| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson: of a wooden leg, were something strange to have expounded. As a
matter of personal experience, Meg's appearance to old Mr. Bertram
on the road, the ruins of Derncleugh, the scene of the flageolet,
and the Dominie's recognition of Harry, are the four strong notes
that continue to ring in the mind after the book is laid aside.
The second point is still more curious. The, reader will observe a
mark of excision in the passage as quoted by me. Well, here is how
it runs in the original: "a damsel, who, close behind a fine spring
about half-way down the descent, and which had once supplied the
castle with water, was engaged in bleaching linen." A man who gave
in such copy would be discharged from the staff of a daily paper.
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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 Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: particularly anxious that the work should be done in two days at
the very latest, and also that the new ring, in form, colour, and
in the engraving on the inside, should be a perfect counterpart of
the first. He explained his order by saying that his wife was ill,
and that she was grieving over the loss of her wedding ring which
had somehow disappeared. The new ring could be found somewhere as
if by chance and the sick woman's anxiety would be over. Two days
later, as arranged, the same gentleman appeared again and I handed
him the two rings.
"He left the shop, greatly satisfied with my work and apparently
much relieved in his mind. But he left me uneasy in spirit because
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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 Exiles by Honore de Balzac: "Behold, madame," said the woman, "the poor angel is confiding--here
is all his treasure."
As she spoke, Jacqueline opened a drawer in the table and showed some
parchments.
"God of mercy!" cried the Countess, snatching up a document that
caught her eye, on which she read, /Gothofredus Comes Gantiacus/
(Godefroid, Count of Ghent).
She dropped the parchment, and passed her hand over her brow; then,
feeling, no doubt, that she had compromised herself by showing so much
emotion, she recovered her cold demeanor.
"I am satisfied," said she.
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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 Little Britain by Washington Irving: France, had been murdered; there had been radical meetings in
all parts of the kingdom; the bloody scenes at Manchester; the
great plot of Cato Street; and above all, the queen had returned
to England! All these sinister events are recounted by Mr.
Skryme, with a mysterious look, and a dismal shake of the
head; and being taken with his drugs, and associated in the
minds of his auditors with stuffed sea-monsters, bottled
serpents, and his own visage, which is a title-page of
tribulation, they have spread great gloom through the minds of
the people of Little Britain. They shake their heads whenever
they go by Bow Church, and observe, that they never expected
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