its　former　distinctness。　Its　presence　had　been　awful；　its
  departure　was　more　awful　still。　Watch　the　stain　of　the　rainbow
  fading　out　the　sky；　and　you　will　know　how　that　mysterious　symbol
  passed　away。
  〃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
  lightest　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！　Matter　and　spiritearth　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。　〃My
  peerless　bride；　it　is　successful！　You　are　perfect！〃
  〃My　poor　Aylmer；〃　she　repeated；　with　a　more　than　human
  tenderness；　〃you　have　aimed　loftily；　you　have　done　nobly。　Do　not
  repent　that　with　so　high　and　pure　a　feeling；　you　have　rejected
  the　best　the　earth　could　offer。　Aylmer；　dearest　Aylmer；　I　am
  dying！〃
  Alas！　it　was　too　true！　The　fatal　hand　had　grappled　with　the
  mystery　of　life；　and　was　the　bond　by　which　an　angelic　spirit　kept
  itself　in　union　with　a　mortal　frame。　As　the　last　crimson　tint　of
  the　birthmarkthat　sole　token　of　human　imperfectionfaded　from
  her　cheek；　the　parting　breath　of　the　now　perfect　woman　passed
  into　the　atmosphere；　and　her　soul；　lingering　a　moment　near　her
  husband；　took　its　heavenward　flight。　Then　a　hoarse；　chuckling
  laugh　was　heard　again！　Thus　ever　does　the　gross　fatality　of　earth
  exult　in　its　invariable　triumph　over　the　immortal　essence　which；
  in　this　dim　sphere　of　half　development；　demands　the　completeness
  of　a　higher　state。　Yet；　had　Alymer　reached　a　profounder　wisdom；
  he　need　not　thus　have　flung　away　the　happiness　which　would　have
  woven　his　mortal　life　of　the　selfsame　texture　with　the　celestial。
  The　momentary　circumstance　was　too　strong　for　him；　he　failed　to
  look　beyond　the　shadowy　scope　of　time；　and；　living　once　for　all
  in　eternity；　to　find　the　perfect　future　in　the　present。