
is full of ideas. He's stimulated me tremendously. You must
talk to him."
Sir Richmond glanced over his shoulder at the subject of
these commendations. Through the oval window glared an
expression of malignity that made no impression whatever on
his preoccupied mind.
"My name," said the young lady, "is Grammont. The war whirled
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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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: "You will find I am too early," said Allan M'Aulay, who burst
into the apartment. "Draw, Menteith, and defend yourself like a
man, or die like a dog!"
"You are mad, Allan!" answered Menteith, astonished alike at his
sudden appearance, and at the unutterable fury of his demeanour.
His cheeks were livid--his eyes started from their sockets--his
lips were covered with foam, and his gestures were those of a
demoniac.
"You lie, traitor!" was his frantic reply--"you lie in that, as
you lie in all you have said to me. Your life is a lie!"
"Did I not speak my thoughts when I called you mad," said
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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 Twice Told Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne: shadows toss their arms into the gloom of night, with a dread
expression of woe. Following the mimic representative of
Hutchinson came a military figure, holding before his face the
cocked hat which he had taken from his powdered head; but his
epaulettes and other insignia of rank were those of a general
officer, and something in his mien reminded the beholders of one
who had recently been master of the Province House, and chief of
all the land.
"The shape of Gage, as true as in a looking-glass," exclaimed
Lord Percy, turning pale.
"No, surely," cried Miss Joliffe, laughing hysterically; "it
Twice Told Tales |
