“No，no，Georgiana！”saidAylmerimpatiently，“itmustnotbe。”
　　“Isubmit。”repliedshecalmly。“And，Aylmer，Ishallquaff
　　whateverdraughtyoubringme；butitwillbeonthesameprinciple
　　thatwouldinducemetotakeadoseofpoison，ifofferedbyyour
　　hand。”
　　“Mynoblewife。”saidAylmer，deeplymoved，“Iknewnottheheight
　　anddepthofyournature，untilnow。Nothingshallbeconcealed。
　　Know，then，thatthisCrimsonHand，superficialasitseems，has
　　clutcheditsgraspintoyourbeing，withastrengthofwhichIhadno
　　previousconception。Ihavealreadyadministeredagentspowerful
　　enoughtodoaughtexcepttochangeyourentirephysicalsystem。Only
　　onethingremainstobetried。Ifthatfailus，weareruined！”
　　“Whydidyouhesitatetotellmethis？”askedshe。
　　“Because，Georgiana。”saidAylmer，inalowvoice，“thereis
　　danger！”
　　“Danger？Thereisbutonedanger-thatthishorriblestigmashall
　　beleftuponmycheek！”criedGeorgiana。“Removeit！removeit！-
　　whateverbethecost-orweshallbothgomad！”
　　“Heavenknows，yourwordsaretootrue。”saidAylmer，sadly。“And
　　now，dearest，returntoyourboudoir。Inalittlewhile，allwillbe
　　tested。”
　　Heconductedherback，andtookleaveofherwithasolemn
　　tenderness，whichspokefarmorethanhiswordshowmuchwasnowat
　　stake。Afterhisdeparture，Georgianabecamewraptinmusings。She
　　consideredthecharacterofAylmer，anddiditcompleterjustice
　　thanatanypreviousmoment。Herheartexulted，whileittrembled，
　　athishonorablelove，sopureandloftythatitwouldaccept
　　nothinglessthanperfection，normiserablymakeitselfcontentedwith
　　anearthliernaturethanhehaddreamedof。Shefelthowmuchmore
　　preciouswassuchasentiment，thanthatmeanerkindwhichwould
　　havebornewiththeimperfectionforhersake，andhavebeenguiltyof
　　treasontoholylove，bydegradingitsperfectideatothelevelof
　　theactual。And，withherwholespirit，sheprayed，that，forasingle
　　moment，shemightsatisfyhishighestanddeepestconception。Longer
　　thanonemoment，shewellknew，itcouldnotbe；forhisspiritwas
　　everonthemarch-everascending-andeachinstantrequiredsomething
　　thatwasbeyondthescopeoftheinstantbefore。
　　Thesoundofherhusband’sfootstepsarousedher。Heboreacrystal
　　goblet，containingaliquorcolorlessaswater，butbrightenoughto
　　bethedraughtofimmortality。Aylmerwaspale；butitseemedrather
　　theconsequenceofahighlywroughtstateofmind，andtensionof
　　spirit，thanoffearordoubt。
　　“Theconcoctionofthedraughthasbeenperfect。”saidhe，in
　　answertoGeorgiana’slook。“Unlessallmysciencehavedeceivedme，
　　itcannotfail。”
　　“Saveonyouraccount，mydearestAylmer。”observedhiswife，“I
　　mightwishtoputoffthisbirthmarkofmortalitybyrelinquishing
　　mortalityitself，inpreferencetoanyothermode。Lifeisbutasad
　　possessiontothosewhohaveattainedpreciselythedegreeofmoral
　　advancementatwhichIstand。WereIweakerandblinder，itmightbe
　　happiness。WereIstronger，itmightbeenduredhopefully。But，being
　　whatIfindmyself，methinksIamofallmortalsthemostfittodie。”
　　“Youarefitforheavenwithouttastingdeath！”repliedher
　　husband。“Butwhydowespeakofdying？Thedraughtcannotfail。
　　Beholditseffectuponthisplant！”
　　Onthewindow-seattherestoodageranium，diseasedwithyellow
　　blotches，whichhadoverspreadallitsleaves。Aylmerpouredasmall
　　quantityoftheliquiduponthesoilinwhichitgrew。Inalittle
　　time，whentherootsoftheplanthadtakenupthemoisture，the
　　unsightlyblotchesbegantobeextinguishedinalivingverdure。
　　“Thereneedednoproof。”saidGeorgiana，quietly。“Givemethe
　　goblet。Ijoyfullystakealluponyourword。”
　　“Drink，then，thouloftycreature！”exclaimedAylmer，withfervid
　　admiration。“Thereisnotaintofimperfectiononthyspirit。Thy
　　sensibleframe，too，shallsoonbeallperfect！”
　　Shequaffedtheliquid，andreturnedthegoblettohishand。
　　“Itisgrateful。”saidshe，withaplacidsmile。“Methinksitis
　　likewaterfromaheavenlyfountain；foritcontainsIknownotwhat
　　ofunobtrusivefragranceanddeliciousness。Itallaysafeverish
　　thirst，thathadparchedmeformanydays。Now，dearest，letmesleep。
