But one day the snow on the mountain peaks changed to a bright red, while
above floated just one streak of crimson cloud; higher up, the stars
shone in a strange, green light, and all the horizon was of the richest
orange colour.

"Oh, surely," cried Pansy, "the sun will rise to-day!"

But the red faded from the mountain-top, the little cloud turned brown,
then gray, then black, and it was night once more.

"No, little sister," said Tom kindly; "but the sun will rise to-morrow."

All went to bed early that night, and were up very early in the morning.
In fact, breakfast was finished before the stars had begun to pale in the
west. Then came twilight itself, and, long though it was, its intense
beauty was the best reward for the waiting, watching little Crusoes.

Every heart was beating quickly, and Pansy was standing on brave Tom's
shoulder, just to be "nearer the sky", she said.

All were silent.

The sun came at last, and with such a silvery sheen, too, that the
children were dazzled.

This was best, for they could not thus see the tears that slowly trickled
down each other's faces.

"Look! look! look!" was all Pansy could say.