| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Adventure by Jack London: "But with your Tahitians on board--" Sheldon had begun another
argument.
"There won't be any Tahitians on board," she had returned promptly.
"My men stay with me. I never know when I may need them. When I
sail, they sail; when I remain ashore, they remain ashore. I'll
find plenty for them to do right here on the plantation. You've
seen them clearing bush, each of them worth half a dozen of your
cannibals."
So it was that Joan stood beside Sheldon and sighed as she watched
the Martha beating out to sea, old Kinross, brought over from Savo,
in command.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: glens, to all such fantasies.
"I did not say frighted, now--I only said mis-set wi' the thing
--And there was but ae bogle, neither--Earnscliff, ye saw it; as
weel as I did?"
And he proceeded, without very much exaggeration, to detail, in
his own way, the meeting they had with the mysterious being at
Mucklestane-Moor, concluding, he could not conjecture what on
earth it could be, unless it was either the Enemy himsell, or
some of the auld Peghts that held the country lang syne.
"Auld Peght!" exclaimed the grand-dame; "na, na--bless thee frae
scathe, my bairn, it's been nae Peght that--it's been the Brown
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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 The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: of these matters. Besides, my own beloved, is there not a tender
calculation in thus revealing to you the history of the past? Does
it not extend our love into the future?--But we need no such
supports! We love each other with a love to which proof is
needless,--a love which takes no note of time or distance, but
lives of itself alone.
Ah! Natalie, I have just looked at you asleep, trustful, restful
as a little child, your hand stretched toward me. I left a tear
upon the pillow which has known our precious joys. I leave you
without fear, on the faith of that attitude; I go to win the
future of our love by bringing home to you a fortune large enough
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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 Where There's A Will by Mary Roberts Rinehart: another home, I've got one, twelve rooms, center hall, tiled
baths, cabinet mantels--I'd be good to you, Minnie. The right
woman could do anything with me."
When I grasped what he meant, I was staggered.
"I'm sorry," I explained, as gently as I could. "I'm--I'm going
to marry Doctor Barnes one of these days."
He stared at me. Then he laughed a little and went toward the
door.
"Barnes!" he said, turning. "Another redhead, by gad! Well,
I'll tell you this, young woman, you're red, but he's
redder. Your days for running things to suit yourself are over."
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