Мхи старой усадьбы
The Birthmark
Butifanyshiftingmotioncausedhertoturnpaletherewasthemarkagain,acrimsonstainuponthesnow,inwhatAylmersometimesdeemedanalmostfearfuldistinctness.Itsshapeborenotalittlesimilaritytothehumanhand,thoughofthesmallestpygmysize.Georgiana’sloverswerewonttosaythatsomefairyatherbirthhourhadlaidhertinyhandupontheinfant’scheek,andleftthisimpressthereintokenofthemagicendowmentsthatweretogivehersuchswayoverallhearts.Manyadesperateswainwouldhaveriskedlifefortheprivilegeofpressinghislipstothemysterioushand.Itmustnotbeconcealed,however,thattheimpressionwroughtbythisfairysignmanualvariedexceedingly,accordingtothedifferenceoftemperamentinthebeholders.Somefastidiouspersons—buttheywereexclusivelyofherownsex—affirmedthatthebloodyhand,astheychosetocallit,quitedestroyedtheeffectofGeorgiana’sbeauty,andrenderedhercountenanceevenhideous.ButitwouldbeasreasonabletosaythatoneofthosesmallbluestainswhichsometimesoccurinthepureststatuarymarblewouldconverttheEveofPowerstoamonster.Masculineobservers,ifthebirthmarkdidnotheightentheiradmiration,contentedthemselveswithwishingitaway,thattheworldmightpossessonelivingspecimenofideallovelinesswithoutthesemblanceofaflaw.Afterhismarriage,—forhethoughtlittleornothingofthematterbefore,—Aylmerdiscoveredthatthiswasthecasewithhimself.
