第4章

IwishIhadthoughtofitbefore。

Mychiefcameback，allbrownwithlivingintheopenair，andveryangryatfindingitsohotintheplains。ThatsameafternoonwethreeandKadirBukshbegantopackforourmonth\'sholiday，Vixenrollinginandoutofthebullock-trunktwentytimesaminute，andGarmgrinningalloverandthumpingonthefloorwithhistail。Vixenknewtheroutineoftravellingaswellassheknewmyoffice-work。Shewenttothestation，singingsongs，onthefrontseatofthecarriage，whileGarinsatwithme。Shehurriedintotherailwaycarriage，sawKadirBukshmakeupmybedforthenight，gotherdrinkofwater，andcurledupwithherblack-patcheyeonthetumultoftheplatform。Garinfollowedher(thecrowdgavehimalanealltohimself)andsatdownonthepillowswithhiseyesblazing，andhistailahazebehindhim。

WecametoUmballainthehotmistydawn，fourorfivemen，whohadbeenworkinghardfoxelevenmonths，shoutingforourdales——thetwo-horsetravellingcarriagesthatweretotakeusuptoKalkaatthefootoftheHills。ItwasallnewtoGarm。Hedidnotunderstandcarriageswhereyoulayatfulllengthonyourbedding，butVixenknewandhoppedintoherplaceatonce；Garinfollowing。TheKalkaRoad，beforetherailwaywasbuilt，wasaboutforty-sevenmileslong，andthehorseswerechangedeveryeightmiles。Mostofthemjibbed，andkicked，andplunged，buttheyhadtogo，andtheywentratherbetterthanusualforGarm\'sdeepbayintheirrear。

Therewasarivertobeforded，andfourbullockspulledthecarriage，andVixenstuckherheadoutofthesliding-doorandnearlyfellintothewaterwhileshegavedirections。Garinwassilentandcurious，andratherneededreassuringaboutStanleyandKasauli。Sowerolled，barkingandyelping，intoKalkaforlunch，andGarmateenoughfortwo。

AfterKalkatheroadwoundamongthehills，andwetookacurriclewithhalf-brokenponies，whichwerechangedeverysixmiles。NoonedreamedofarailroadtoSimlainthosedays，foritwasseventhousandfeetupintheair。Theroadwasmorethanfiftymileslong，andtheregulationpacewasjustasfastastheponiescouldgo。Here，again，VixenledGarmfromonecarriagetotheother；jumpedintothebackseat，andshouted。AcoolbreathfromthesnowsmetusaboutfivemilesoutofKalka，andshewhinedforhercoat，wiselyfearingachillontheliver。IhadhadonemadeforGarmtoo，and，asweclimbedtothefreshbreezes，Iputiton，andarmchewedituncomprehendingly，butI

thinkhewasgrateful。

"Hi-yi-yi-yi!"sangVixenasweshotroundthecurves；

"Toot-toot-toot!"wentthedriver\'sbugleatthedangerousplaces，and"yow!yow!"bayedGarm。KadirBukshsatonthefrontseatandsmiled。EvenhewasgladtogetawayfromtheheatofthePlainsthatstewedinthehazebehindus。Nowandthenwewouldmeetamanweknewgoingdowntohisworkagain，andhewouldsay:"What\'sitlikebelow？"andIwouldshout:"Hotterthancinders。What\'sitlikeupabove？"andhewouldshoutback:

"Justperfect!"andawaywewouldgo。

SuddenlyKadirBukshsaid，overhisshoulder:"HereisSolon"；

andGarmsnoredwherehelaywithhisheadonmyknee。Solonisanunpleasantlittlecantonment，butithastheadvantageofbeingcoolandhealthy。Itisallbareandwindy，andonegenerallystopsatarest-housenearbyforsomethingtoeat。I

gotoutandtookbothdogswithme，whileKadirBukshmadetea。A

soldiertold，usweshouldfindStanley"outthere，"noddinghisheadtowardsabare，bleakhill。

WhenweclimbedtothetopwespiedthatveryStanley，whohadgivenmeallthistrouble，sittingonarockwithhisfaceinhishands，andhisovercoathanginglooseabouthim。Ineversawanythingsolonelyanddejectedinmylifeasthisonelittleman，crumpledupandthinking，onthegreatgrayhillside。

HereGarmleftme。

Hedepartedwithoutaword，and，sofarasIcouldsee，withoutmovinghislegs。Heflewthroughtheairbodily，andIheardthewhackofhimasheflunghimselfatStanley，knockingthelittlemancleanover。Theyrolledonthegroundtogether，shouting，andyelping，andhugging。Icouldnotseewhichwasdogandwhichwasman，tillStanleygotupandwhimpered。

