Мхи старої садиби
The Birthmark
Oneday,verysoonaftertheirmarriage,Aylmersatgazingathiswifewithatroubleinhiscountenancethatgrewstrongeruntilhespoke.
"Georgiana,"saidhe,"hasitneveroccurredtoyouthatthemarkuponyourcheekmightberemoved?"
"No,indeed,"saidshe,smiling;butperceivingtheseriousnessofhismanner,sheblusheddeeply."TotellyouthetruthithasbeensooftencalledacharmthatIwassimpleenoughtoimagineitmightbeso."
"Ah,uponanotherfaceperhapsitmight,"repliedherhusband;"butneveronyours.No,dearestGeorgiana,youcamesonearlyperfectfromthehandofNaturethatthisslightestpossibledefect,whichwehesitatewhethertotermadefectorabeauty,shocksme,asbeingthevisiblemarkofearthlyimperfection."
"Shocksyou,myhusband!"criedGeorgiana,deeplyhurt;atfirstreddeningwithmomentaryanger,butthenburstingintotears."Thenwhydidyoutakemefrommymother’sside?Youcannotlovewhatshocksyou!"
ToexplainthisconversationitmustbementionedthatinthecentreofGeorgiana’sleftcheektherewasasingularmark,deeplyinterwoven,asitwere,withthetextureandsubstanceofherface.Intheusualstateofhercomplexion—ahealthythoughdelicatebloom—themarkworeatintofdeepercrimson,whichimperfectlydefineditsshapeamidthesurroundingrosiness.Whensheblusheditgraduallybecamemoreindistinct,andfinallyvanishedamidthetriumphantrushofbloodthatbathedthewholecheekwithitsbrilliantglow.
