| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather: Her primrose satin gown seemed like a soft sheath
for her slender, supple figure, and its delicate
color suited her white Irish skin and brown
hair. Whatever she wore, people felt the
charm of her active, girlish body with its
slender hips and quick, eager shoulders.
Alexander heard little of the story, but he
watched Hilda intently. She must certainly,
he reflected, be thirty, and he was honestly
delighted to see that the years had treated her
so indulgently. If her face had changed at all,
Alexander's Bridge |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Old Maid by Honore de Balzac: remedy it, certain it is that he allowed himself to be led like a lamb
to the slaughter. He had received the most violent knock-down blow
that ever struck a man; any nobleman would have lost his senses for
less.
The Abbe de Sponde and the Vicomte de Troisville soon returned.
Mademoiselle Cormon instantly rose, hurried into the antechamber, and
took her uncle apart to tell him her resolution. Learning that the
house in the rue du Cygne exactly suited the viscount, she begged her
future husband to do her the kindness to tell him that her uncle knew
it was for sale. She dared not confide that lie to the abbe, fearing
his absent-mindedness. The lie, however, prospered better than if it
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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 When the World Shook by H. Rider Haggard: have converted Oro, even if he performed miracles before him.
What is the use of showing miracles to a man who could always
work a bigger one himself?"
In short, Bastin's one idea, and Bickley's also for the matter
of that, was to get away to the main island and thence escape by
means of the boat, or in some other fashion.
I pointed out that Oro had said we must obey at the peril of
our lives; indeed that he had put it even more strongly, using
words to the effect that if we did not he would kill us.
"I'd take the risk," said Bickley, "since I believe that
you dreamt it all, Arbuthnot. However, putting that
When the World Shook |
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 A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: replied Monsieur Leger, "and sends out five coaches. He is the
bourgeois of Beaumont, where he keeps a hotel, at which all the
diligences stop, and he has a wife and daughter who are not a bad help
to him."
An old man of seventy here came out of the hotel and joined the group
of travellers who were waiting to get into the coach.
"Come along, Papa Reybert," said Leger, "we are only waiting now for
your great man."
"Here he comes," said the steward of Presles, pointing to Joseph
Bridau.
Neither Georges nor Oscar recognized the illustrious artist, for his
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