| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Schoolmistress and Other Stories by Anton Chekhov: and comfortable.
"That's capital!" said Von Taunitz, a fat man with an incredibly
thick neck and with whiskers, as he shook the examining
magistrate's hand. "That's capital! You are very welcome,
delighted to make your acquaintance. We are colleagues to some
extent, you know. At one time I was deputy prosecutor; but not
for long, only two years. I came here to look after the estate,
and here I have grown old -- an old fogey, in fact. You are very
welcome," he went on, evidently restraining his voice so as not
to speak too loud; he was going upstairs with his guests. "I have
no wife, she's dead. But here, I will introduce my daughters,"
The Schoolmistress and Other Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Case of the Registered Letter by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: "And you heard his story? And you believe him innocent?"
"I am inclined to do so. But there is more yet for me to investigate
in this matter. It is certainly not as simple as the police here
seem to believe. May I speak to your ward, Miss Roemer? She is at
home now?"
"Yes, Lora is at home. If you will wait here a moment I will send
her in."
Muller paced up and down the large sunny room, casting a glance
over the handsome old pieces of furniture and the family portraits
on the wall. It was evidently the home of generations of well-to-do,
well-bred people, the narrow circle of whose life was made rich by
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: square, a robust body, and leaned with gauntleted hands on the
simple hilt of a straight sword. That striking picture dominated a
massive mahogany desk, and, in front of this desk, a very roomy,
tall-backed armchair of dark green velvet. I thought I had been
announced into an empty room till glancing along the extremely loud
carpet I detected a pair of feet under the armchair.
I advanced towards it and discovered a little man, who had made no
sound or movement till I came into his view, sunk deep in the green
velvet. He altered his position slowly and rested his hollow,
black, quietly burning eyes on my face in prolonged scrutiny. I
detected something comminatory in his yellow, emaciated
The Arrow of Gold |
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 The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: named Bassett, whoever he might be, was going to Norada bent on
"mischief," and another unknown who signed himself "G" was warning
David of that fact. But the mischief was designed, not against
David, but against a third unknown, some one who was to be got out
of town.
David had been trying to get him out of town. - The warning referred
to himself.
His first impulse was to go to David, and months later he was to
wonder what would have happened had he done so. How far could
Bassett have gone? What would have been his own decision when he
learned the truth?
The Breaking Point |
