First Flights — Narrow Escape. 33 



only be amused at hearing what a mess I had got 

 into, but they never would think of the story at 

 the right time. No, I shall certainly not make it 

 public." 



So she sipped a little honey, cleaned herself with 

 her feet, and stretched her wings, and, with the sun 

 glistening brightly on her, looked quite fine again. 

 Her last flight brought her to the top of the kitchen- 

 garden wall, from which she was just about to start 

 for the hive, when she thought how disagreeable it 

 would be to meet Hum and tell her every thing. 

 "After all, what good can possibly come of alluding 

 to my adventure ?" she said to herself. "It hurt 

 no one but me, and I'm all right again now ; so I 

 may say it has done me good. No, I declare I'll say 

 nothing at all about it to Hum or any one else: 

 that will be the best way." 



So she opened her wings and flew gayly to the 

 hive, which she entered just as if nothing had hap- 

 pened. 



