第40章

invariably，andwithoutintendingit-nay，inspiteofapurposeto

thecontrary-revertedtothisonedisastroustopic。Triflingasitat

firstappeared，itsoconnecteditselfwithinnumerabletrainsof

thought，andmodesoffeeling，thatitbecamethecentralpointof

all。Withthemorningtwilight，Aylmeropenedhiseyesuponhiswife’s

face，andrecognizedthesymbolofimperfection；andwhentheysat

togetherattheeveninghearth，hiseyeswanderedstealthilytoher

cheek，andbeheld，flickeringwiththeblazeofthewoodfire，the

spectralHandthatwrotemortalitywherehewouldfainhave

worshipped。Georgianasoonlearnedtoshudderathisgaze。Itneeded

butaglance，withthepeculiarexpressionthathisfaceoftenwore，

tochangetherosesofhercheekintoadeath-likepaleness，amid

whichtheCrimsonHandwasbroughtstronglyout，likeabas-relief

ofrubyonthewhitestmarble。

Late，onenight，whenthelightsweregrowingdim，soashardly

tobetraythestainonthepoorwife’scheek，sheherself，forthe

firsttime，voluntarilytookupthesubject。

“Doyouremember，mydearAylmer。”saidshe，withafeeble

attemptatasmile-“haveyouanyrecollectionofadream，lastnight，

aboutthisodiousHand？”

“None！nonewhatever！”repliedAylmer，starting；butthenhe

addedinadry，coldtone，affectedforthesakeofconcealingthe

realdepthofhisemotion：“Imightwelldreamofit；for，beforeI

fellasleep，ithadtakenaprettyfirmholdofmyfancy。”

“Andyoudiddreamofit。”continuedGeorgiana，hastily；forshe

dreadedlestagushoftearsshouldinterruptwhatshehadtosay-

“Aterribledream！Iwonderthatyoucanforgetit。Isitpossible

toforgetthisoneexpression？’Itisinherheartnow-wemusthave

itout！’Reflect，myhusband；forbyallmeansIwouldhaveyourecall

thatdream。”

Themindisinasadstate，whenSleep，theall-involving，cannot

confineherspectreswithinthedimregionofhersway，butsuffers

themtobreakforth，affrightingthisactuallifewithsecretsthat

perchancebelongtoadeeperone。Aylmernowrememberedhisdream。

Hehadfanciedhimself，withhisservantAminadab，attemptingan

operationfortheremovalofthebirthmark。Butthedeeperwentthe

knife，thedeepersanktheHand，untilatlengthitstinygrasp

appearedtohavecaughtholdofGeorgiana’sheart；whence，however，

herhusbandwasinexorablyresolvedtocutorwrenchitaway。

Whenthedreamhadshapeditselfperfectlyinhismemory，Aylmer

satinhiswife’spresencewithaguiltyfeeling。Truthoftenfinds

itswaytothemindclose-muffledinrobesofsleep，andthenspeaks

withuncompromisingdirectnessofmattersinregardtowhichwe

practiseanunconsciousself-deception，duringourwakingmoments。

Untilnow，hehadnotbeenawareofthetyrannizinginfluenceacquired

byoneideaoverhismind，andofthelengthswhichhemightfindin

hishearttogo，forthesakeofgivinghimselfpeace。

“Aylmer。”resumedGeorgiana，solemnly，“Iknownotwhatmaybe

thecosttobothofus，toridmeofthisfatalbirthmark。Perhapsits

removalmaycausecurelessdeformity。Or，itmaybe，thestaingoesas

deepaslifeitself。Again，doweknowthatthereisapossibility，on

anyterms，ofunclaspingthefirmgripeofthislittleHand，whichwas

laiduponmebeforeIcameintotheworld？”

“DearestGeorgiana，Ihavespentmuchthoughtuponthesubject。”

hastilyinterruptedAylmer-“Iamconvincedoftheperfect

practicabilityofitsremoval。”

“Iftherebetheremotestpossibilityofit。”continued

Georgiana，“lettheattemptbemade，atwhateverrisk。Dangeris

nothingtome；forlife-whilethishatefulmarkmakesmetheobject

ofyourhorroranddisgust-lifeisaburthenwhichIwouldflingdown

withjoy。EitherremovethisdreadfulHand，ortakemywretched

life！Youhavedeepscience！Alltheworldbearswitnessofit。You

haveachievedgreatwonders！Cannotyouremovethislittle，little

ma