Not less
singular were his opinions in regard to the Elixir Vitae. He more than
intimated, that it was at his option to concoct a liquid that should
prolong life for years- perhaps interminably- but that it would
produce a discord in nature, which all the world, and chiefly the
quaffer of the immortal nostrum, would find cause to curse.
"Aylmer, are you in earnest?" asked Georgiana, looking at him
with amazement and fear; "it is terrible to possess such power, or
even to dream of possessing it.
"Oh, do not tremble, my love!" said her husband, "I would not wrong
either you or myself, by working such inharmonious effects upon our
lives. But I would have you consider how trifling, in comparison, is
the skill requisite to remove this little Hand."
At the mention of the birthmark, Georgiana, as usual, shrank, as if
a red-hot iron had touched her cheek.
Again Aylmer applied himself to his labors. She could hear his
voice in the distant furnace-room, giving directions to Aminadab,
whose harsh, uncouth, mis-shapen tones were audible in response,
more like the grunt or growl of a brute than human speech. After hours
of absence, Aylmer reappeared, and proposed that she should now
examine his cabinet of chemical products, and natural treasures of the
earth.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27