The Hunting Wasps 



familiar passage, the passage through the 

 loose sand. Perish everything, dwelling and 

 inmate, if this passage be not found! Her 

 actions are like a series of echoes each awa- 

 kening the next in a settled order, which 

 allows none to sound until the previous, one 

 has sounded. The first action could not be 

 performed, not because of an obstacle, for 

 the house is wide open, but for want of the 

 usual entrance. That is enough: the sub- 

 sequent actions shall not be performed; the 

 first echo was dumb and all the rest are 

 silent. What a gulf separates intelligence 

 and instinct! Through the ruins of the de- 

 molished dwelling, a mother guided by in- 

 telligence hurries straight to her son; guided 

 by instinct, she comes to a stubborn halt on 

 the site of her old door. 



350 



