400 THE STORY-BOOK OF SCIENCE 



the queen. A young larva is chosen from those in 

 the common cells. It was born to be a wax-bee, but 

 circumstances are going to confer royalty upon it. 

 The working-bees begin by destroying the cells 

 adjacent to the one occupied by the sacred larva, the 

 queen that is to be by unanimous consent. The rear- 

 ing of royalty requires more space. This being se- 

 cured, the remaining cell is enlarged and shaped like 

 a thimble, as willed by the high destiny of the nurs- 

 ling it contains. For several days the larva is fed 

 with royal paste, that sugary pap that makes queens, 

 and the miracle is accomplished. The queen is dead, 

 long live the queen ! ' ' 



"The story of the bees is the best you have told 

 us," declared Jules. 



' * I think so too, ' ' his uncle assented ; ' l that is why 

 I kept it till the last." 



"What the last?" cried Jules. 



"You are not going to tell us any more stories?" 

 asked Claire. 



"Never, never?" Emile put in. 



"As many as you wish, my dear children, but 

 later. The grain is ripe, and the harvest will take 

 up my time. Let us embrace, and finish for the 

 present. ' ' 



Since Uncle Paul, occupied with his duties in the 

 harvest-field, no longer tells stories in the evening, 

 Emile has gone- back to his Noah 's Ark. He found 

 the hind and the- elephant moldy! From the time 

 of the story of the ants the child had suspended his 

 visits. 



FINIS 



