| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Love and Friendship by Jane Austen: mark of condescension as a visit from Sir George and Lady Lesley,
we prepared to return them an answer expressive of the happiness
we enjoyed in expectation of such a Blessing, when luckily
recollecting that as they were to reach the Castle the next
Evening, it would be impossible for my father to receive it
before he left Edinburgh, we contented ourselves with leaving
them to suppose that we were as happy as we ought to be. At nine
in the Evening on the following day, they came, accompanied by
one of Lady Lesleys brothers. Her Ladyship perfectly answers the
description you sent me of her, except that I do not think her so
pretty as you seem to consider her. She has not a bad face, but
Love and Friendship |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Drama on the Seashore by Honore de Balzac: enough, and if I died my father would have to beg. I am forced to take
a business which only needs a little knack and a great deal of
patience."
"But how can two persons live on twelve sous a day?"
"Oh, monsieur, we eat cakes made of buckwheat, and barnacles which I
get off the rocks."
"How old are you?"
"Thirty-seven."
"Did you ever leave Croisic?"
"I went once to Guerande to draw for the conscription; and I went to
Savenay to the messieurs who measure for the army. If I had been half
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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 My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: incurred. The exclamation died away on Lady Forester's tongue,
without attaining perfect utterance, and the scene in the glass,
after the fluctuation of a minute, again resumed to the eye its
former appearance of a real scene, existing within the mirror, as
if represented in a picture, save that the figures were movable
instead of being stationary.
The representation of Sir Philip Forester, now distinctly visible
in form and feature, was seen to lead on towards the clergyman
that beautiful girl, who advanced at once with diffidence and
with a species of affectionate pride. In the meantime, and just
as the clergyman had arranged the bridal company before him, and
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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 Tom Grogan by F. Hopkinson Smith: friends complained that it took the bread out of Rockville's
mouth; but as the bidder belonged to the Union, no protest could
be made.
The morning after the meeting of the Union, McGaw went to New York
by the early boat. He carried a letter from Pete Lathers, the
yardmaster, to Crane & Co., of so potent a character that the
coal-dealers agreed to lend McGaw five hundred dollars on his
three-months' note, taking a chattel mortgage on his teams and
carts as security, the money to be paid McGaw as soon as the
papers were drawn. McGaw, in return, was to use his "pull" to get
a permit from the village trustees for the free use of the village
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