| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Ball at Sceaux by Honore de Balzac: by a thousand little incidents which any one can imagine; for love is
in some respects always the same. They studied each other through it
all, as much as lovers can.
"Well, well; a flirtation never turned so quickly into a love match,"
said the old uncle, who kept an eye on the two young people as a
naturalist watches an insect in the microscope.
The speech alarmed Monsieur and Madame Fontaine. The old Vendeen had
ceased to be so indifferent to his daughter's prospects as he had
promised to be. He went to Paris to seek information, and found none.
Uneasy at this mystery, and not yet knowing what might be the outcome
of the inquiry which he had begged a Paris friend to institute with
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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 An International Episode by Henry James: Percy Beaumont listened with interest. "That, I believe,"
he said, "is the most--a-- intellectual town?"
"I believe it is very intellectual. I don't go there much,"
responded his host.
"I say, we ought to go there," said Lord Lambeth to his companion.
"Oh, Lord Lambeth, wait till the great heat is over,"
Mr. Westgate interposed. "Boston in this weather would be very trying;
it's not the temperature for intellectual exertion. At Boston,
you know, you have to pass an examination at the city limits;
and when you come away they give you a kind of degree."
Lord Lambeth stared, blushing a little; and Percy Beaumont
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