〃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
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 co