birthmark-第3部分

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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　redhot　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；　misshapen　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

lifetime　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　systema　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　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；　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

shortcomings　of　the　composite　man；　the　spirit　burdened　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　gayety；　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。〃



〃Ho！　ho！〃　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