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marble。
Late one night when the lights were growing dim； so as hardly to
betray the stain on the poor wife's cheek； she herself； for the
first time； voluntarily took up the subject。
〃Do you remember； my dear Aylmer；〃 said she； with a feeble
attempt at a smile； 〃have you any recollection of a dream last
night about this odious hand？〃
〃None！ none whatever！〃 replied Aylmer； starting； but then he
added； in a dry； cold tone； affected for the sake of concealing
the real depth of his emotion； 〃I might well dream of it； for
before I fell asleep it had taken a pretty firm hold of my
fancy。〃
〃And you did dream of it？〃 continued Georgiana； hastily； for she
dreaded lest a gush of tears should interrupt what she had to
say。 〃A terrible dream！ I wonder that you can forget it。 Is it
possible to forget this one expression？'It is in her heart now；
we must have it out！' Reflect； my husband； for by all means I
would have you recall that dream。〃
The mind is in a sad state when Sleep； the all…involving； cannot
confine her spectres within the dim region of her sway； but
suffers them to break forth； affrighting this actual life with
secrets that perchance belong to a deeper one。 Aylmer now
remembered his dream。 He had fancied himself with his servant
Aminadab； attempting an operation for the removal of the
birthmark； but the deeper went the knife； the deeper sank the
hand； until at length its tiny grasp appeared to have caught hold
of Georgiana's heart； whence； however； her husband was inexorably
resolved to cut or wrench it away。
When the dream had shaped itself perfectly in his memory； Aylmer
sat in his wife's presence with a guilty feeling。 Truth often
finds its way to the mind close muffled in robes of sleep； and
then speaks with uncompromising directness of matters in regard
to which we practise an unconscious self…deception during our
waking moments。 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 burden 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
thoughtthought 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 cheekher right cheeknot 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
truthagainst which all seekers sooner or later stumblethat
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 underworker 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 exe