Hetoldmethathehadbeensufferingfromfeveratintervals，andwasveryweak。Helookedallhesaid，butevenwhileI

watched，bothmananddogplumpedouttotheirnaturalsizes，preciselyasdriedapplesswellinwater。Garinwasonhisshoulder，andhisbreastandfeetallatthesametime，sothatStanleyspokeallthroughacloudofGarin——gulping，sobbing，slaveringGarm。HedidnotsayanythingthatIcouldunderstand，exceptthathehadfanciedhewasgoingtodie，butthatnowhewasquitewell，andthathewasnotgoingtogiveupGarinanymoretoanybodyundertherankofBeelzebub。

Thenhesaidhefelthungry，andthirsty，andhappy。

Wewentdowntoteaattherest-house，whereStanleystuffedhimselfwithsardinesandraspberryjam，andbeer，andcoldmuttonandpickles，whenGarmwasn\'tclimbingoverhim；andthenVixenandIwenton。

Garmsawhowitwasatonce。Hesaidgood-byetomethreetimes，givingmebothpawsoneafteranother，andleapingontomyshoulder。Hefurtherescortedus，singingHosannasatthetopofhisvoice，amiledowntheroad。Thenheracedbacktohisownmaster。

Vixenneveropenedhermouth，butwhenthecoldtwilightcame，andwecouldseethelightsofSimlaacrossthehills，shesnuffledwithhernoseatthebreastofmyulster。Iunbuttonedit，andtuckedherinside。Thenshegaveacontentedlittlesniff，andfellfastasleep，herheadonmybreast，tillwebundledoutatSimla，twoofthefourhappiestpeopleinalltheworldthatnight。

THEPOWEROFTHEDOG

ThereissorrowenoughinthenaturalwayFrommenandwomentofillourday；

Butwhenwearecertainofsorrowinstore，Whydowealwaysarrangeformore？

Brothersandsisters，IbidyoubewareOfgivingyourhearttoadogtotear。

BuyapupandyourmoneywillbuyLoveunflinchingthatcannotlie——

PerfectpassionandworshipfedByakickintheribsorapatonthehead。

NeverthelessitishardlyfairToriskyourheartforadogtotear。

WhenthefourteenyearswhichNaturepermitsAreclosinginasthma，ortumour，orfits，Andthevet\'sunspokenprescriptionrunsTolethalchambersorloadedguns，Thenyouwillfind——it\'syourownaffairBut……you\'vegivenyourhearttoadogtotear。

WhenthebodythatlivedatyoursinglewillWhenthewhimperofwelcomeisstilled(howstill!)

WhenthespiritthatansweredyoureverymoodIsgonewhereveritgoes——forgood，Youwilldiscoverhowmuchyoucare，Andwillgiveyourhearttoadogtotear!

We\'vesorrowenoughinthenaturalway，WhenitcomestoburyingChristianclay。

Ourlovesarenotgiven，butonlylent，Atcompoundinterestofcentpercent。

Thoughitisnotalwaysthecase，Ibelieve，Thatthelongerwe\'vekept\'em，themoredowegrieve:

For，whendebtsarepayable，rightorwrong，Ashort-timeloanisasbadasalongSowhyinHeaven(beforewearethere!)

Shouldwegiveourheartstoadogtotear？

THEMOTHERHIVE

Ifthestockhadnotbeenoldandovercrowded，theWax-mothwouldneverhaveentered；butwherebeesaretoothickonthecombtheremustbesicknessorparasites。TheheatofthehivehadrisenwiththeJunehoney-flow，andthoughthefarmersworked，untiltheirwingsached，tokeeppeoplecool，everybodysuffered。

Ayoungbeecrawledupthegreasytrampledalighting-board。

"Excuseme，"shebegan，"butit\'smyfirsthoney-flight。Couldyoukindlytellmeifthisismy——"

"——ownhive？"theGuardsnapped。"Yes!Buzzin，andbefoul-broodedtoyou!Next!"

