| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: "But the first time George attempts to speak to Captain Harry his
heart slides down into his boots. Captain Harry only laughs at the
notion of staying ashore. He wants no holiday, not he. But Jane
thinks of remaining in England this trip. Go about a bit and see
some of her people. Jane was the Captain's wife; round-faced,
pleasant lady. George gives up that time; but Cloete won't let him
rest. So he tries again; and the Captain frowns. He frowns
because he's puzzled. He can't make it out. He has no notion of
living away from his Sagamore. . .
"Ah!" I cried. "Now I understand."
"No, you don't," he growled, his black, contemptuous stare turning
Within the Tides |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling: long knave laughed.
"'Ah! 'tis easy enow for you to raise the Devil, Will,"
says another - Ralph Hobden of the Forge.
"'Aaa-men!" roars Sebastian, and ere I could hold him,
he leaps down the stairs - won'erful devilish-like
howling no bounds. He had scarce time to lay out for the
nearest than they ran. Saints, how they ran! We heard
them pound on the door of the Bell Tavern, and then we
ran too.
"'What's next?" says Sebastian, looping up his cow-
tail as he leaped the briars. "I've broke honest John's face."
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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 Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: back to wait, finally brought John, apologizing for his lateness.
Meanwhile, I was pleased to find among the otherwise complete party
General Rieppe. What I had seen of him from a distance held promise, and
the hero's nearer self fulfilled it. We fell to each other's lot for the
most natural of reasons: nobody else desired the company of either of us.
Charley was making himself the devoted servant of Hortense, while Kitty
drew Beverly, Bohm, and Gazza in her sprightly wake. To her, indeed, I
made a few compliments during the first few minutes after my coming
aboard, while every sort of drink and cigar was being circulated among us
by the cabin boy. Kitty's costume was the most markedly maritime thing
that I have ever beheld in any waters, and her white shoes looked (I must
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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 Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: towards the town where the Emir awaited him.
CHAPTER IV
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
TOMSK, founded in 1604, nearly in the heart of the
Siberian provinces, is one of the most important towns in
Asiatic Russia. Tobolsk, situated above the sixtieth
parallel; Irkutsk, built beyond the hundredth meridian --
have seen Tomsk increase at their expense.
And yet Tomsk, as has been said, is not the capital of
this important province. It is at Omsk that the Governor-
General of the province and the official world reside. But
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