| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: also of mahogany, that carpet, bought at a bargain, beneath the table,
those metal lamps, that wretched paper with its red border, those
execrable engravings, and the calico curtains with red fringes, in a
dining-room, where the friends of Petitot once feasted! Do you notice
the effect produced in the salon by those portraits of Monsieur and
Madame and Mademoiselle Thuillier by Pierre Grassou, the artist par
excellence of the modern bourgeoisie. Have you remarked the card-
tables and the consoles of the Empire, the tea-table supported by a
lyre, and that species of sofa, of gnarled mahogany, covered in
painted velvet of a chocolate tone? On the chimney-piece, with the
clock (representing the Bellona of the Empire), are candelabra with
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Travels with a Donkey in the Cevenne by Robert Louis Stevenson: wall to wall with gossips looking on and listening. The pad
changed hands with much vivacity; perhaps it would be more
descriptive to say that we threw it at each other's heads; and, at
any rate, we were very warm and unfriendly, and spoke with a deal
of freedom.
I had a common donkey pack-saddle - a BARDE, as they call it -
fitted upon Modestine; and once more loaded her with my effects.
The doubled sack, my pilot-coat (for it was warm, and I was to walk
in my waistcoat), a great bar of black bread, and an open basket
containing the white bread, the mutton, and the bottles, were all
corded together in a very elaborate system of knots, and I looked
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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 Troll Garden and Selected Stories by Willa Cather: best, ought one?" The peculiar, breathy tone in which Flavia
always uttered that word "best," the most worn in her vocabulary,
always jarred on Imogen and always made her obdurate.
"I don't at all agree with you," she said reservedly. "I
thought everyone admitted that the most remarkable thing about Miss
Broadwood is her admirable sense of fitness, which is rare enough
in her profession."
Flavia could not endure being contradicted; she always seemed
to regard it in the light of a defeat, and usually colored
unbecomingly. Now she changed the subject.
"Look, my dear," she cried, "there is Frau Lichtenfeld now,
The Troll Garden and Selected Stories |
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 In the Cage by Henry James: was to be allowed in September--no less than eleven days--for her
personal private holiday. Much of her recent intercourse with Mr.
Mudge had consisted of the hopes and fears, expressed mainly by
himself, involved in the question of their getting the same dates--
a question that, in proportion as the delight seemed assured,
spread into a sea of speculation over the choice of where and how.
All through July, on the Sunday evenings and at such other odd
times as he could seize, he had flooded their talk with wild waves
of calculation. It was practically settled that, with her mother,
somewhere "on the south coast" (a phrase of which she liked the
sound) they should put in their allowance together; but she already
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