"Shame!"criedhalfadozenoldworkerswithwornwingsandnerves，andtherewasascuffleandahum。

ThelittlegreyWax-moth，pressedcloseinacrackinthealighting-board，hadwaitedthischanceallday。Shescuttledinlikeaghost，and，knowingtheseniorbeeswouldturnheroutatonce，dodgedintoabrood-frame，whereyoungsterswhohadnotyetseenthewindsblowortheflowersnoddiscussedlife。Hereshewassafe，foryoungbeeswilltolerateanysortofstranger。

BehindhercamethebeewhohadbeenslangedbytheGuard。

"Whatistheworldlike，Melissa？"saidacompanion。"Cruel!I

broughtinafullloadoffirst-classstuff，andtheGuardtoldmetogoandbefoul-brooded!"Shesatdowninthecooldraughtacrossthecombs。

"Ifyou\'donlyheard，"saidtheWax-mothsilkily，"theinsolenceoftheGuard\'stonewhenshecursedoursister。ItarousedtheEntireCommunity。"Shelaidanegg。Shehadstoleninforthatpurpose。

"TherewasabitofafussontheGate，"Melissachuckled。"Youwerethere，Miss？"Shedidnotknowhowtoaddresstheslimstranger。

"Don\'tcallme\'Miss。\'I\'masistertoallinaffliction——justaworking-sister。Myheartbledforyoubeneathyourburden。"TheWax-mothcaressedMelissawithhersoftfeelersandlaidanotheregg。

"Youmustn\'tlayhere，"criedMelissa。"Youaren\'taQueen。"

"Mydearchild，Igiveyoumymostsolemnwordofhonourthosearen\'teggs。Thosearemyprinciples，andIamreadytodieforthem。"Sheraisedhervoicealittleabovetherustleandtramproundher。"Ifyou\'dliketokillme，praydo。"

"Don\'tbeunkind，Melissa，"saidayoungbee，impressedbythechastefoldsoftheWax-moth\'swing，whichhidherceaselessegg-dropping。

"Ihaven\'tdoneanything，"Melissaanswered。"She\'sdoingitall。"

"Ah，don\'tletyourconsciencereproachyoulater，butwhenyou\'vekilledme，writeme，atleast，asonethatlovedherfellow-worker。"

Layingateverysob，theWax-mothbackedintoacrowdofyoungbees，andleftMelissabewilderedandannoyed。Sosheliftedupherlittlevoiceinthedarknessandcried，"Stores!"tillagangofcell-fillershailedher，andsheleftherloadwiththem。

"I\'mafraidIfoul-broodedyoujustnow，"saidavoiceoverhershoulder。"I\'dbeenontheGateforthreehours，andonewouldfoul-broodtheQueenherselfafterthat。Nooffencemeant。"

"Nonetaken，"Melissaansweredcheerily。"IshallbeonGuardmyself，someday。What\'snexttodo？"

"There\'sarumourofDeath\'sHeadMothsabout。SendagangofyoungsterstotheGate，andtellthemtonarrowitinwithacoupleofstoutscrap-waxpillars。It\'llmaketheHivehot，butwecan\'thaveDeath\'sHeadersinthemiddleofourhoney-flow。"

"MyOnlyWings!Ishouldthinknot!"Melissahadallasoundbee\'shereditaryhatredagainstthebig，squeaking，featheryThiefoftheHives。"Tumbleout!"shecalledacrosstheyoungsters\'quarters。"Allyouwhoaren\'tfeedingbabies，showaleg。Scrap-waxpillarsfortheGa-ate!"Shechantedtheorderatlength。

"That\'snonsense，"adowny，day-oldbeeanswered。"Inthefirstplace，IneverheardofaDeath\'sHeadercomingintoahive。

Peopledon\'tdosuchthings。Inthesecond，buildingpillarstokeep\'emoutispurelyaCypriotetrick，unworthyofBritishbees。Inthethird，ifyoutrustaDeath\'sHead，hewilltrustyou。Pillar-buildingshowslackofconfidence。Ourdearsisteringreysaysso。"

"Yes。Pillarsareun-Englishandprovocative，andawasteofwaxthatisneededforhigherandmorepracticalends，"saidtheWax-mothfromanemptystore-cell。

"ThesafetyoftheHiveisthehighestthingI\'veeverheardof。

Youmustn\'tteachustorefusework，"Melissabegan。

"Youmisunderstandme，asusual，love。Work\'stheessenceoflife；buttoexpendpreciousunreturningvitalityandreallabouragainstimaginarydanger，thatisheartbreakinglyabsurd!IfI

canonlyteacha——alittletoleration——alittleordinarykindnessheretowardthatabsurdoldbogeyyoucalltheDeath\'sHeader，I

shan\'thavelivedinvain。"

"Shehasn\'tlivedinvain，thedarling!"criedtwentybeestogether。"Youshouldseehersaintlylife，Melissa!Shejustdevotesherselftospreadingherprinciples，and——and——shelookslovely!"

