"The Birthmark,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
A long time ago, there lived a skillful scientist who had experienced a spiritual reaction
more striking than any chemical one.
He had left his laboratory in the care of his assistant, washed the chemicals from his
hands and asked a beautiful woman to become his wife. In those days new scientific
discoveries such as electricity seemed to open paths into the area of miracles. It was
not unusual for the love of science to compete with the love of a woman.
The scientist's name was Aylmer. He had so totally given himself to scientific studies
that he could not be weakened by a second love. His love for his young wife could only
be the stronger of the two if it could link itself with his love of science.
Such a union did take place with truly remarkable results. But one day, very soon after
their marriage, Aylmer looked at his wife with a troubled expression.
"Georgiana," he said, "have you ever considered that the mark upon your cheek might
be removed"?
"No," she said smiling. But seeing the seriousness of his question, she said, "The mark
has so often been called a charm that I was simple enough to imagine it might be so."
"On another face it might," answered her husband, "but not on yours. No dear, Nature
made you so perfectly that this small defect shocks me as being a sign of earthly
imperfection."
"Shocks you!" cried Georgiana, deeply hurt. Her face reddened and she burst into tears.
"Then why did you marry me? You cannot love what shocks you!"
We must explain that in the center of Georgiana's left cheek there was a mark, deep in
her skin. The mark was usually a deep red color. When Georgiana blushed, the mark
became less visible. But when she turned pale, there was the mark, like a red stain
upon snow. The birthmark would come and go with the emotions in her heart.
The mark was shaped like a very small human hand. Georgiana's past lovers used to
say that the hand of a magical fairy had touched her face when she was born. Many a
gentleman would have risked his life for the honor of kissing that mysterious hand.
But other people had different opinions. Some women said the red hand quite destroyed
the effect of Georgiana's beauty.
Male observers who did not praise the mark simply wished it away so that they did not
see it. After his marriage, Aylmer discovered that this was the case with himself.
Had Georgiana been less beautiful, he might have felt his love increased by the
prettiness of that little hand. But because she was otherwise so perfect, he found the
mark had become unbearable.
