| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: I found the place and continued the story aloud:
"And the dog was outside the door directly, and, before the
soldier thought it, came back with the Princess. She sat upon
the dog's back and slept; and every one could see she was a real
Princess, for she was so lovely. The soldier could not refrain
from kissing her, for he was a thorough soldier.."
Here the girl stirred, opened her eyes, saw me, and sat up.
"Who on earth- " she began. "It's all right," said I. "It's
only a fairy tale. Besides, I'm not a soldier, although I don't
see- "
"How long has this been going on?"
The Brother of Daphne |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: and the friendship in good silver guilders of the hated Orang
Blanda. Almayer, at last consenting, said the powder would be
obtained, but Dain must trust him with dollars to send to
Singapore in payment for it. He would induce Ford to buy and
smuggle it in the steamer on board the brig. He did not want any
money for himself out of the transaction, but Dain must help him
in his great enterprise after sending off the brig. Almayer had
explained to Dain that he could not trust Lakamba alone in that
matter; he would be afraid of losing his treasure and his life
through the cupidity of the Rajah; yet the Rajah had to be told,
and insisted on taking a share in that operation, or else his
Almayer's Folly |
