twice-told tales- the birthmark-第3章
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placed her hand over her cheek； to hide the terrible mark from her
husband's eyes。
〃Fear not； dearest！〃 exclaimed he。 〃Do not shrink from me！
Believe me； Georgiana； I even rejoice in this single imperfection；
since it will be such a rapture to remove it。〃
〃Oh； spare me！〃 sadly replied his wife。 〃Pray do not look at it
again。 I never can forget that convulsive shudder。〃
In order to soothe Georgiana； and； as it were； to release her
mind from the burthen of actual things； Aylmer now put in practice
some of the light and playful secrets which science had taught him
among its profounder lore。 Airy figures； absolutely bodiless ideas；
and forms of unsubstantial beauty； came and danced before her；
imprinting their momentary footsteps on beams of light。 Though she had
some indistinct idea of the method of these optical phenomena； still
the illusion was almost perfect enough to warrant the belief that
her husband possessed sway over the spiritual world。 Then again；
when she felt a wish to look forth from her seclusion； immediately； as
if her thoughts were answered； the procession of external existence
flitted across a screen。 The scenery and the figures of actual life
were perfectly represented； but with that bewitching； yet
indescribable difference； which always makes a picture； an image； or a
shadow； so much more attractive than the original。 When wearied of
this； Aylmer bade her cast her eyes upon a vessel； containing a
quantity of earth。 She did so； with little interest at first； but
was soon startled； to perceive the germ of a plant； shooting upward
from the soil。 Then came the slender stalk… the leaves gradually
unfolded themselves… and amid them was a perfect and lovely flower。
〃It is magical！〃 cried Georgiana； 〃I dare not touch it。〃
〃Nay； pluck it；〃 answered Aylmer； 〃pluck it； and inhale its brief
perfume while you may。 The flower will wither in a few moments； and
leave nothing save its brown seed…vessels… but thence may be
perpetuated a race as ephemeral as itself。〃
But Georgiana had no sooner touched the flower than the whole plant
suffered a blight； its leaves turning coal…black； as if by the
agency of fire。
〃There was too powerful a stimulus；〃 said Aylmer thoughtfully。
To make up for this abortive experiment； he proposed to take her
portrait by a scientific process of his own invention。 It was to be
effected by rays of light striking upon a polished plate of metal。
Georgiana assented… but； on looking at the result； was affrighted to
find the features of the portrait blurred and indefinable； while the
minute figure of a hand appeared where the cheek should have been。
Aylmer snatched the metallic plate； and threw it into a jar of
corrosive acid。
Soon； however； he forgot these mortifying failures。 In the
intervals of study and chemical experiment； he came to her； flushed
and exhausted； but seemed invigorated by her presence； and spoke in
glowing language of the resources of his art。 He gave a history of the
long dynasty of the Alchemists； who spent so many ages in quest of the
universal solvent； by which the Golden Principle might be elicited
from all things vile and base。 Aylmer appeared to believe； that； by
the plainest scientific logic； it was altogether within the limits
of possibility to discover this long…sought medium； but； he added； a
philosopher who should go deep enough to acquire the power； would
attain too lofty a wisdom to stoop to the exercise of it。 Not less
singular were his opinions in regard to the Elixir Vitae。 He more than
intimated； that it was at his option to concoct a liquid that should
prolong life for years… perhaps interminably… but that it would
produce a discord in nature； which all the world； and chiefly the
quaffer of the immortal nostrum； would find cause to curse。
〃Aylmer； are you in earnest？〃 asked Georgiana； looking at him
with amazement and fear； 〃it is terrible to possess such power； or
even to dream of possessing it。
〃Oh； do not tremble； my love！〃 said her husband； 〃I would not wrong
either you or myself； by working such inharmonious effects upon our
lives。 But I would have you consider how trifling； in comparison； is
the skill requisite to remove this little Hand。〃
At the mention of the birthmark； Georgiana； as usual； shrank； as if
a red…hot iron had touched her cheek。
Again Aylmer applied himself to his labors。 She could hear his
voice in the distant furnace…room； giving directions to Aminadab；
whose harsh； uncouth； mis…shapen tones were audible in response；
more like the grunt or growl of a brute than human speech。 After hours
of absence； Aylmer reappeared； and proposed that she should now
examine his cabinet of chemical products； and natural treasures of the
earth。 Among the former he showed her a small vial； in which； he
remarked； was contained a gentle yet most powerful fragrance；
capable of impregnating all the breezes that blow across a kingdom。
They were of inestimable value； the contents of that little vial； and；
as he said so； he threw some of the perfume into the air； and filled
the room with piercing and invigorating delight。
〃And what is this？〃 asked Georgiana； pointing to a small crystal
globe； containing a gold…colored liquid。 〃It is so beautiful to the
eye； that I could imagine it the Elixir of Life。〃
〃In one sense it is；〃 replied Aylmer； 〃or rather the Elixir of
Immortality。 It is the most precious poison that ever was concocted in
this world。 By its aid； I could apportion the life…time of any
mortal at whom you might point your finger。 The strength of the dose
would determine whether he were to linger out years； or drop dead in
the midst of a breath。 No king； on his guarded throne； could keep
his life； if I； in my private station； should deem that the welfare of
millions justified me in depriving him of it。〃
〃Why do you keep such a terrific drug？〃 inquired Georgiana in
horror。
〃Do not mistrust me； dearest！〃 said her husband； smiling； 〃its
virtuous potency is yet greater than its harmful one。 But； see！ here
is a powerful cosmetic。 With a few drops of this； in a vase of
water； freckles may be washed away as easily as the hands are
cleansed。 A stronger infusion would take the blood out of the cheek；
and leave the rosiest beauty a pale ghost。〃
〃Is it with this lotion that you intend to bathe my cheek？〃 asked
Georgiana； anxiously。
〃Oh； no！〃 hastily replied her husband… 〃this is merely superficial。
Your case demands a remedy that shall go deeper。〃
In his interviews with Georgiana； Aylmer generally made minute
inquiries as to her sensations； and whether the confinement of the
rooms； and the temperature of the atmosphere； agreed with her。 These
questions had such a particular drift； that Georgiana began to
conjecture that she was already subjected to certain physical
influences； either breathed in with the fragrant air； or taken with
her food。 She fancied； likewise… but it might be altogether fancy…
that there was a stirring up of her system： a strange； indefinite
sensation creeping through her veins； and tingling； half…painfully；
half…pleasurably； at her heart。 Still； whenever she dared to look into
the mirror； there she beheld herself； pale as a white rose； and with
the crimson birthmark stamped upon her cheek。 Not even Aylmer now
hated it so much as she。
To dispel the tedium of the hours which her husband found it
necessary to devote to the processes of combination and analysis；
Georgiana turned over the volumes of his scientific library。 In many
dark old tomes； she met with chapters full of romance and poetry。 They
were the works of the philosophers of the middle ages； such as
Albertus Magnus； Cornelius Agrippa； Paracelsus； and the famous friar
who created the prophetic Brazen Head。 All these antique naturalists
stood in advance of their centuries； yet were imbued with some of
their credulity； and therefore were believed； and perhaps imagined
themselves； to have acquired from the investigation of nature a
power above nature； and from physics a sway over the spiritual
wor
