d the means of collecting some well-toned wind
instruments to form an introduction, and produce the desired temper of
thought and feeling. But when the curtain rose, Charlotte was taken
completely by surprise. The picture which presented itself to her had
been repeated so often in the world, that one could scarcely have
expected any new impression to be produced. But here, the reality as
representing the picture had its especial advantages. The whole space
was the color rather of night than of twilight, and there was nothing
even of the details of the scene which was obscure. The inimitable idea
that all the light should proceed from the child, the artist had
contrived to carry out by an ingenious method of illumination which was
concealed by the figures in the foreground, who were all in shadow.
Bright looking boys and girls were standing around, their fresh faces
sharply lighted from below; and there were angels too, whose own
brilliancy grew pale before the divine, whose ethereal bodies showed dim
and dense, and needing other light in the presence of the body of the
divine humanity. By good fortune the infant had fallen asleep in the
loveliest attitude, so that nothing disturbed the contemplation when
the eye rested on the seeming mother, who with infinite grace had
lifted off a veil to reveal her hidden treasure. At this moment the
picture seemed to have been caught, and there to have remained fixed.
Physically dazzled, mentally surprised, the people round appeared to
have just moved to turn away their half-blinded eyes, to be glancing
again toward the child with curious delight, and to be showing more
wonder and pleasure than awe and reverence--although these emotions were
not forgotten, and were to be traced upon the features of some of the
older spectators.

But Ottilie's figure, expression, attitude, glance, excelled all which
any painter has ever represented. A man who had true knowledge of art,
and had seen this spectacle, would have been in fear lest any portion of
it should move; he would have doubted whether anything could ever so
much please him again. Unluckily, there was no one present who could
comprehend the whole of this effect. The Architect alone, who, as a
tall, slender shepherd, was looking in from the side over those who were
kneeling, enjoyed, although he was not in the best position for seeing,
the fullest pleasure. And who can describe the mien of the new-made
queen of heaven? The purest humil