58 Buz. 



after all, something tells me I ought to join- 

 the swarm. But, I say," added she briskly, " what 

 is the state of the case exactly, for I hardly 

 know? " 



" I do," answered Hum. " I came straight from 

 the queen when we met." 



"Tell me all about it then." 



" It seems that even yesterday the queen became 

 restless, and said something about changing her 

 house. I have it on good authority, for one of the 

 royal attendents told me as much." 



" Told you she said that ? " 



"Well, hardly; in fact, it's difficult to say exactly 

 what she did tell me. She kept on hinting : she 

 said, ' there might be changes before long, and what 

 should I think of that?' — and ' the queen might 

 use her wings before long, and what should I 

 think of that?' — and 'because a certain royal 

 person chose to live a certain time in a certain 

 house, did it follow that that royal person was 

 never to change her residence?' — and so on, you 

 know." 



" I hate that ! " cried Buz. " Why couldn't she 

 tell you outright, or leave it alone altogether?" 



" It does appear foolish, when one comes to think 

 of it," said Hum ; " especially when one recollects 



