But the deeper went the
knife, the deeper sank the Hand, until at length its tiny grasp
appeared to have caught hold of Georgiana's heart; whence, however,
her husband was inexorably resolved to cut or wrench it away.
When the dream had shaped itself perfectly in his memory, Aylmer
sat in his wife's presence with a guilty feeling. Truth often finds
its way to the mind close-muffled in robes of sleep, and then speaks
with uncompromising directness of matters in regard to which we
practise an unconscious self-deception, during our waking moments.
Until now, he had not been aware of the tyrannizing influence acquired
by one idea over his mind, and of the lengths which he might find in
his heart to go, for the sake of giving himself peace.
"Aylmer," resumed Georgiana, solemnly, "I know not what may be
the cost to both of us, to rid me of this fatal birthmark. Perhaps its
removal may cause cureless deformity. Or, it may be, the stain goes as
deep as life itself. Again, do we know that there is a possibility, on
any terms, of unclasping the firm gripe of this little Hand, which was
laid upon me before I came into the world?"
"Dearest Georgiana, I have spent much thought upon the subject,"
hastily interrupted Aylmer- "I am convinced of the perfect
practicability of its removal.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25