vast ring of deep indigo was presented to the eye; from this swept down,
as it were, a flowing curtain of rosy light, which wavered and moved
incessantly as if agitated by a gentle breeze, though a perfect stillness
reigned through the air. The child's young heart was awed by this sublime
spectacle; it seemed to her as if it were indeed the throne of the Great
Creator of the world that she was gazing upon; and she veiled her face in
her nurse's arms, and trembled exceedingly, even as the children of Israel
when the fire of Mount Sinai was revealed, and they feared to behold the
glory of the Most High God. After a while, Lady Mary, encouraged by the
cheerful voices of her governess and nurse, ventured to look up to watch
the silver stars shining dimly as from beneath a veil, and she whispered
to herself the words that her governess had before repeated to her, "The
heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handywork."

After a little while, Mrs. Frazer thought it better to put Lady Mary to
bed, as she had been up much longer than usual, and Miss Campbell was
afraid lest the excitement should make her ill; but the child did not soon
fall asleep, for her thoughts were full of the strange and glorious things
she had seen that night.

[Footnote: Singularly splendid exhibitions of Aurora Borealis were visible
in the month, of August, 1839; in August, 1851; and again on the 21st
February, 1852. The colours were rosy red, varied with other prismatic
colours.

But the most singular feature was the ring-like circle from which the
broad streams of light seemed to flow down in a curtain that appeared to
reach from heaven to earth. In looking upwards, the sky had the appearance
of a tent narrowed to a small circle at the top, which seemed to be the
centre of illimitable space.