| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: sorry I could not have my own way; that his present occupation was pleasant,
and that the situation had its charm. The very idea. He was most impertinent,"
and Betty's telltale cheeks reddened again at the recollection.
"Betty, I do not think your experience was so dreadful, certainly nothing to
put you out as it has," said Lydia, laughing merrily. "Be serious. You know we
are not in the backwoods now and must not expect so much of the men. These
rough border men know little of refinement like that with which you have been
familiar. Some of them are quiet and never speak unless addressed; their
simplicity is remarkable; Lew Wetzel and your brother Jonathan, when they are
not fighting Indians, are examples. On the other hand, some of them are
boisterous and if they get anything to drink they will make trouble for you.
Betty Zane |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: just now Monsieur le Comte is economizing, so as to make Soulanges the
entailed estate of his peerage."
"My dear friend," said Rigou, "entailed estates won't exist much
longer."
When the topic of public matters was exhausted, the worthy pair began
to discuss the merits of their pretty maids in terms too Burgundian to
be printed here. That inexhaustible subject carried them so far that
before they knew it they saw the capital of the arrondissement over
which Gaubertin reigned, and which we hope excites enough curiosity in
the reader's mind to justify a short digression.
The name of Ville-aux-Fayes, singular as it is, is explained as the
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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 Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare: From where thou art why should I haste me thence?
Till I return, of posting is no need.
O! what excuse will my poor beast then find,
When swift extremity can seem but slow?
Then should I spur, though mounted on the wind,
In winged speed n:motion shall I know,
Then can no horse with my desire keep pace;
Therefore desire, of perfect'st love being made,
Shall neigh--no dull flesh--in his fiery race;
But love, for love, thus shall excuse my jade,--
'Since from thee going, he went wilful-slow,
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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 The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: leddie's leave, I wad fain take down Eishie's skeps o' bees, and
set them in Grace's bit flower yard at the Heugh-foot--they shall
ne'er be smeekit by ony o' huz. And the puir goat, she would be
negleckit about a great toun like this; and she could feed
bonnily on our lily lea by the burn side, and the hounds wad ken
her in a day's time, and never fash her, and Grace wad milk her
ilka morning wi' her ain hand, for Elshie's sake; for though he
was thrawn and cankered in his converse, he likeit dumb creatures
weel."
Hobbie's requests were readily granted, not without some wonder
at the natural delicacy of feeling which pointed out to him this
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