| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: arrange her shawl.
"Shall I go with you to your father's?" asked Phileas.
"No, stay with Cecile. Besides, Jean Violette was to pay the rest of
the purchase-money to-day. He has twenty thousand francs to bring you.
This is the third time he has put us off three months; don't grant him
any more delays; if he can't pay now, give his note to Courtet, the
sheriff, and take the law of him. Achille Pigoult will tell you how to
proceed. That Violette is the worthy son of his grandfather; I think
he is capable of enriching himself by going into bankruptcy,--there's
neither law nor gospel in him."
"He is very intelligent," said Beauvisage.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: morsels, dispensed from the butler's pantry window with great regularity three
times a day), he at once, at her command, relaxed his hold on the little
jack-rabbit. The poor little thing was still breathing, breathing indeed with
all his might and main, so that his heart thumped against his little brown
sides with all the regularity of a Rider Engine. Tattine's first thought was
for the rabbit, and she held it close to her, stroking it with one little
brown trembling hand and saying, "There! there! Hush, you little dear; you're
safe now, don't be frightened! Tattine wouldn't hurt you for the world." Her
next thought was for Doctor, and she turned on him with a torrent of abuse,
that ought to have made the hair of that young M.D. stand on end. "Oh, you
cruel, CRUEL dog! whatever made you do such a thing as this? I never dreamt it
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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 Pupil by Henry James: and the rain lashed the lagoon, Pemberton, for exercise and even
somewhat for warmth - the Moreens were horribly frugal about fires;
it was a cause of suffering to their inmate - walked up and down
the big bare sala with his pupil. The scagliola floor was cold,
the high battered casements shook in the storm, and the stately
decay of the place was unrelieved by a particle of furniture.
Pemberton's spirits were low, and it came over him that the fortune
of the Moreens was now even lower. A blast of desolation, a
portent of disgrace and disaster, seemed to draw through the
comfortless hall. Mr. Moreen and Ulick were in the Piazza, looking
out for something, strolling drearily, in mackintoshes, under the
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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 A Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy: cried, suddenly starting up in anger, 'are you telling me
untruths? Why should you play with me like this? I'll have the
right of it. Elfride, we shall never be happy! There's a blight
upon us, or me, or you, and it must be cleared off before we
marry.' Knight moved away impetuously as if to leave her.
She jumped up and clutched his arm
'Don't go, Harry--don't!
'Tell me, then,' said Knight sternly. 'And remember this, no more
fibs, or, upon my soul, I shall hate you. Heavens! that I should
come to this, to be made a fool of by a girl's untruths----'
'Don't, don't treat me so cruelly! O Harry, Harry, have pity, and
A Pair of Blue Eyes |
