| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Somebody's Little Girl by Martha Young: Bessie Bell was so surprised at the first look that she hardly knew
what to think.
The lady did not look like Sister Helen Vincula, oh, not at all; but
the veil that she wore was soft and black like that that Sister
Helen Vincula wore. The dress that the lady wore was black also,
but it looked as if it were stiff and very crisp, and not soft like
the dress that Sister Helen Vincula wore. Bessie Bell did not mean
to be rude, but she reached out one tiny hand and took hold of the
lady's dress, just a tiny pinch of it.
Yes, it was very crisp.
Then the lady turned and looked at Bessie Bell.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau by Honore de Balzac: soundness of that principle. Money is no respecter of persons; money
has no ears, it has no heart. The winter is hard, the price of wood
has gone up. If you don't pay me on the 15th, a little summons will be
served upon you at twelve o'clock on the 16th. Bah! the worthy Mitral,
your bailiff, is mine as well; he will send you the writ in an
envelope, with all the consideration due to your high position."
"Monsieur, I have never received a summons in my life," said
Birotteau.
"There is a beginning to everything," said Molineux.
Dismayed by the curt malevolence of the old man, Cesar was cowed; he
heard the knell of failure ringing in his ears, and every jangle woke
 Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau |