152 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



wide brown eyes fixed on the old man's face "but 

 I think a sweet pea would rather fly off with one of 

 those little white butterflies than a bee ; they look 

 more as if they belonged together more suitable." 



"Perhaps," said Mr. Trommel ; "you see many won- 

 derful things if you watch for them. Shall I tell you 

 another thing?" 



"Oh, yes ! " said the under-gardener. 



"Well, then, look out for the bees. They are not 

 so good as some people think they are. I have caught 

 them stealing." 



"Stealing ! " echoed his listener, in an awed whisper. 



"Stealing ! " repeated Herr Trommel, firmly. 



"Why, I thought they were very good, and worked 

 very hard, and were very, very industrious." 



"The bees they are tramps," said Herr Trommel. 

 "They go to a flower for honey, and the flower does 

 as all good people do with a tramp : it says, 'Yes, I 

 will give you something to eat, but you must work 

 for it.' So the bee has his honey. Then he carries 

 away a load of pollen- dust for the flower, and takes 

 it for her to another flower that is, when the bee 

 does as he should." 



"But when does he steal?" asked the brown eyes. 



"That I will show you. Come with me over to the 