Anold，baldishbeecameupthecomb。

"Pillar-workersfortheGate!Getoutandchewscraps。Buzzoff!"

shesaid。TheWax-mothslippedaside。

Theyoungbeestroopeddowntheframe，whispering。"What\'sthematterwith\'em？"saidtheoldster。"Whydotheycalleachother\'ducky\'and\'darling\'？Mustbetheweather。"Shesniffedsuspiciously。"Horridstuffysmellhere。Likestalequilts。NotWax-moth，Ihope，Melissa？"

"Nottomyknowledge，"saidMelissa，who，ofcourse，onlyknewtheWax-mothasaladywithprinciples，andhadneverthoughttoreportherpresence。ShehadalwaysimaginedWax-mothstobelikeblood-reddragon-flies。

"Youhadbetterfanoutthiscornerforalittle，"saidtheoldbeeandpassedon。Melissadroppedherheadatonce，tookfirmholdwithherfore-feet，andfannedobedientlyattheregulationstrokethreehundredbeatstothesecond。Fanningtriesabee\'stemper，becauseshemustalwayskeepinthesameplacewheresheneverseemstobedoinganygood，and，allthewhile，sheiswearingoutheronlywings。Whenabeecannotfly，abeemustnotlive；andabeeknowsit。TheWax-mothcreptforth，andcaressedMelissaagain。

"Isee，"shemurmured，"thatatheartyouareoneofUs。"

"IworkwiththeHive，"Melissaansweredbriefly。

"It\'sthesamething。WeandtheHiveareone。"

"Thenwhyareyourfeelersdifferentfromours？Don\'tcuddleso。"

"Don\'tbeprovincial，Carissima。Youcan\'thavealltheworldalike——yet。"

"Butwhydoyoulayeggs？"Melissainsisted。"Youlay\'emlikeaQueen——onlyyoudroptheminpatchesallovertheplace。I\'vewatchedyou。"

"Ah，Brighteyes，soyou\'vepiercedmylittlesubterfuge？Yes，theyareeggs。Byandbythey\'llspreadourprinciples。Aren\'tyouglad？"

"Yougavemeyourmostsolemnwordofhonourthattheywerenoteggs。"

"Thatwasmylittlesubterfuge，dearest——forthesakeoftheCause。NowImustreachtheyoung。"TheWax-mothtrippedtowardsthefourthbrood-framewheretheyoungbeeswerebusyfeedingthebabies。

Ittakessometimeforasoundbeetorealizeamalignantandcontinuouslie。"She\'sverysweetandfeathery，"wasallthatMelissathought，"buthertalksoundslikeivyhoneytastes。I\'dbettergettomyfield-workagain。"

ShefoundtheGateinasulkyuproar。Theyoungsterstoldofftothepillarshadrefusedtochewscrap-waxbecauseitmadetheirjawsache，andwereclamouringforvirginstuff。

"Anythingtofinishthejob!"saidthebadgeredGuards。"Hangup，someofyou，andmakewaxfortheseslack-jawedsisters。"

Beforeabeecanmakewaxshemustfillherselfwithhoney。Thensheclimbstosafefootholdandhangs，whileothergorgedbeeshangontoherinacluster。Theretheywaitinsilencetillthewaxcomes。Thescalesareeithertakenoutofthemaker\'spocketsbytheworkers，ortinkledownontheworkerswhiletheywait。

Theworkerschewthem(theyareuselessunchewed)intotheall-supporting，all-embracingWaxoftheHive。

Butnow，nosoonerwasthewax-clusterinpositionthantheworkersbelowbrokeoutagain。

"Comedown!"theycried。"Comedownandwork!Comeon，youLevantineparasites!Don\'tthinktoenjoyyourselvesuptherewhilewe\'resweatingdownhere!"

Theclustershivered，asfromhookedfore-foottohookedhind-footittelegrapheduneasiness。Atlastaworkersprangup，grabbedthelowestwaxmaker，andswung，kickingabovehercompanions。

"Icanmakewaxtoo!"shebawled。"GivemeafullgorgeandI\'llmaketonsofit。"

"Makeit，then，"saidthebeeshehadgrappled。Thespokenwordsnappedthecurrentthroughthecluster。Itshookandglistenedlikeacat\'sfurinthedark。"Unhook!"itmurmured。"Nowaxforanyoneto-day。"

"Youlazythieves!Hangupatonceandproduceourwax，"saidthebeesbelow。

"Impossible!Thesweat\'sgone。Tomakeyourwaxwemusthavestillness，warmth，andfood。Unhook!Unhook!"

