Мхи старої садиби

           "Iamconvincedoftheperfectpracticabilityofitsremoval."

           "Iftherebetheremotestpossibilityofit,"continuedGeorgiana,"lettheattemptbemadeatwhateverrisk.Dangerisnothingtome;forlife,whilethishatefulmarkmakesmetheobjectofyourhorroranddisgust,—lifeisaburdenwhichIwouldflingdownwithjoy.Eitherremovethisdreadfulhand,ortakemywretchedlife!Youhavedeepscience.Alltheworldbearswitnessofit.Youhaveachievedgreatwonders.Cannotyouremovethislittle,littlemark,whichIcoverwiththetipsoftwosmallfingers?Isthisbeyondyourpower,forthesakeofyourownpeace,andtosaveyourpoorwifefrommadness?"

           "Noblest,dearest,tenderestwife,"criedAylmer,rapturously,"doubtnotmypower.Ihavealreadygiventhismatterthedeepestthought—thoughtwhichmightalmosthaveenlightenedmetocreateabeinglessperfectthanyourself.Georgiana,youhaveledmedeeperthaneverintotheheartofscience.Ifeelmyselffullycompetenttorenderthisdearcheekasfaultlessasitsfellow;andthen,mostbeloved,whatwillbemytriumphwhenIshallhavecorrectedwhatNatureleftimperfectinherfairestwork!EvenPygmalion,whenhissculpturedwomanassumedlife,feltnotgreaterecstasythanminewillbe."

           "Itisresolved,then,"saidGeorgiana,faintlysmiling."And,Aylmer,sparemenot,thoughyoushouldfindthebirthmarktakerefugeinmyheartatlast."

           Herhusbandtenderlykissedhercheek—herrightcheek—notthatwhichboretheimpressofthecrimsonhand.