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incapable of comprehending a single principle； he executed all
the details of his master's experiments。 With his vast strength；
his shaggy hair； his smoky aspect； and the indescribable
earthiness that incrusted him； he seemed to represent man's
physical nature； while Aylmer's slender figure； and pale；
intellectual face； were no less apt a type of the spiritual
element。
〃Throw open the door of the boudoir； Aminadab；〃 said Aylmer； 〃and
burn a pastil。〃
〃Yes； master；〃 answered Aminadab； looking intently at the
lifeless form of Georgiana； and then he muttered to himself； 〃If
she were my wife； I'd never part with that birthmark。〃
When Georgiana recovered consciousness she found herself
breathing an atmosphere of penetrating fragrance； the gentle
potency of which had recalled her from her deathlike faintness。
The scene around her looked like enchantment。 Aylmer had
converted those smoky； dingy； sombre rooms； where he had spent
his brightest years in recondite pursuits； into a series of
beautiful apartments not unfit to be the secluded abode of a
lovely woman。 The walls were hung with gorgeous curtains； which
imparted the combination of grandeur and grace that no other
species of adornment can achieve； and as they fell from the
ceiling to the floor； their rich and ponderous folds； concealing
all angles and straight lines； appeared to shut in the scene from
infinite space。 For aught Georgiana knew； it might be a pavilion
among the clouds。 And Aylmer； excluding the sunshine； which would
have interfered with his chemical processes； had supplied its
place with perfumed lamps； emitting flames of various hue； but
all uniting in a soft； impurpled radiance。 He now knelt by his
wife's side； watching her earnestly； but without alarm； for he
was confident in his science； and felt that he could draw a magic
circle round her within which no evil might intrude。
〃Where am I？ Ah； I remember；〃 said Georgiana； faintly； and she
placed her hand over her cheek to hide the terrible mark from her
husband's eyes。
〃Fear not； dearest！〃 exclaimed he。 〃Do not shrink from me！
Believe me； Georgiana； I even rejoice in this single
imperfection； since it will be such a rapture to remove it。〃
〃Oh； spare me！〃 sadly replied his wife。 〃Pray do not look at it
again。 I never can forget that convulsive shudder。〃
In order to soothe Georgiana； and； as it were； to release her
mind from the burden of actual things； Aylmer now put in practice
some of the light and playful secrets which science had taught
him among its profounder lore。 Airy figures； absolutely bodiless
ideas； and forms of unsubstantial beauty came and danced before
her； imprinting their momentary footsteps on beams of light。
Though she had some indistinct idea of the method of these
optical phenomena； still the illusion was almost perfect enough
to warrant the belief that her husband possessed sway over the
spiritual world。 Then again； when she felt a wish to look forth
from her seclusion； immediately； as if her thoughts were
answered； the procession of external existence flitted across a
screen。 The scenery and the figures of actual life were perfectly
represented； but with that bewitching； yet indescribable
difference which always makes a picture； an image； or a shadow so
much more attractive than the original。 When wearied of this；
Aylmer bade her cast her eyes upon a vessel containing a quantity
of earth。 She did so； with little interest at first； but was soon
startled to perceive the germ of a plant shooting upward from the
soil。 Then came the slender stalk； the leaves gradually unfolded
themselves； and amid them was a perfect and lovely flower。
〃It is magical！〃 cried Georgiana。 〃I dare not touch it。〃
〃Nay； pluck it；〃 answered Aylmer；〃pluck it； and inhale its
brief perfume while you may。 The flower will wither in a few
moments and leave nothing save its brown seed vessels； but thence
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