| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: precipice seemed somehow to have engaged my responsibility as to
this other leap. And so we had still an intimate subject between us
to lend more weight and more uneasiness to our silence. The subject
of marriage. I use the word not so much in reference to the
ceremony itself (I had no doubt of this, Captain Anthony being a
decent fellow) or in view of the social institution in general, as
to which I have no opinion, but in regard to the human relation.
The first two views are not particularly interesting. The ceremony,
I suppose, is adequate; the institution, I dare say, is useful or it
would not have endured. But the human relation thus recognized is a
mysterious thing in its origins, character and consequences.
Chance |
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 White Moll by Frank L. Packard: woman could do to cling to the edge of the cot and sit upright.
"What does all this mean, Nan," she asked tensely; "all those things
up there - that money?"
Gypsy Nan forced a twisted smile.
"It means I know how bad I am, or I wouldn't have let you see what
you have," she answered heavily. "It means that there isn't any
other way. Hurry! Get these things off! Get me dressed!"
But it took a long time. Gypsy Nan seemed with every moment to
grow weaker. The lamp on the chair went out for want of oil. There
was only the guttering candle in the gin bottle to give light. It
threw weird, flickering shadows around the garret; it seemed to
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