Theybrokeupastheymurmured，anddisappearedamongtheotherbees，fromwhom，ofcourse，theywereundistinguishable。

"Seemsasifwe\'dhavetochewscrap-waxforthesepillars，afterall，"saidaworker。

"Notbyawholecomb，"criedtheyoungbeewhohadbrokenthecluster。"Listenhere!I\'vestudiedthequestionmorethantwentyminutes。It\'sassimpleasfallingoffadaisy。You\'veheardofCheshire，RootandLangstroth？"

Theyhadnot，buttheyshouted"GoodoldLangstroth!"justthesame。

"Thosethreeknowallthatthereistobeknownaboutmakinghives。Oneort\'otherof\'emmusthavemadeours，andifthey\'vemadeit，they\'reboundtolookafterit。Oursisa\'GuaranteedPatentHive。\'Youcanseeitonthelabelbehind。"

"Goodoldguarantee!Hurrahforthelabelbehind!"roaredthebees。

"Well，suchbeingthecase，Isaythatwhenwefindthey\'vebetrayedus，wecanexactfromthematerriblevengeance。"

"Goodoldvengeance!GoodoldRoot!\'Nuffsaid!Chuckit!"ThecrowdcheeredandbrokeawayasMelissadivedthrough。

"D\'youknowwhereLangstroth，RootandCheshire，liveifyouhappentowantem？sheaskedoftheproudpantingorator。

"GummeifIknowtheyeverlivedatall!Butaren\'ttheybeautifulnamestobuzzabout？Didyouseehowitworkedupthesisterhood？"

"Yes；butitdidn\'tdefendtheGate，"shereplied。

"Ah，perhapsthat\'strue，butthinkhowdelicatemypositionis，sister。I\'veamagnificentappetite，andIdon\'tlikeworking。

It\'sbadforthemind。MyinstincttellsmethatIcanactasarestraininginfluenceonothers。Theywouldhavebeenworse，butforme。"

ButMelissahadalreadyrisenclear，andwasheadingforabreadthofvirginwhiteclover，whichtoanovertiredbeeisassoothingasplainknittingtoawoman。

"IthinkI\'lltakethisloadtothenurseries，"shesaid，whenshehadfinished。"Itwasalwaysquietthereinmyday，"andshetoppedoffwithtwolittlepatsofpollenforthebabies。

Shewasmetonthefourthbrood-combbyarushofexcitedsistersallbuzzingtogether。

"Oneatatime!Letmeputdownmyload。Now，whatisitSacharissa？"shesaid。

"GreySister——thatfluffyone，Imean——shecameandsaidweoughttobeoutinthesunshinegatheringhoney，becauselifewasshort。Shesaidanyoldbeecouldattendtoourbabies，andsomedayoldbeeswould。Thatisn\'ttrue，Melissa，isit？Nooldbeescantakeusawayfromourbabies，canthey？"

"Ofcoursenot。Youfeedthebabieswhileyourheadsaresoft。

Whenyourheadsharden，yougoontofield-work。Anyoneknowsthat。"

"Wetoldherso!Wetoldherso；butsheonlywavedherfeelers，andsaidwecouldalllayeggslikeQueensifwechose。AndI\'mafraidlotsoftheweakersistersbelieveher，andaretryingtodoit。Sounsettling!"

Sacharissaspedtoasealedworker-cellwhoselidpulsated，asthebeewithinbegantocutitswayout。

"Comealong，precious!"shemurmured，andthinnedthefrailtopfromtheotherside。Apale，damp，creasedthinghoisteditselffeeblyontothecomb。Sacharissa\'snotechangedatonce。"Notimetowaste!Gouptheframeandpreenyourself!"shesaid。

"Reportfornursing-dutyinmywardto-morroweveningatsix。

Stopaminute。What\'sthematterwithyourthirdrightleg？"

Theyoungbeehelditoutinsilence——unmistakablyadronelegincapableofpackingpollen。

"Thankyou。Youneedn\'treporttillthedayafterto-morrow。"

Sacharissaturnedtohercompanion。"That\'sthefifthoddityhatchedinmywardsincenoon。Idon\'tlikeit。"

"There\'salwaysacertainnumberof\'em，"saidMelissa。"Youcan\'tstopafewworkingsistersfromlaying，nowandthen，whentheyoverfeedthemselves。Theyonlyraisedwarfdrones。"

Butwe\'rehatchingoutdroneswithworkers\'stomachs；workerswithdrones\'stomachs；andalbinoesandmixed-leggerswhocan\'tpackpollen——likethatpoorlittlebeastyonder。Idon\'tminddwarfdronesanymorethanyoudo(theyalldieinJuly)，butthissteadyhatchofodditiesfrightensme，Melissa!"

