| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: invaders the Fort Del Oro, where flaunts the hated golden flag of
Spain, holds San Josepho and eight hundred of the foe; and but
three nights ago, Amyas and Yeo, and the rest of Winter's shrewdest
hands, slung four culverins out of the Admiral's main deck, and
floated them ashore, and dragged them up to the battery among the
sand-hills; and now it shall be seen whether Spanish and Italian
condottieri can hold their own on British ground against the men of
Devon.
Small blame to Amyas if he was thinking, not of his lonely mother
at Burrough Court, but of those quick bright flashes on sand-hill
and on fort, where Salvation Yeo was hurling the eighteen-pound
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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 Lady Susan by Jane Austen: I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this
moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some
rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion
so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained
everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful
meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my
discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have
I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me beyond
expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. Mainwaring's
jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to again. Come to me
immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible.
 Lady Susan |