| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: your guard wherever you hear great professions about a very little
piece of virtue. If the English could only hear how they are
spoken of abroad, they might confine themselves for a while to
remedying the fact; and perhaps even when that was done, give us
fewer of their airs.
The young ladies, the graces of Origny, were not present at our
start, but when we got round to the second bridge, behold, it was
black with sight-seers! We were loudly cheered, and for a good way
below, young lads and lasses ran along the bank still cheering.
What with current and paddling, we were flashing along like
swallows. It was no joke to keep up with us upon the woody shore.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: Bellegarde had been looking at him with quickened expectancy,
and with the smile with which he had greeted Newman's allusion
to his promised request. At this last announcement he continued
to gaze; but his smile went through two or three curious phases.
It felt, apparently, a momentary impulse to broaden;
but this it immediately checked. Then it remained for some
instants taking counsel with itself, at the end of which it
decreed a retreat. It slowly effaced itself and left a look
of seriousness modified by the desire not to be rude.
Extreme surprise had come into the Count Valentin's face;
but he had reflected that it would be uncivil to leave it there.
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