"Hownarrowofyou!Theyareallsodelightfullycleverandunusualandinteresting，"pipedtheWax-mothfromacrackabovethem。"Comehere，youdear，downyduck，andtellusallaboutyourfeelings。"

"Iwishshe\'dgo!"Sacharissaloweredhervoice。"Shemeetsthese——er-odditiesastheydryout，andcuddles\'emincorners。"

"Isupposethetruthisthatwe\'reover-stockedandtoowellfedtoswarm，"saidMelissa。

"Thatisthetruth，"saidtheQueen\'svoicebehindthem。Theyhadnotheardtheheavyroyalfootfallwhichsetsemptycellsvibrating。Sacharissaofferedherfoodatonce。Sheateanddraggedherwearybodyforward。"Canyousuggestaremedy？"shesaid。

"Newprinciples!"criedtheWax-mothfromhercrevice。"We\'llapplythemquietlylater。"

"Supposewesentoutaswarm？"Melissasuggested。"It\'salittlelate，butitmighteaseusoff。"

"Itwouldsaveus，but——IknowtheHive!Youshallseeforyourself。"TheoldQueencriedtheSwarmingCry，whichtoabeeofgoodbloodshouldbewhatthetrumpetwastoJob\'swar-horse。

Inspiteofherimmenseage(three，years)，itrangbetweenthecanon-likeframesasapibrochringsinamountainpass；thefannerschangedtheirnote，andrepeateditupineverygallery；

andthebroad-wingeddrones，burlyandeager，endeditononenerve-thrillingoutbreakofbugles:"LaReineleveult!Swarm!

Swar-rm!Swar-r-rm!"

ButtheroarwhichshouldfollowtheCallwaswanting。Theyheardabrokengrumblelikethemurmurofafallingtide。

"Swarm？Whatfor？Catchmeleavingagoodbar-frameHive，withfixedfoundations，forarotten，oldoakoutintheopenwhereitmayrainanyminute!We\'reallright!It\'sa\'PatentGuaranteedHive。\'Whydotheywanttoturnusout？Swarmingbegummed!

Swarmingwasinventedtocheataworkeroutofherpropercomforts。Comeonofftobed!"

Thenoisediedoutasthebeessettledinemptycellsforthenight。

"Youhear？"saidtheQueen。"IknowtheHive!"

"Quitebetweenourselves，Itaughtthemthat，"criedtheWax-moth。"Waittillmyprinciplesdevelop，andyou\'llseethelightfromanewquarter。"

"Youspeaktruthforonce，"theQueensaidsuddenly，forsherecognizedtheWax-moth。"ThatLightwillbreakintothetopoftheHive。AHotSmokewillfollowit，andyourchildrenwillnotbeabletohideinanycrevice。"

"Isitpossible？"Melissawhispered。"I-wehavesometimesheardalegendlikeit。"

"Itisnolegend，"theoldQueenanswered。"Ihaditfrommymother，andshehaditfromhers。AftertheWax-mothhasgrownstrong，aShadowwillfallacrossthegate；aVoicewillspeakfrombehindaVeil；therewillbeLight，andHotSmoke，andearthquakes，andthosewholivewillseeeverythingthattheyhavedone，alltogetherinoneplace，burnedupinonegreatfire。"TheoldQueenwastryingtotellwhatshehadbeentoldoftheBeeMaster\'sdealingswithaninfectedhiveintheapiary，twoorthreeseasonsago；and，ofcourse，fromherpointofviewtheaffairwasasimportantastheDayofJudgment。

"Andthen？"askedhorrifiedSacharissa。

"Then，Ihaveheardthatalittlelightwillburninagreatdarkness，andperhapstheworldwillbeginagain。Myself，Ithinknot。"

"Tut!Tut!"theWax-mothcried。"Yougood，fatpeoplealwaysprophesyruinifthingsdon\'tgoexactlyyourway。ButIgrantyoutherewillbechanges。"

Therewere。Whenhereggshatched，thewaxwasriddledwithlittletunnels，coatedwiththedirtyclothesofthecaterpillars。Flannellylinesranthroughthehoney-stores，thepollen-larders，thefoundations，and，worstofall，throughthebabiesintheircradles，tilltheSweeperGuardsspenthalftheirtimetossingoutuselesslittlecorpses。Thelinesendedinamazeofstickywebbingonthefaceofthecomb。Thecaterpillarscouldnotstopspinningastheywalked，andastheywalkedeverywhere，theysmarmedandgarmedeverything。Evenwhereitdidnothamperthebees\'feet，thestale，soursmellofthestuffputthemofftheirwork；thoughsomeofthebeeswhohadtakentoegglayingsaiditencouragedthemtobemothersandmaintainavitalinterestinlife。

