twice-told tales- the birthmark-第3章

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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

world。　Hardly　less　curious　and　imaginative　were　the　early　volumes　of

the　Transactions　of　the　Royal　Society；　in　which　the　members；　knowing

little　of　the　limits　of　natural　possibility；　were　continually

recording　wonders；　or　proposing　methods　whereby　wonders　might　be

wrought。

　　　But；　to　Georgiana；　the　most　engrossing　volume　was　a　large　folio

from　her　husband's　own　hand；　in　which　he　had　recorded　every　experiment

of　his　scientific　career；　with　its　original　aim；　the　methods　adopted

for　its　development；　and　its　final　success　or　failure；　with　the

circumstances　to　which　either　event　was　attributable。　The　book；　in

truth；　was　both　the　history　and　emblem　of　his　ardent；　ambitious；

imaginative；　yet　practical　and　laborious；　life。　He　handled　physical

details；　as　if　there　were　nothing　beyond　them；　yet　spiritualized

them　all；　and　redeemed　himself　from　materialism；　by　his　strong　and

eager　aspiration　towards　the　infinite。　In　his　grasp；　the　veriest

clod　of　earth　assumed　a　soul。　Georgiana；　as　she　read；　reverenced

Aylmer；　and　loved　him　more　profoundly　than　ever；　but　with　a　less

entire　dependence　on　his　judgment　than　heretofore。　Much　as　he　had

accomplished；　she　could　not　but　observe　that　his　most　splendid

successes　were　almost　invariably　failures；　if　compared　with　the

ideal　at　which　he　aimed。　His　brightest　diamonds　were　the　merest

pebbles；　and　felt　to　be　so　by　himself；　in　comparison　with　the

inestimable　gems　which　lay　hidden　beyond　his　reach。　The　volume；　rich

with　achievements　that　had　won　renown　for　its　author；　was　yet　as

melancholy　a　record　as　ever　mortal　hand　had　penned。　It　was　the　sad

confession；　and　continual　exemplification；　of　the　short…comings　of　the

composite　man…　the　spirit　burthened　with　clay　and　working　in　matter；

and　of　the　despair　that　assails　the　higher　nature；　at　finding　itself

so　miserably　thwarted　by　the　earthly　part。　Perhaps　every　man　of

genius；　in　whatever　sphere；　might　recognize　the　image　of　his　own

experience　in　Aylmer's　journal。

　　　So　deeply　did　these　reflections　affect　Georgiana；　that　she　laid　her

face　upon　the　open　volume；　and　burst　into　tears。　In　this　situation　she

was　found　by　her　husband。

　　　〃It　is　dangerous　to　read　in　a　sorcerer's　books；〃　said　he；　with　a

smile；　though　his　countenance　was　uneasy　and　displeased。　〃Georgiana；

there　are　pages　in　that　volume；　which　I　can　scarcely　glance　over　and

keep　my　senses。　Take　heed　lest　it　prove　as　detrimental　to　you！〃

　　　It　has　made　me　worship　you　more　than　ever；〃　said　she。

　　　〃Ah！　wait　for　this　one　success；〃　rejoined　he；　〃then　worship　me　if

you　will。　I　shall　deem　myself　hardly　unworthy　of　it。　But；　come！　I　have

sought　you　for　the　luxury　of　your　voice。　Sing　to　me；　dearest！〃

　　　So　she　poured　out　the　liquid　music　of　her　voice　to　quench　the

thirst　of　his　spirit。　He　then　took　his　leave；　with　a　boyish　exuberance

of　gaiety；　assuring　her　that　her　seclusion　would　endure　but　a　little

longer；　and　that　the　result　was　already　certain。　Scarcely　had　he

departed；　when　Georgiana　felt　irresistibly　impelled　to　follow　him。　She

had　forgotten　to　inform　Aylmer　of　a　symptom；　which；　for　two　or　three

hours　past；　had　begun　to　excite　her　attention。　It　was　a　sensation　in

the　fatal　birthmark；　not　painful；　but　which　induced　a　restlessness

throughout　her　system。　Hastening　after　her　husband；　she　intruded；

for　the　first　time；　into　the　laboratory。

　　　The　first　thing　that　struck　her　eye　was　the　furnace；　that　hot　and

feverish　worker；　with　the　intense　glow　of　its　fire；　which；　by　the

quantities　of　soot　clustered　above　it；　seemed　to　have　been　burning　for

ages。　There　was　a　distilling　apparatus　in　full　operation。　Around　the

room　were　retorts；　tubes；　cylinders；　crucibles；　and　other　apparatus　of

chemical　research。　An　electrical　machine　stood　ready　for　immediate

use。　The　atmosphere　felt　oppressively　close；　and　was　tainted　with

gaseous　odors；　which　had　been　tormented　forth　by　the　processes　of

science。　The　severe　and　homely　simplicity　of　the　apartment；　with　its

naked　walls　and　brick　pavement；　looked　strange；　accustomed　as

Georgiana　had　become　to　the　fantastic　elegance　of　her　boudoir。　But

what　chiefly；　indeed　almost　solely；　drew　her　attention；　was　the　aspect

of　Aylmer　himself。

　　　He　was　pale　as　death；　anxious；　and　absorbed；　and　hung　over　the

furnace　as　if　it　depended　upon　his　utmost　watchfulness　whether　the

liquid；　which　it　was　distilling；　should　be　the　draught　of　immortal

happiness　or　misery。　How　different　from　the　sanguine　and　joyous　mien

