| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Under the Red Robe by Stanley Weyman: standing where he was, she crossed the grass with a quick, light
step, and vanished among the trees.
In a moment my mind was made up to follow; and, as Clon turned at
once and went in, I was able to do so before it was too late.
Bending low among the shrubs, I ran hotfoot to the point where
Madame had entered the wood. Here I found a narrow path, and ran
nimbly along it, and presently saw her grey robe fluttering among
the trees before me. It only remained to keep out of her sight
and give her no chance of discovering that she was followed; and
this I set myself to do. Once or twice she glanced round, but
the wood was of beech, the light which passed between the leaves
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: manufacturing department of the business. A worthy man, who owned
a little farm in the country, tempted her with an offer of
marriage, and her conscience (I suppose) would not let her refuse
it. Katy, though she was a woman, so far as the duties and
responsibilities of life were concerned, was still a child in her
feelings and affections, and cried bitterly when they parted. The
good woman was scarcely less affected, and made Katy and her
mother promise an early visit to her farm.
Katy's sorrow at parting with her beloved friend was not the
only, nor perhaps, the most important, result of Mrs. Colvin's
departure, for they were deprived of the assistance of the chief
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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 Whirligigs by O. Henry: of the officers left the woman's side, and went over to
him.
"It's all right, Sir," he said, in a husky, confidential
tone; "she's the right party. We took her after the first
act at the Green Light Theatre, on a wire from the chief
of police of Chicago. It's only a square or two to the
station. Her rig's pretty bad, but she refused to change
clothes -- or, rather," added the officer, with a smile,
"to put on some. I thought I'd explain matters to
you so you wouldn't think she was being imposed
upon."
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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 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: ever saw.
CECILY. Miss Prism says that all good looks are a snare.
ALGERNON. They are a snare that every sensible man would like to
be caught in.
CECILY. Oh, I don't think I would care to catch a sensible man. I
shouldn't know what to talk to him about.
[They pass into the house. MISS PRISM and DR. CHASUBLE return.]
MISS PRISM. You are too much alone, dear Dr. Chasuble. You should
get married. A misanthrope I can understand - a womanthrope,
never!
CHASUBLE. [With a scholar's shudder.] Believe me, I do not
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