Whenthecaterpillarsbecamemoths，theymadefriendswiththeever-increasingOddities——albinoes，mixed-leggers，single-eyedcomposites，facelessdrones，halfqueensandlayingsisters；andtheever-dwindlingbandoftheoldstockworkedthemselvesbaldandfray-wingedtofeedtheirqueercharges。MostoftheOdditieswouldnot，andmany，onaccountoftheirmalformations，couldnot，gothroughaday\'sfield-work；buttheWax-moths，whowerealwaysbusyonthebrood-comb，foundpleasanthomeoccupationsforthem。Onealbino，forinstance，dividedthenumberofpoundsofhoneyinstockbythenumberofbeesintheHive，andprovedthatifeverybeeonlygatheredhoneyforsevenandthreequarterminutesaday，shewouldhavetherestofthetimetoherself，andcouldaccompanythedronesontheirmatingflights。Thedroneswerenotatallpleased。

Another，aneyelessdronewithnofeelers，saidthatallbrood-cellsshouldbeperfectcircles，soasnottointerferewiththegrubortheworkers。Heprovedthattheoldsix-sidedcellwassolelyduetotheworkersbuildingagainsteachotheronoppositesidesofthewall，andthatiftherewerenointerference，therewouldbenoangles。Somebeestriedthenewplanforawhile，andfounditcosteighttimesmorewaxthantheoldsixsidedspecification；and，astheyneverallowedaclustertohangupandmakewaxinpeace，realwaxwasscarce。However，theyekedouttheirtaskwithvarnishstolenfromnewcoffinsatfunerals，anditmadethemrathersick。Thentheytooktocadgingroundsugar-factoriesandbreweries，becauseitwaseasiesttogettheirmaterialfromthoseplaces，andthemixtureofglucoseandbeernaturallyfermentedinstoreandblewthestore-cellsoutofshape，besidessmellingabominably。Someofthesoundbeeswarnedthemthatill-gottengainsneverprosper，buttheOdditiesatoncesurroundedthemandballedthemtodeath。Thatwasapunishmenttheywerealmostasfondofastheywereofeating，andtheyexpectedthesoundbeestofeedthem。Curiouslyenoughtheage-oldinstinctofloyaltyanddevotiontowardstheHivemadethesoundbeesdothis，thoughtheirreasontoldthemtheyoughttoslipawayandunitewithsomeotherhealthystockintheapiary。

"What，aboutsevenandthree-quarterminutes\'worknow？"saidMelissaonedayasshecamein。"I\'vebeenatitforfivehours，andI\'veonlyhalfaload。"

"Oh，theHivesubsistsontheHivalHoneywhichtheHiveproduces，"saidablindOdditysquattinginastore-cell。

"Buthoneyisgatheredfromflowersoutsidetwomilesawaysometimes，"criedMelissa。

"Pardonme，"saidtheblindthing，suckinghard。"ButthisistheHive，isitnot？"

"Itwas。Worseluck，itis。"

"AndtheHivalHoneyishere，isitnot？"Itopenedafreshstore-celltoproveit。

"Ye-es，butitwon\'tbelongatthisrate，"saidMelissa。

"Therateshavenothingtodowithit。ThisHiveproducestheHivalHoney。Youpeopleneverseemtograsptheeconomicsimplicitythatunderliesalllife。"

"Oh，me!"saidpoorMelissa，"haven\'tyoueverbeenbeyondtheGate？"

"Certainlynot。Afool\'seyesareintheendsoftheearth。Mineareinmyhead。"Itgorgedtillitbloated。

Melissatookrefugeinherpoorlypaidfield-workandtoldSacharissathestory。

"Hut!"saidthatwisebee，frettingwithanoldmaidofathistle。"Tellussomethingnew。TheHive\'sfullofsuchashim——it，Imean。"

"What\'stheendtobe？Allthehoneygoingoutandnonecomingin。Thingscan\'tlastthisway!"saidMelissa。

"Whocares？"saidSacharissa。"Iknownowhowdronesfeelthedaybeforethey\'rekilled。Ashortlifeandamerryoneforme。"

"Ifitonlyweremerry!Butthinkofthoseawful，solemn，lop-sidedOdditieswaitingforusathomecrawlingandclamberingandpreaching——anddirtyingthingsinthedark。"

"Idon\'tmindthatsomuchastheirsillysongs，afterwe\'vefed\'em，allabout\'workamongthemerry，merryblossoms，"saidSacharissafromthedeepsofastaleCanterburybell。

"Ido。How\'sourQueen？"saidMelissa。

"Cheerfullyhopeless，asusual。Butshelaysaneggnowandthen。"

"Doessheso？"Melissabackedoutofthenextbellwithajerk。

"Supposenow，wesoundworkerstriedtoraiseaPrincessinsomecleancorner？"

"You\'dbeputtoittofindone。TheHive\'sallWax-mothandmuckings。But——well？"

