Мхи старой усадьбы
The Birthmark
HowdifferentfromthesanguineandjoyousmienthathehadassumedforGeorgiana’sencouragement!
"Carefullynow,Aminadab;carefully,thouhumanmachine;carefully,thoumanofclay!"mutteredAylmer,moretohimselfthanhisassistant."Now,iftherebeathoughttoomuchortoolittle,itisallover."
"Ho!ho!"mumbledAminadab."Look,master!look!"
Aylmerraisedhiseyeshastily,andatfirstreddened,thengrewpalerthanever,onbeholdingGeorgiana.Herushedtowardsherandseizedherarmwithagripethatlefttheprintofhisfingersuponit.
"Whydoyoucomehither?Haveyounotrustinyourhusband?"criedhe,impetuously."Wouldyouthrowtheblightofthatfatalbirthmarkovermylabors?Itisnotwelldone.Go,pryingwoman,go!"
"Nay,Aylmer,"saidGeorgianawiththefirmnessofwhichshepossessednostintedendowment,"itisnotyouthathavearighttocomplain.Youmistrustyourwife;youhaveconcealedtheanxietywithwhichyouwatchthedevelopmentofthisexperiment.Thinknotsounworthilyofme,myhusband.Tellmealltheriskwerun,andfearnotthatIshallshrink;formyshareinitisfarlessthanyourown."
"No,no,Georgiana!"saidAylmer,impatiently;"itmustnotbe."
"Isubmit,"repliedshecalmly."And,Aylmer,Ishallquaffwhateverdraughtyoubringme;butitwillbeonthesameprinciplethatwouldinducemetotakeadoseofpoisonifofferedbyyourhand."
"Mynoblewife,"saidAylmer,deeplymoved,"Iknewnottheheightanddepthofyournatureuntilnow.Nothingshallbeconcealed.