　　Myearthlysensesareclosingovermyspirit，liketheleavesaround
　　theheartofarose，atsunset。”
　　Shespokethelastwordswithagentlereluctance，asifit
　　requiredalmostmoreenergythanshecouldcommandtopronouncethe
　　faintandlingeringsyllables。Scarcelyhadtheyloiteredthrough
　　herlips，ereshewaslostinslumber。Aylmersatbyherside，
　　watchingheraspectwiththeemotionspropertoaman，thewholevalue
　　ofwhoseexistencewasinvolvedintheprocessnowtobetested。
　　Mingledwiththismood，however，wasthephilosophicinvestigation，
　　characteristicofthemanofscience。Nottheminutestsymptomescaped
　　him。Aheightenedflushofthecheek-aslightirregularityofbreath-
　　aquiveroftheeyelid-ahardlyperceptibletremorthroughtheframe-
　　suchwerethedetailswhich，asthemomentspassed，hewrotedownin
　　hisfoliovolume。Intensethoughthadsetitsstampuponevery
　　previouspageofthatvolume；butthethoughtsofyearswereall
　　concentrateduponthelast。
　　Whilethusemployed，hefailednottogazeoftenatthefatalHand，
　　andnotwithoutashudder。Yetonce，byastrangeandunaccountable
　　impulse，hepresseditwithhislips。Hisspiritrecoiled，however，in
　　theveryact，andGeorgiana，outofthemidstofherdeepsleep，moved
　　uneasilyandmurmured，asifinremonstrance。Again，Aylmerresumed
　　hiswatch。Norwasitwithoutavail。TheCrimsonHand，whichat
　　firsthadbeenstronglyvisibleuponthemarblepalenessof
　　Georgiana’scheeknowgrewmorefaintlyoutlined。Sheremainednot
　　lesspalethanever；butthebirthmark，witheverybreaththatcame
　　andwent，lostsomewhatofitsformerdistinctness。Itspresencehad
　　beenawful；itsdeparturewasmoreawfulstill。Watchthestainofthe
　　rainbowfadingoutofthesky；andyouwillknowhowthatmysterious
　　symbolpassedaway。
　　“ByHeaven，itiswell-nighgone！”saidAylmertohimself，in
　　almostirrepressibleecstasy。“Icanscarcelytraceitnow。Success！
　　Success！Andnowitislikethefaintestrose-color。Theslightest
　　flushofbloodacrosshercheekwouldovercomeit。Butsheisso
　　pale！”
　　Hedrewasidethewindow-curtain，andsufferedthelightofnatural
　　daytofallintotheroom，andrestuponhercheek。Atthesame
　　time，heheardagross，hoarsechuckle，whichhehadlongknownashis
　　servantAminadab’sexpressionofdelight。
　　“Ah，clod！Ah，earthlymass！”criedAylmer，laughinginasortof
　　frenzy。“Youhaveservedmewell！MasterandSpirit-EarthandHeaven-
　　havebothdonetheirpartinthis！Laugh，thingofthesenses！You
　　haveearnedtherighttolaugh。”
　　TheseexclamationsbrokeGeorgiana’ssleep。Sheslowlyunclosedher
　　eyes，andgazedintothemirror，whichherhusbandhadarrangedfor
　　thatpurpose。Afaintsmileflittedoverherlips，whensherecognized
　　howbarelyperceptiblewasnowthatCrimsonHand，whichhadonce
　　blazedforthwithsuchdisastrousbrilliancyastoscareawayall
　　theirhappiness。ButthenhereyessoughtAylmer’sface，witha
　　troubleandanxietythathecouldbynomeansaccountfor。
　　“MypoorAylmer！”murmuredshe。
　　“Poor？Nay，richest！Happiest！Mostfavored！”exclaimedhe。“My
　　peerlessbride，itissuccessful！Youareperfect！”
　　“MypoorAylmer！”sherepeated，withamorethanhuman
　　tenderness。“Youhaveaimedloftily！youhavedonenobly！Donot
　　repent，that，withsohighandpureafeeling，youhaverejectedthe
　　besttheearthcouldoffer。Aylmer-dearestAylmer，Iamdying！”
　　Alas，itwastootrue！ThefatalHandhadgrappledwiththemystery
　　oflife，andwasthebondbywhichanangelicspiritkeptitselfin
　　unionwithamortalframe。Asthelastcrimsontintofthebirthmark-
　　thatsoletokenofhumanimperfection-fadedfromhercheek，the
　　partingbreathofthenowperfectwomanpassedintotheatmosphere，
　　andhersoul，lingeringamomentnearherhusband，tookitsheavenward
　　flight。Thenahoarse，chucklinglaughwasheardagain！Thuseverdoes
　　thegrossFatalityofEarthexultinitsinvariabletriumphoverthe
　　immortalessence，which，inthisdimsphereofhalf-development，
　　demandsthecompletenessofahigherstate。Yet，hadAylmerreacheda
　　profounderwisdom，heneednotthushaveflungawaythehappiness，