"APrincessmighthelpusinthetimeoftheVoicebehindtheVeilthattheQueentalksof。AndanythingisbetterthanworkingforOdditiesthatchirrupaboutworkthattheycan\'tdo，andwastewhatwebringhome。"

"Whocares？"saidSacharissa。"I\'mwithyou，forthefunofit。

TheOdditieswouldballustodeath，iftheyknew。Comehome，andwe\'llbegin。"

ThereisnoroomtotellhowtheexperiencedMelissafoundafar-offframesomessedandmishandledbyabandonedcell-buildingexperimentsthat，forveryshame，thebeesneverwentthere。HowinthatruinsheblockedoutaRoyalCellofsoundwax，butdisguisedbyrubbishtillitlookedlikeakopjeamongdesertedkopjes。HowsheprevaileduponthehopelessQueentomakeonelasteffortandlayaworthyegg。HowtheQueenobeyedanddied。

Howherspentcarcasswasflungoutontherubbishheap，andhowamultitudeoflayingsisterswentaboutdroppingdrone-eggswheretheylisted，andsaidtherewasnomoreneedofQueens。

How，coveredbythisconfusion，Sacharissaeducatedcertainyoungbeestoeducatecertainnew-bornbeesinthealmostlostartofmakingRoyalJelly。Howthenectarforitwaswonoutofhoursintheteethofchillwinds。Howthehiddenegghatchedtrue——nodrone，butBloodRoyal。Howitwascapped，andhowdesperatelytheyworkedtofeedanddouble-feedthenowswarmingOddities，lestanybreakinthefood-suppliesshouldsetthemtoinstitutinginquiries，which，withsongsaboutwork，wastheirfavouriteamusement。Howinanauspicioushour，onamoonlessnight，thePrincesscameforthaPrincessindeed，andhowMelissasmuggledherintoadarkemptyhoney-magazine，tobidehertime；

andhowthedrones，knowingshewasthere，wentaboutsingingthedeepdisreputablelove-songsoftheolddays——tothescandalofthelayingsisters，whodonotthinkwellofdrones。Thesethingsare，writtenintheBookofQueens，whichislaidupinthehollowoftheGreatAshYgdrasil。

Afterafewdaystheweatherchangedagainandbecameglorious。

EventheOdditieswouldnowjointhecrowdthathungoutonthealighting-board，andwouldsingofworkamongthemerry，merryblossomstillanuntrainedearmighthavereceiveditforthehumofaworkinghive。Yet，intruth，theirstore-honeyhadbeeneatenlongago。Theylivedfromdaytodayontheeffortsofthefewsoundbees，whiletheWax-mothfrettedandconsumedagaintheiralreadyruinedwax。Butthesoundbeesnevermentionedthesematters。Theyknew，iftheydid，theOdditieswouldholdameetingandballthemtodeath。

"Nowyouseewhatwehavedone，"saidtheWax-moths。"WehavecreatedNewMaterial，aNewConvention，aNewType，aswesaidwewould。"

"Andnewpossibilitiesforus，"saidthelayingsistersgratefully。"Youhavegivenusanewlife\'swork，vitalandparamount。"

"Morethanthat，"chantedtheOdditiesinthesunshine；"youhavecreatedanewheavenandanewearth。Heaven，cloudlessandaccessible"(itwasaperfectAugustevening)"andEarthteemingwiththemerry，merryblossoms，waitingonlyourhonesttoiltoturnthemalltogood。The——er——Aster，andtheCrocus，andthe——er——Ladies\'Smockinherseason，theChrysanthemumafterherkind，andtheGuelderRosebringingforthabundantlywithal。"

"Oh，HolyHymettus!"saidMelissa，awestruck。"Iknewtheydidn\'tknowhowhoneywasmade，butthey\'veforgottentheOrderoftheFlowers!Whatwillbecomeofthem？"

AShadowfellacrossthealighting-boardastheBeeMasterandhissoncameby。TheOdditiescrawledinandaVoicebehindaVeilsaid:"I\'veneglectedtheoldHivetoolong。Givemethesmoker。"

Melissaheardanddartedthroughthegate。"Come，ohcome!"shecried。"ItisthedestructiontheOldQueenforetold。Princess，come!"

"Really，youaretooarchaicforwords，"saidanOddityinanalley-way。"Acloud，Iadmit，mayhavecrossedthesun；butwhyhysterics？Aboveall，whyPrincessessolateintheday？Areyouawareit\'stheHivalTea-time？Let\'ssinggrace。"

Melissaclawedpasthimwithallsixlegs。Sacharissahadruntowhatwasleftofthefertilebrood-comb。"Downandout!"shecalledacrossthebrownbreadthofit。"Nurses，guards，fanners，sweepers——out!