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Until now； he had not been aware of the tyrannizing influence acquired
by one idea over his mind； and of the lengths which he might find in
his heart to go； for the sake of giving himself peace。
〃Aylmer；〃 resumed Georgiana； solemnly； 〃I know not what may be
the cost to both of us； to rid me of this fatal birthmark。 Perhaps its
removal may cause cureless deformity。 Or； it may be； the stain goes as
deep as life itself。 Again； do we know that there is a possibility； on
any terms； of unclasping the firm gripe of this little Hand； which was
laid 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 perfect
practicability of its removal。〃
〃If there be the remotest possibility of it；〃 continued
Georgiana； 〃let the attempt be made； at whatever risk。 Danger is
nothing to me； for life… while this hateful mark makes me the object
of your horror and disgust… life is a burthen which I would fling down
with joy。 Either remove this dreadful Hand； or take my wretched
life！ You have deep science！ All the world bears witness of it。 You
have achieved great wonders！ Cannot you remove this little； little
mark； which I cover with the tips of two small fingers！ Is this beyond
your power； for the sake of your own peace； and to save your poor wife
from madness？〃
〃Noblest… dearest… tenderest wife！〃 cried Aylmer； rapturously。
〃Doubt not my power。 I have already given this matter the deepest
thought… thought which might almost have enlightened me to create a
being less perfect than yourself。 Georgiana； you have led me deeper
than ever into the heart of science。 I feel myself fully competent
to render this dear cheek as faultless as its fellow； and then； most
beloved； what will be my triumph； when I shall have corrected what
Nature left imperfect； in her fairest work！ Even Pygmalion； when his
sculptured woman assumed life； felt not greater ecstasy than mine will
be。〃
〃It is resolved； then；〃 said Georgiana； faintly smiling… 〃And；
Aylmer； spare me not； though you should find the birthmark take refuge
in my heart at last。〃
Her husband tenderly kissed her cheek… her right cheek… not that
which bore the impress of the Crimson Hand。
The next day； Aylmer apprised his wife of a plan that he had
formed； whereby he might have opportunity for the intense thought
and constant watchfulness which the proposed operation would
require； while Georgiana； likewise； would enjoy the perfect repose
essential to its success。 They were to seclude themselves in the
extensive apartments occupied by Aylmer as a laboratory； and where；
during his toilsome youth； he had made discoveries in the elemental
powers of Nature； that had roused the admiration of all the learned
societies in Europe。 Seated calmly in this laboratory； the pale
philosopher had investigated the secrets of the highest
cloud…region； and of the profoundest mines； he had satisfied himself
of the causes that kindled and kept alive the fires of the volcano；
and had explained the mystery of fountains； and how it is that they
gush forth； some so bright and pure； and others with such rich
medicinal virtues； from the dark bosom of the earth。 Here； too； at
an earlier period； he had studied the wonders of the human frame；
and attempted to fathom the very process by which Nature assimilates
all her precious influences from earth and air； and from the spiritual
world； to create and foster Man； her masterpiece。 The latter
pursuit； however； Aylmer had long laid aside； in unwilling recognition
of the truth； against which all seekers sooner or later stumble；
that our great creative Mother； while she amuses us with apparently
working in the broadest sunshine； is yet severely careful to keep
her own secrets； and； in spite of her pretended openness； shows us
nothing 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 they
involved much physiological truth； and lay in the path of his proposed
scheme for the treatment of Georgiana。
As he led her over the threshold of the laboratory； Georgiana was
cold and tremulous。 Aylmer looked cheerfully into her face； with
intent to reassure her； but was so startled with the intense glow of
the birthmark upon the whiteness of her cheek； that he could not
restrain a strong convulsive shudder。 His wife fainted。
〃Aminadab！ Aminadab！〃 shouted Aylmer； stamping violently on the
floor。
Forthwith； there issued from an inner apartment a man of low
stature； but bulky frame； with shaggy hair hanging about his visage；
which was grimed with the vapors of the furnace。 This personage had
been Aylmer's under…worker during his whole scientific career； and was
admirably fitted for that office by his great mechanical readiness；
and the skill with which； while incapable of comprehending a single
principle； he executed all the practical details of his master's
experiments。 With his vast strength； his shaggy hair； his smoky
aspect； and the indescribable earthiness that encrusted him； he seemed
to represent man's physical nature； while Aylmer's slender figure； and
pale； intellectual face； were no less apt a type of the spiritual
element。
〃Throw open the door of the boudoir； Aminadab；〃 said Aylmer； 〃and
burn a pastille。〃
〃Yes； master；〃 answered Aminadab； looking intently at the
lifeless form of Georgiana； and then he muttered to himself： 〃If she
were my wife； I'd never part with that birthmark。〃
When Georgiana recovered consciousness； she found herself breathing
an atmosphere of penetrating fragrance； the gentle potency of which
had recalled her from her death…like faintness。 The scene around her
looked like enchantment。 Aylmer had converted those smoky； dingy；
sombre rooms； where he had spent his brightest years in recondite
pursuits； into a series of beautiful apartments； not unfit to be the
secluded abode of a lovely woman。 The walls were hung with gorgeous
curtains； which imparted the combination of grandeur and grace； that
no other species of adornment can achieve； and as they fell from the
ceiling to the floor； their rich and ponderous folds； concealing all
angles and straight lines； appeared to shut in the scene from infinite
space。 For aught Georgiana knew； it might be a pavilion among the
clouds。 And Aylmer； excluding the sunshine； which would have
interfered with his chemical processes； had supplied its place with
perfumed lamps； emitting flames of various hue； but all uniting in a
soft； empurpled radiance。 He now knelt by his wife's side； watching
her earnestly； but without alarm； for he was confident in his science；
and felt that he could draw a magic circle round her； within which
no evil might intrude。
〃Where am I？ Ah； I remember！〃 said Georgiana； faintly； and she
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 t