| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Woodlanders by Thomas Hardy: there was just a possibility that some other pedestrian than the
one in request might arrive, and it behooved Tim to be careful as
to the identity of his victim.
Going about a hundred yards along the rising ground to the right,
he reached a ridge whereon a large and thick holly grew. Beyond
this for some distance the wood was more open, and the course
which Fitzpiers must pursue to reach the point, if he came to-
night, was visible a long way forward.
For some time there was no sign of him or of anybody. Then there
shaped itself a spot out of the dim mid-distance, between the
masses of brushwood on either hand. And it enlarged, and Tim
The Woodlanders |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: "If you don't agree with Madame de Cintre, you will be very unreasonable."
"Come, come, Urbain," said young Madame de Bellegarde,
"I must go straight to my tailor's."
The old lady had been standing with her hand on her daughter's arm,
looking at her fixedly. She gave a little sigh, and murmured,
"No, I did NOT expect it! You are a fortunate man," she added,
turning to Newman, with an expressive nod.
"Oh, I know that!" he answered. "I feel tremendously proud.
I feel like crying it on the housetops,--like stopping people
in the street to tell them."
Madame de Bellegarde narrowed her lips. "Pray don't," she said.
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