第90章

He had fancied himself, with his servant Aminadab, attempting anoperation for the removal of the birthmark. But the deeper went theknife, the deeper sank the Hand, until at length its tiny graspappeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart; whence, however,her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.

When the dream had shaped itself perfectly in his memory, Aylmersat in his wife's presence with a guilty feeling. Truth often findsits way to the mind close-muffled in robes of sleep, and then speakswith uncompromising directness of matters in regard to which wepractise an unconscious self-deception, during our waking moments.

Until now, he had not been aware of the tyrannizing influence acquiredby one idea over his mind, and of the lengths which he might find inhis heart to go, for the sake of giving himself peace.

"Aylmer," resumed Georgiana, solemnly, "I know not what may bethe cost to both of us, to rid me of this fatal birthmark. Perhaps itsremoval may cause cureless deformity. Or, it may be, the stain goes asdeep as life itself. Again, do we know that there is a possibility, onany terms, of unclasping the firm gripe of this little Hand, which waslaid upon me before I came into the world?""Dearest Georgiana, I have spent much thought upon the subject,"hastily interrupted Aylmer- "I am convinced of the perfectpracticability of its removal.""If there be the remotest possibility of it," continuedGeorgiana, "let the attempt be made, at whatever risk. Danger isnothing to me; for life- while this hateful mark makes me the objectof your horror and disgust- life is a burthen which I would fling downwith joy. Either remove this dreadful Hand, or take my wretchedlife! You have deep science! All the world bears witness of it. Youhave achieved great wonders! Cannot you remove this little, littlemark, which I cover with the tips of two small fingers! Is this beyondyour power, for the sake of your own peace, and to save your poor wifefrom madness?""Noblest- dearest- tenderest wife!" cried Aylmer, rapturously.

"Doubt not my power. I have already given this matter the deepestthought- thought which might almost have enlightened me to create abeing less perfect than yourself. Georgiana, you have led me deeperthan ever into the heart of science. I feel myself fully competentto render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow; and then, mostbeloved, what will be my triumph, when I shall have corrected whatNature left imperfect, in her fairest work! Even Pygmalion, when hissculptured woman assumed life, felt not greater ecstasy than mine willbe.""It is resolved, then," said Georgiana, faintly smiling- "And,Aylmer, spare me not, though you should find the birthmark take refugein my heart at last."Her husband tenderly kissed her cheek- her right cheek- not thatwhich bore the impress of the Crimson Hand.

The next day, Aylmer apprised his wife of a plan that he hadformed, whereby he might have opportunity for the intense thoughtand constant watchfulness which the proposed operation wouldrequire; while Georgiana, likewise, would enjoy the perfect reposeessential to its success. They were to seclude themselves in theextensive apartments occupied by Aylmer as a laboratory, and where,during his toilsome youth, he had made discoveries in the elementalpowers of Nature, that had roused the admiration of all the learnedsocieties in Europe. Seated calmly in this laboratory, the palephilosopher had investigated the secrets of the highestcloud-region, and of the profoundest mines; he had satisfied himselfof the causes that kindled and kept alive the fires of the volcano;and had explained the mystery of fountains, and how it is that theygush forth, some so bright and pure, and others with such richmedicinal virtues, from the dark bosom of the earth. Here, too, atan earlier period, he had studied the wonders of the human frame,and attempted to fathom the very process by which Nature assimilatesall her precious influences from earth and air, and from the spiritualworld, to create and foster Man, her masterpiece. The latterpursuit, however, Aylmer had long laid aside, in unwilling recognitionof the truth, against which all seekers sooner or later stumble,that our great creative Mother, while she amuses us with apparentlyworking in the broadest sunshine, is yet severely careful to keepher own secrets, and, in spite of her pretended openness, shows usnothing but results. She permits us indeed to mar, but seldom to mend,and, like a jealous patentee, on no account to make. Now, however,Aylmer resumed these half-forgotten investigations; not, of course,with such hopes or wishes as first suggested them; but because theyinvolved much physiological truth, and lay in the path of his proposedscheme for the treatment of Georgiana.

As he led her over the threshold of the laboratory, Georgiana wascold and tremulous. Aylmer looked cheerfully into her face, withintent to reassure her, but was so startled with the intense glow ofthe birthmark upon the whiteness of her cheek, that he could notrestrain a strong convulsive shudder. His wife fainted.

"Aminadab! Aminadab!" shouted Aylmer, stamping violently on thefloor.

Forthwith, there issued from an inner apartment a man of lowstature, but bulky frame, with shaggy hair hanging about his visage,which was grimed with the vapors of the furnace. This personage hadbeen Aylmer's under-worker during his whole scientific career, and wasadmirably fitted for that office by his great mechanical readiness,and the skill with which, while incapable of comprehending a singleprinciple, he executed all the practical details of his master'sexperiments. With his vast strength, his shaggy hair, his smokyaspect, and the indescribable earthiness that encrusted him, he seemedto represent man's physical nature; while Aylmer's slender figure, andpale, intellectual face, were no less apt a type of the spiritualelement.