　　whichwouldhavewovenhismortallifeoftheself-sametexturewith
　　thecelestial。Themomentarycircumstancewastoostrongforhim；he
　　failedtolookbeyondtheshadowyscopeofTime，andlivingoncefor
　　allinEternity，tofindtheperfectFutureinthepresent。
　　byNathanielHawthorne
　　NOTAGREATWHILEAGO，passingthroughthegateofdreams，I
　　visitedthatregionoftheearthinwhichliesthefamouscityof
　　Destruction。Itinterestedmemuchtolearnthat，bythepublicspirit
　　ofsomeoftheinhabitants，arailroadhasrecentlybeenestablished
　　betweenthispopulousandflourishingtown，andtheCelestialCity。
　　Havingalittletimeuponmyhands，Iresolvedtogratifyaliberal
　　curiositytomakeatripthither。Accordingly，onefinemorning，after
　　payingmybillatthehotel，anddirectingtheportertostowmy
　　luggagebehindacoach，Itookmyseatinthevehicleandsetout
　　fortheStation-house。Itwasmygoodfortunetoenjoythecompanyof
　　agentleman-oneMr。Smooth-it-away-who，thoughhehadneveractually
　　visitedtheCelestialCity，yetseemedaswellacquaintedwithits
　　laws，customs，policy，andstatistics，aswiththoseofthecityof
　　Destruction，ofwhichhewasanativetownsman。Being，moreover，a
　　Directoroftherailroadcorporation，andoneofitslargest
　　stockholders，hehaditinhispowertogivemealldesirable
　　informationrespectingthatpraiseworthyenterprise。
　　Ourcoachrattledoutofthecity，and，atashortdistancefrom
　　itsoutskirts，passedoverabridge，ofelegantconstruction，but
　　somewhattooslight，asIimagined，tosustainanyconsiderable
　　weight。Onbothsideslayanextensivequagmire，whichcouldnot
　　havebeenmoredisagreeableeithertosightorsmell，hadallthe
　　kennelsoftheearthemptiedtheirpollutionthere。
　　“This。”remarkedMr。Smooth-it-away，“isthefamousSloughof
　　Despond-adisgracetoalltheneighborhood；andthegreater，that
　　itmightsoeasilybeconvertedintofirmground。”
　　“Ihaveunderstood，saidI，“thateffortshavebeenmadeforthat
　　purpose，fromtimeimmemorial。Bunyanmentionsthatabovetwenty
　　thousandcart-loadsofwholesomeinstructionshadbeenthrowninhere，
　　withouteffect。”
　　“Veryprobably！andwhateffectcouldbeanticipatedfromsuch
　　unsubstantialstuff？”criedMr。Smooth-it-away。“Youobservethis
　　convenientbridge。Weobtainedasufficientfoundationforitby
　　throwingintotheSloughsomeeditionsofbooksofmorality，volumes
　　ofFrenchphilosophyandGermanrationalism，tracts，sermons，and
　　essaysofmodernclergymen，extractsfromPlato，Confucius，and
　　variousHindoosages，togetherwithafewingeniouscommentaries
　　upontextsofScripture-allofwhich，bysomescientificprocess，
　　havebeenconvertedintoamasslikegranite。Thewholebogmightbe
　　filledupwithsimilarmatter。”
　　Itreallyseemedtome，however，thatthebridgevibratedand
　　heavedupanddowninaveryformidablemanner；and，spiteofMr。
　　Smooth-it-away’stestimonytothesolidityofitsfoundation，Ishould
　　belothtocrossitinacrowdedomnibus；especially，ifeach
　　passengerwereencumberedwithasheavyluggageasthatgentleman
　　andmyself。Nevertheless，wegotoverwithoutaccident，andsoonfound
　　ourselvesattheStation-house。Thisveryneatandspaciousedificeis
　　erectedonthesiteofthelittleWicket-Gate，whichformerly，as
　　alloldpilgrimswillrecollect，stooddirectlyacrossthehighway，
　　and，byitsinconvenientnarrowness，wasagreatobstructiontothe
　　travellerofliberalmindandexpansivestomach。ThereaderofJohn
　　Bunyanwillbegladtoknow，thatChristian’soldfriendEvangelist，
　　whowasaccustomedtosupplyeachpilgrimwithamysticroll，now
　　presidesattheticketoffice。Somemaliciouspersons，itistrue，
　　denytheidentityofthisreputablecharacterwiththeEvangelistof
　　oldtimes，andevenpretendtobringcompetentevidenceofan
　　imposture。Withoutinvolvingmyselfinadispute，Ishallmerely
　　observe，that，sofarasmyexperiencegoes，thesquarepiecesof
　　pasteboard，nowdeliveredtopassengers，aremuchmoreconvenient
　　andusefulalongtheroad，thantheantiquerollofparchment。Whether
　　theywillbeasreadilyreceivedatthegateoftheCelestialCity，
　　Ideclinegivinganopinion。