You have concealed the anxiety with which you watch thedevelopment of this experiment. Think not so unworthilyof me， my husband！ Tell me all the risk we run； and fearnot that I shall shrink， for my share in it is far less thanyour own！”
“No， no， Georgiana！” said Aylmer impatiently， “it mustnot be.”
“I submit，” replied she calmly. “And， Aylmer， I shall quaffwhatever draught you bring me； but it will be on the sameprinciple that would induce me to take a dose of poison， ifoffered by your hand.”
“My noble wife，” said Aylmer， deeply moved， “I knewnot the height and depth of your nature， until now.
Nothing shall be concealed. Know， then， that this CrimsonHand， superficial as it seems， has clutched its grasp intoyour being， with a strength of which I had no previousconception. I have already administered agents powerfulenough to do aught except to change your entire physicalsystem. Only one thing remains to be tried. If that fail us，we are ruined！”
“Why did you hesitate to tell me this？” asked she.
“Because， Georgiana，” said Aylmer， in a low voice， “thereis danger！”
“Danger？ There is but one danger—that this horriblestigma shall be left upon my cheek！” cried Georgiana.
“Remove it！ remove it！ —whatever be the cost—or weshall both go mad！”
“Heaven knows， your words are too true，” said Aylmer，sadly. “And now， dearest， return to your boudoir. In a littlewhile， all will be tested.”
He conducted her back， and took leave of her witha solemn tenderness， which spoke far more than hiswords how much was now at stake. After his departure，Georgiana became rapt in musings. She considered thecharacter of Aylmer， and did it completer justice thanat any previous moment. Her heart exulted， while ittrembled， at his honorable love， so pure and lofty that itwould accept nothing less than perfection， nor miserablymake itself contented with an earthlier nature than he haddreamed of. She felt how much more precious was such asentiment， than that meaner kind which would have bornewith the imperfection for her sake， and have been guiltyof treason to holy love， by degrading its perfect idea to thelevel of the actual. And， with her whole spirit， she prayed，that， for a single moment， she might satisfy his highestand deepest conception. Longer than one moment， shewell knew， it could not be； for his spirit was ever onthe march—ever ascending—and each instant requiredsomething that was beyond the scope of the instantbefore.
The sound of her husband’s footsteps aroused her. Hebore a crystal goblet， containing a liquor colorless aswater， but bright enough to be the draught of immortality.
Aylmer was pale； but it seemed rather the consequence ofa highly wrought state of mind， and tension of spirit， thanof fear or doubt.
“The concoction of the draught has been perfect，” saidhe， in answer to Georgiana’s look. “Unless all my sciencehave deceived me， it cannot fail.”
“Save on your account， my dearest Aylmer，” observed hiswife， “I might wish to put off this birth-mark of mortalityby relinquishing mortality itself， in preference to anyother mode. Life is but a sad possession to those whohave attained precisely the degree of moral advancementat which I stand. Were I weaker and blinder， it might behappiness. Were I stronger， it might be endured hopefully.
But， being what I find myself， methinks I am of all mortalsthe most fit to die.”
“You are fit for heaven without tasting death！” repliedher husband. “But why do we speak of dying？ The draughtcannot fail. Behold its effect upon this plant！”
On the window-seat there stood a geranium， diseasedwith yellow blotches， which had overspread all its leaves.
Aylmer poured a small quantity of the liquid upon the soilin which it grew. In a little time， when the roots of theplant had taken up the moisture， the unsightly blotchesbegan to be extinguished in a living verdure.
“There needed no proof，” said Georgiana， quietly. “Giveme the goblet. I joyfully stake all upon your word.”
“Drink， then， thou lofty creature！” exclaimed Aylmer，with fervid admiration. “There is no taint of imperfectionon thy spirit. Thy sensible frame， too， shall soon be allperfect！”
She quaffed the liquid， and returned the goblet to hishand.
“It is grateful，” said she， with a placid smile. “Methinksit is like water from a heavenly fountain； for it contains Iknow not what of unobtrusive fragrance and deliciousness.
