| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Flower Fables by Louisa May Alcott: music, and soon a distant voice mournfully singing,--
"Bright shines the summer sun,
Soft is the summer air;
Gayly the wood-birds sing,
Flowers are blooming fair.
"But, deep in the dark, cold rock,
Sadly I dwell,
Longing for thee, dear friend,
Lily-Bell! Lily-Bell!"
"Thistle, dear Thistle, where are you?" joyfully cried Lily-Bell,
as she flew from rock to rock. But the voice was still, and she
 Flower Fables |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The New Machiavelli by H. G. Wells: tremendously fit, under Altiora's inspiration, Pro Bono Publico.
Bunting Harblow had his under-secretaryship, and Lewis was on the
verge of the Cabinet, and these things we considered to be in the
nature of confirmations. . . . It added to tbe discomfort of the
situation that these plunging enquiries were being made in the
presence of our wives.
The rebel section of our party forced the talk.
Edward Crampton was presently declaring--I forget in what relation:
"The country is with us."
My long-controlled hatred of the Cramptons' stereotyped phrases
about the Country and the House got the better of me. I showed my
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