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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 stood a geranium； diseased with yellow
blotches； which had overspread all its leaves。 Aylmer poured a small
quantity of the liquid upon the soil in which it grew。 In a little
time； when the roots of the plant had taken up the moisture； the
unsightly blotches began to be extinguished in a living verdure。
〃There needed no proof；〃 said Georgiana； quietly。 〃Give me the
goblet。 I joyfully stake all upon your word。〃
〃Drink； then； thou lofty creature！〃 exclaimed Aylmer； with fervid
admiration。 〃There is no taint of imperfection on thy spirit。 Thy
sensible frame； too； shall soon be all perfect！〃
She quaffed the liquid； and returned the goblet to his hand。
〃It is grateful；〃 said she； with a placid smile。 〃Methinks it is
like water from a heavenly fountain； for it contains I know not what
of unobtrusive fragrance and deliciousness。 It allays a feverish
thirst； that had parched me for many days。 Now； dearest； let me sleep。
My earthly senses are closing over my spirit； like the leaves around
the heart of a rose； at sunset。〃
She spoke the last words with a gentle reluctance； as if it
required almost more energy than she could command to pronounce the
faint and lingering syllables。 Scarcely had they loitered through
her lips； ere she was lost in slumber。 Aylmer sat by her side；
watching her aspect with the emotions proper to a man； the whole value
of whose existence was involved in the process now to be tested。
Mingled with this mood； however； was the philosophic investigation；
characteristic of the man of science。 Not the minutest symptom escaped
him。 A heightened flush of the cheek… a slight irregularity of breath…
a quiver of the eyelid… a hardly perceptible tremor through the frame…
such were the details which； as the moments passed； he wrote down in
his folio volume。 Intense thought had set its stamp upon every
previous page of that volume； but the thoughts of years were all
concentrated upon the last。
While thus employed； he failed not to gaze often at the fatal Hand；
and not without a shudder。 Yet once； by a strange and unaccountable
impulse； he pressed it with his lips。 His spirit recoiled； however； in
the very act； and Georgiana； out of the midst of her deep sleep； moved
uneasily and murmured； as if in remonstrance。 Again； Aylmer resumed
his watch。 Nor was it without avail。 The Crimson Hand； which at
first had been strongly visible upon the marble paleness of
Georgiana's cheek now grew more faintly outlined。 She remained not
less pale than ever； but the birthmark； with every breath that came
and went； lost somewhat of its former distinctness。 Its presence had
been awful； its departure was more awful still。 Watch the stain of the
rainbow fading out of the sky； and you will know how that mysterious
symbol passed away。
〃By Heaven； it is well…nigh gone！〃 said Aylmer to himself； in
almost irrepressible ecstasy。 〃I can scarcely trace it now。 Success！
Success！ And now it is like the faintest ros