Dispute with a Peacock Butterjiy. 39 



"That's right," said the butterfly, as Buz settled 

 down close to her. " Now begin." 



"How?" asked Buz. 



" I made a statement that seemed to annoy you. 

 You must either admit it, or prove I'm wrong. 

 My statement was, that you bees are always think- 

 ing of eating." 



" I certainly don't admit it." 



" Then disprove it." 



" To begin with, we don't — but, I say," said Buz, 

 suddenly interrupting herself, "why shouldn't j>'^2< 

 prove you're right ? " 



" Any thing you please ; I won't be particular 

 with you. Well then, I've observed, not you alone, 

 but dozens of other bees — not on this day alone, but 

 on dozens of other days — and you have all been 

 doing the same thing — always. You have all been 

 employed in sucking every drop of honey out of 

 every single flower you could get at ; as for ever 

 resting, or playing about, or even stopping to talk 

 — why you know you never do. Those are the 

 observations I have made myself, and on those 

 observations I base my statement — I base my state- 

 ment," repeated the butterfly, speaking very slowly, 

 and evidently rather proud of herself. 



" Among your other observations," said Buz, try- 



