| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: "Nothing," he said, "but the sheep asleep in their kraals, and the
moonlight on the walls. And yet, it did seem to me," he added, "that far
away near the krantz by the river, I saw three figures moving. And
afterwards--it might have been fancy--I thought I heard the cry again; but
since that, all has been still there."
...
Next day a navvy had returned to the railway works.
"Where have you been so long?" his comrades asked.
"He keeps looking over his shoulder," said one, "as though he thought he
should see something there."
"When he drank his grog today," said another, "he let it fall, and looked
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: and their opportunities for conversation were such only as were offered
by the deferential London shopmen. Bessie Alden, even in driving
from the station, took an immense fancy to the British metropolis,
and at the risk of exhibiting her as a young woman of vulgar tastes it
must be recorded that for a considerable period she desired no higher
pleasure than to drive about the crowded streets in a hansom cab.
To her attentive eyes they were full of a strange picturesque life,
and it is at least beneath the dignity of our historic muse to enumerate
the trivial objects and incidents which this simple young lady from Boston
found so entertaining. It may be freely mentioned, however, that whenever,
after a round of visits in Bond Street and Regent Street, she was
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