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may be perpetuated a race as ephemeral as itself。〃
But Georgiana had no sooner touched the flower than the whole
plant suffered a blight； its leaves turning coal…black as if by
the agency of fire。
〃There was too powerful a stimulus；〃 said Aylmer； thoughtfully。
To make up for this abortive experiment； he proposed to take her
portrait by a scientific process of his own invention。 It was to
be effected by rays of light striking upon a polished plate of
metal。 Georgiana assented； but； on looking at the result； was
affrighted to find the features of the portrait blurred and
indefinable； while the minute figure of a hand appeared where the
cheek should have been。 Aylmer snatched the metallic plate and
threw it into a jar of corrosive acid。
Soon； however； he forgot these mortifying failures。 In the
intervals of study and chemical experiment he came to her flushed
and exhausted； but seemed invigorated by her presence； and spoke
in glowing language of the resources of his art。 He gave a
history of the long dynasty of the alchemists； who spent so many
ages in quest of the universal solvent by which the golden
principle might be elicited from all things vile and base。 Aylmer
appeared to believe that； by the plainest scientific logic； it
was altogether within the limits of possibility to discover this
long…sought medium； 〃but；〃 he added； 〃a philosopher who should go
deep enough to acquire the power would attain too lofty a wisdom
to stoop to the exercise of it。〃 Not less singular were his
opinions in regard to the elixir vitae。 He more than intimated
that it was at his option to concoct a liquid that should prolong
life for years； perhaps interminably； but that it would produce a
discord in Nature which all the world； and chiefly the quaffer of
the immortal nostrum； would find cause to curse。
〃Aylmer； are you in earnest？〃 asked Georgiana； looking at him
with amazement and fear。 〃It is terrible to possess such power；
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 wo