"By Heaven, it is well-nigh gone!" said Aylmer to himself, in
almost irrepressible ecstasy. "I can scarcely trace it now. Success!
Success! And now it is like the faintest rose-color. The slightest
flush of blood across her cheek would overcome it. But she is so
pale!"
He drew aside the window-curtain, and suffered the light of natural
day to fall into the room, and rest upon her cheek. At the same
time, he heard a gross, hoarse chuckle, which he had long known as his
servant Aminadab's expression of delight.
"Ah, clod! Ah, earthly mass!" cried Aylmer, laughing in a sort of
frenzy. "You have served me well! Master and Spirit- Earth and Heaven-
have both done their part in this! Laugh, thing of the senses! You
have earned the right to laugh."
These exclamations broke Georgiana's sleep. She slowly unclosed her
eyes, and gazed into the mirror, which her husband had arranged for
that purpose. A faint smile flitted over her lips, when she recognized
how barely perceptible was now that Crimson Hand, which had once
blazed forth with such disastrous brilliancy as to scare away all
their happiness. But then her eyes sought Aylmer's face, with a
trouble and anxiety that he could by no means account for.
"My poor Aylmer!" murmured she.
"Poor? Nay, richest! Happiest! Most favored!" exclaimed he.
Pages:
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29