| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from House of Mirth by Edith Wharton: meaning it failed to abash him, and he went on in the same tone:
"I didn't mean to give offence; excuse me if I've spoken too
plainly. But why ain't you straight with me--why do you
put up that kind of bluff? You know there've been times when you
were bothered--damned bothered--and as a girl gets older, and
things keep moving along, why, before she knows it, the things
she wants are liable to move past her and not come back. I don't
say it's anywhere near that with you yet; but you've had a taste
of bothers that a girl like yourself ought never to have known
about, and what I'm offering you is the chance to turn your back
on them once for all."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Glasses by Henry James: us, turned a frightened look from one to the other, wondering what
disaster we were there to announce or avert.
Mrs. Meldrum was on the spot all gaiety. "I've come to return your
sweet visit. Ah," she laughed, "I mean to keep up the
acquaintance!"
"Do--do," he murmured mechanically and absently, continuing to look
at us. Then he broke out: "He's going to marry her."
I was surprised. "You already know?"
He produced an evening paper, which he tossed down on the table.
"It's in that."
"Published--already?" I was still more surprised.
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