54 Buz. 



told about the royal grubs ? " demanded the 

 drone. 



" Of course I've heard of them." Buz said this a 

 little impatiently — the drone spoke so very con- 

 temptuously. 



" Oh, you have, have you ? Then you will not 

 be astonished when I tell you that royal grubs 

 become queens, and that one of those in this hive is 

 just ready to leave her cell ; but she won't come out 

 before the old queen has left. Oh, no ! she'll take 

 care of that— or rather the royal nurses will." 



" Indeed ; why?" 



" Because the old queen would try to get at her, 

 and sting her to death. You females are so jealous 

 and spiteful ! " answered the drone. 



" I ain't a female ! " cried Buz. 



" Yes, you are, though ; all you working bees are 

 undeveloped females. Suppose now we had been 

 in want of a queen, and we had picked you out as a 

 grub, and enlarged your cell and fed you on royal 

 bread : why, you would have become a queen ! 

 Actually you ! " 



" Really ? " 



"Yes, really; but it's too XdX&now ; no chance for 

 you now, my dear ; so you needn't be proud." 



"I'm not a bit proud," cried Buz. 



