第42章

“No，no，Georgiana！”saidAylmerimpatiently，“itmustnotbe。”

“Isubmit。”repliedshecalmly。“And，Aylmer，Ishallquaff

whateverdraughtyoubringme；butitwillbeonthesameprinciple

thatwouldinducemetotakeadoseofpoison，ifofferedbyyour

hand。”

“Mynoblewife。”saidAylmer，deeplymoved，“Iknewnottheheight

anddepthofyournature，untilnow。Nothingshallbeconcealed。

Know，then，thatthisCrimsonHand，superficialasitseems，has

clutcheditsgraspintoyourbeing，withastrengthofwhichIhadno

previousconception。Ihavealreadyadministeredagentspowerful

enoughtodoaughtexcepttochangeyourentirephysicalsystem。Only

onethingremainstobetried。Ifthatfailus，weareruined！”

“Whydidyouhesitatetotellmethis？”askedshe。

“Because，Georgiana。”saidAylmer，inalowvoice，“thereis

danger！”

“Danger？Thereisbutonedanger-thatthishorriblestigmashall

beleftuponmycheek！”criedGeorgiana。“Removeit！removeit！-

whateverbethecost-orweshallbothgomad！”

“Heavenknows，yourwordsaretootrue。”saidAylmer，sadly。“And

now，dearest，returntoyourboudoir。Inalittlewhile，allwillbe

tested。”

Heconductedherback，andtookleaveofherwithasolemn

tenderness，whichspokefarmorethanhiswordshowmuchwasnowat

stake。Afterhisdeparture，Georgianabecamewraptinmusings。She

consideredthecharacterofAylmer，anddiditcompleterjustice

thanatanypreviousmoment。Herheartexulted，whileittrembled，

athishonorablelove，sopureandloftythatitwouldaccept

nothinglessthanperfection，normiserablymakeitselfcontentedwith

anearthliernaturethanhehaddreamedof。Shefelthowmuchmore

preciouswassuchasentiment，thanthatmeanerkindwhichwould

havebornewiththeimperfectionforhersake，andhavebeenguiltyof

treasontoholylove，bydegradingitsperfectideatothelevelof

theactual。And，withherwholespirit，sheprayed，that，forasingle

moment，shemightsatisfyhishighestanddeepestconception。Longer

thanonemoment，shewellknew，itcouldnotbe；forhisspiritwas

everonthemarch-everascending-andeachinstantrequiredsomething

thatwasbeyondthescopeoftheinstantbefore。

Thesoundofherhusband’sfootstepsarousedher。Heboreacrystal

goblet，containingaliquorcolorlessaswater，butbrightenoughto

bethedraughtofimmortality。Aylmerwaspale；butitseemedrather

theconsequenceofahighlywroughtstateofmind，andtensionof

spirit，thanoffearordoubt。

“Theconcoctionofthedraughthasbeenperfect。”saidhe，in

answertoGeorgiana’slook。“Unlessallmysciencehavedeceivedme，

itcannotfail。”

“Saveonyouraccount，mydearestAylmer。”observedhiswife，“I

mightwishtoputoffthisbirthmarkofmortalitybyrelinquishing

mortalityitself，inpreferencetoanyothermode。Lifeisbutasad

possessiontothosewhohaveattainedpreciselythedegreeofmoral

advancementatwhichIstand。WereIweakerandblinder，itmightbe

happiness。WereIstronger，itmightbeenduredhopefully。But，being

whatIfindmyself，methinksIamofallmortalsthemostfittodie。”

“Youarefitforheavenwithouttastingdeath！”repliedher

husband。“Butwhydowespeakofdying？Thedraughtcannotfail。

Beholditseffectuponthisplant！”

Onthewindow-seattherestoodageranium，diseasedwithyellow

blotches，whichhadoverspreadallitsleaves。Aylmerpouredasmall

quantityoftheliquiduponthesoilinwhichitgrew。Inalittle

time，whentherootsoftheplanthadtakenupthemoisture，the

unsightlyblotchesbegantobeextinguishedinalivingverdure。

“Thereneedednoproof。”saidGeorgiana，quietly。“Givemethe

goblet。Ijoyfullystakealluponyourword。”

“Drink，then，thouloftycreature！”exclaimedAylmer，withfervid

admiration。“Thereisnotaintofimperfectiononthyspirit。Thy

sensibleframe，too，shallsoonbeallperfect！”

Shequaffedtheliquid，andreturnedthegoblettohishand。

“Itisgrateful。”saidshe，withaplacidsmile。“Methinksitis

likewaterfromaheavenlyfountain；foritcontainsIknownotwhat

ofunobtrusivefragranceanddeliciousness。Itallaysafeverish

thirst，thathadparchedmeformanydays。Now，deare