Мхи старої садиби
The Birthmark
ScarcelyhadhedepartedwhenGeorgianafeltirresistiblyimpelledtofollowhim.ShehadforgottentoinformAylmerofasymptomwhichfortwoorthreehourspasthadbeguntoexciteherattention.Itwasasensationinthefatalbirthmark,notpainful,butwhichinducedarestlessnessthroughouthersystem.Hasteningafterherhusband,sheintrudedforthefirsttimeintothelaboratory.
Thefirstthingthatstruckhereyewasthefurnace,thathotandfeverishworker,withtheintenseglowofitsfire,whichbythequantitiesofsootclusteredaboveitseemedtohavebeenburningforages.Therewasadistillingapparatusinfulloperation.Aroundtheroomwereretorts,tubes,cylinders,crucibles,andotherapparatusofchemicalresearch.Anelectricalmachinestoodreadyforimmediateuse.Theatmospherefeltoppressivelyclose,andwastaintedwithgaseousodorswhichhadbeentormentedforthbytheprocessesofscience.Thesevereandhomelysimplicityoftheapartment,withitsnakedwallsandbrickpavement,lookedstrange,accustomedasGeorgianahadbecometothefantasticeleganceofherboudoir.Butwhatchiefly,indeedalmostsolely,drewherattention,wastheaspectofAylmerhimself.
Hewaspaleasdeath,anxiousandabsorbed,andhungoverthefurnaceasifitdependeduponhisutmostwatchfulnesswhethertheliquidwhichitwasdistillingshouldbethedraughtofimmortalhappinessormisery.
