218 DISCARDED WINGS. 



preached it, on that fancy ball. Perhaps she suspected that 

 ours was following the same turn, and knowing of old our 

 hahit of making observations upon insects, she, by a little 

 womanly artifice, availed herself of it to divert their course. 

 Pointing with her parasol to a long procession of brown ants, 

 which were crossing the foot-worn area beneath the tree, 

 " Look," said she, " I suppose they are going home to bed." 



" Or perhaps to a ball," rejoined we, quite unable to resist 

 the pleasure of taking our fair cousin in her own ruse; " but 

 let us follow them, and see." 



Emily was delighted at having, as she thought, so ingeni- 

 ously set us on our hobby, and attended us to the spot whither 

 we had traced the little labourers. Their populous settlement 

 bore no appearance of evening repose. Other trains were 

 approaching in various directions, to meet that which we had 

 followed, and a multitude was covering the conical surface of 

 the ant-hill, as if taking a farewell bask in the glowing sunset. 

 Amidst the congregated many, and distinguished from the 

 common herd by very superior bulk and four resplendent 

 wings, were several individual ants, which Emily (as well she 

 might) mistook for flies, and inquired accordingly what could 

 be their business in such incongruous society. " They are no 

 flies," said we, " but ants themselves female ants, though 

 with somewhat of the air, certainly, of being in masquerade or 

 fancy costume. But say what we will of their attire, we must 

 needs confess that they are in their proper places ; for they are 

 the matrons of the community, and, as we see, they are at 

 home." 



Our young companion made no reply; but stooping down, 

 seemed wholly engrossed by examination of the ant-hill. 

 " Look," exclaimed she, presently ; " there is one of these 

 portly dames without any wings at all. I suppose some of 

 her neighbours have taken up a spite against her, and com- 

 bined to strip her of her glittering appendages." 



" By no means," we answered, " she has laid them aside 



