The Young Queens 



noises are hushed, and high over all there 

 reigns the silence of the stars, the apiarist 

 who nears these marvellous cities and 

 stands, questioning, at their entrance, 

 recognises and understands the dialogue 

 that is passing between the wandering 

 queen and the virgins in prison. 



[72] 



To the young princesses, however, this 

 prolonged reclusion is of material benefit ; 

 for when they at last are freed they have 

 grown mature and vigorous, and are able 

 to fly. But during this period of waiting 

 the strength of the first queen has also 

 increased, and is sufficient now to enable 

 her to face the perils of the voyage. The 

 time has arrived, therefore, for the depar- 

 ture of the second swarm, or " cast," with 

 the first-born of the queens at its head. 

 No sooner has she gone than the workers 

 left in the hive will set one of the prisoners 



261 



