Мхи старої садиби

           Aylmerappearedtobelievethat,bytheplainestscientificlogic,itwasaltogetherwithinthelimitsofpossibilitytodiscoverthislong-soughtmedium;"but,"headded,"aphilosopherwhoshouldgodeepenoughtoacquirethepowerwouldattaintooloftyawisdomtostooptotheexerciseofit."Notlesssingularwerehisopinionsinregardtotheelixirvitae.Hemorethanintimatedthatitwasathisoptiontoconcoctaliquidthatshouldprolonglifeforyears,perhapsinterminably;butthatitwouldproduceadiscordinNaturewhichalltheworld,andchieflythequafferoftheimmortalnostrum,wouldfindcausetocurse.

           "Aylmer,areyouinearnest?"askedGeorgiana,lookingathimwithamazementandfear."Itisterribletopossesssuchpower,oreventodreamofpossessingit."

           "Oh,donottremble,mylove,"saidherhusband."Iwouldnotwrongeitheryouormyselfbyworkingsuchinharmoniouseffectsuponourlives;butIwouldhaveyouconsiderhowtrifling,incomparison,istheskillrequisitetoremovethislittlehand."

           Atthementionofthebirthmark,Georgiana,asusual,shrankasifaredhotironhadtouchedhercheek.

           AgainAylmerappliedhimselftohislabors.ShecouldhearhisvoiceinthedistantfurnaceroomgivingdirectionstoAminadab,whoseharsh,uncouth,misshapentoneswereaudibleinresponse,morelikethegruntorgrowlofabrutethanhumanspeech.Afterhoursofabsence,Aylmerreappearedandproposedthatsheshouldnowexaminehiscabinetofchemicalproductsandnaturaltreasuresoftheearth.