that　he　had　assumed　for　Georgiana's　encouragement！

　　　〃Carefully　now；　Aminadab！　Carefully；　thou　human　machine！　Carefully；

thou　man　of　clay！〃　muttered　Aylmer；　more　to　himself　than　his

assistant。　〃Now；　if　there　be　a　thought　too　much　or　too　little；　it　is

all　over！〃

　　　〃Hoh！　hoh！〃　mumbled　Aminadab…　〃look；　master；　look！〃

　　　Aylmer　raised　his　eyes　hastily；　and　at　first　reddened；　then　grew

paler　than　ever；　on　beholding　Georgiana。　He　rushed　towards　her；　and

seized　her　arm　with　a　gripe　that　left　the　print　of　his　fingers　upon

it。

　　　〃Why　do　you　come　hither？　Have　you　no　trust　in　your　husband？〃

cried　he　impetuously。　〃Would　you　throw　the　blight　of　that　fatal

birthmark　over　my　labors？　It　is　not　well　done。　Go；　prying　woman；　go！〃

　　　Nay；　Aylmer；〃　said　Georgiana；　with　the　firmness　of　which　she

possessed　no　stinted　endowment；　〃it　is　not　you　that　have　a　right　to

complain。　You　mistrust　your　wife！　You　have　concealed　the　anxiety

with　which　you　watch　the　development　of　this　experiment。　Think　not

so　unworthily　of　me；　my　husband！　Tell　me　all　the　risk　we　run；　and　fear

not　that　I　shall　shrink；　for　my　share　in　it　is　far　less　than　your

own！〃

　　　〃No；　no；　Georgiana！〃　said　Aylmer　impatiently；　〃it　must　not　be。〃

　　　〃I　submit；〃　replied　she　calmly。　〃And；　Aylmer；　I　shall　quaff

whatever　draught　you　bring　me；　but　it　will　be　on　the　same　principle

that　would　induce　me　to　take　a　dose　of　poison；　if　offered　by　your

hand。〃

　　　〃My　noble　wife；〃　said　Aylmer；　deeply　moved；　〃I　knew　not　the　height

and　depth　of　your　nature；　until　now。　Nothing　shall　be　concealed。

Know；　then；　that　this　Crimson　Hand；　superficial　as　it　seems；　has

clutched　its　grasp　into　your　being；　with　a　strength　of　which　I　had　no

previous　conception。　I　have　already　administered　agents　powerful

enough　to　do　aught　except　to　change　your　entire　physical　system。　Only

one　thing　remains　to　be　tried。　If　that　fail　us；　we　are　ruined！〃

　　　〃Why　did　you　hesitate　to　tell　me　this？〃　asked　she。

　　　〃Because；　Georgiana；〃　said　Aylmer；　in　a　low　voice；　〃there　is

danger！〃

　　　〃Danger？　There　is　but　one　danger…　that　this　horrible　stigma　shall

be　left　upon　my　cheek！〃　cried　Georgiana。　〃Remove　it！　remove　it！…

whatever　be　the　cost…　or　we　shall　both　go　mad！〃

　　　〃Heaven　knows；　your　words　are　too　true；〃　said　Aylmer；　sadly。　〃And

now；　dearest；　return　to　your　boudoir。　In　a　little　while；　all　will　be

tested。〃

　　　He　conducted　her　back；　and　took　leave　of　her　with　a　solemn

tenderness；　which　spoke　far　more　than　his　words　how　much　was　now　at

stake。　After　his　departure；　Georgiana　became　wrapt　in　musings。　She

considered　the　character　of　Aylmer；　and　did　it　completer　justice

than　at　any　previous　moment。　Her　heart　exulted；　while　it　trembled；

at　his　honorable　love；　so　pure　and　lofty　that　it　would　accept

nothing　less　than　perfection；　nor　miserably　make　itself　contented　with

an　earthlier　nature　than　he　had　dreamed　of。　She　felt　how　much　more

precious　was　such　a　sentiment；　than　that　meaner　kind　which　would

have　borne　with　the　imperfection　for　her　sake；　and　have　been　guilty　of

treason　to　holy　love；　by　degrading　its　perfect　idea　to　the　level　of

the　actual。　And；　with　her　whole　spirit；　she　prayed；　that；　for　a　single

moment；　she　might　satisfy　his　highest　and　deepest　conception。　Longer

than　one　moment；　she　well　knew；　it　could　not　be；　for　his　spirit　was

ever　on　the　march…　ever　ascending…　and　each　instant　required　something

that　was　beyond　the　scope　of　the　instant　before。

　　　The　sound　of　her　husband's　footsteps　aroused　her。　He　bore　a　crystal

goblet；　containing　a　liquor　colorless　as　water；　but　bright　enough　to

be　the　draught　of　immortality。　Aylmer　was　pale；　but　it　seemed　rather

the　consequence　of　a　highly　wrought　state　of　mind；　and　tension　of

spirit；　than　of　fear　or　doubt。

　　　〃The　concoction　of　the　draught　has　been　perfect；〃　said　he；　in

answer　to　Georgiana's　look。　〃Unless　all　my　science　have　deceived　me；

it　cannot　fail。〃

　　　〃Save　on　your　account；　my　dearest　Aylmer；〃　observed　his　wife；　〃I

might　wish　to　put　off　this　birthmark　of　mortality　by　relinquishing

mortality　itself；　in　preference　to　any　other　mode。　Life　is　but　a　sad

possession　to　those　who　have　attained　precisely　the　degree　of　moral

advancement　at　which　I　stand。　Were　I　weaker　and　blinder；　it　might　be

happiness。　Were　I　stronger；　it　might　be　endured　hopefully。　But；　being

what　I　find　myself；　methinks　I　am　of　all　mortals　the　most　fit　to　die。〃

　　　〃You　are　fit　for　heaven　without　tasting　death！〃　replied　her

husband。　〃But　why　do　we　speak　of　dying？　The　draught　cannot　fail。

Behold　its　effect　upon　this　plant！〃

　　　On　the　window…seat　there