| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed by Edna Ferber: the reason for our expulsion at last was made
clear. The little German hotel had not been
remunerative. Our host and hostess were too hospitable
and too polite to state the true reason for this state of
affairs. Perhaps rents were too high. Perhaps, thought
I, Frau Knapf had been too liberal with the butter in the
stewed chicken. Perhaps there had been too many golden
Pfannkuchen with real eggs and milk stirred into them,
and with toothsome little islands of ruddy currant jelly
on top. Perhaps there had been too much honest,
nourishing food, and not enough boarding-house victuals.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: young ladies. I should find it very hard to say----'
" 'A truce to jesting, sir! I mean the woman who has this moment gone
out from you.'
" 'How can I know whether she is your wife or not? I never had the
pleasure of seeing you before.'
" 'You are mistaken, M. Gobseck,' said the Count, with profound irony
in his voice. 'We have met before, one morning in my wife's bedroom.
You had come to demand payment for a bill--no bill of hers.'
" 'It was no business of mine to inquire what value she had received
for it,' said Gobseck, with a malignant look at the Count. 'I had come
by the bill in the way of business. At the same time, monsieur,'
Gobseck |
