A Second Swarm — Idle Hours. 87 



"Oh, my queen!" cried Buz. "You astonish 

 me ! How shall we manage it ? " 



"The working bees will rise against them, and 

 turn them out of the hive ; see if they don't. Why 

 should we keep them all through the winter? That's 

 what I want to know." 



" Why indeed ? " said Buz hastily ; and then con. 

 tinued after a pause : " If we do get rid of them, there 

 is all the more reason for our taking a little holiday 

 now ; for we shall have plenty of honey." 



" My sentiments exactly," returned her friend ; 

 " but as I feel inclined for a little on my own account, 

 I shall have a turn at the flower-beds. What do you 

 say ? " 



" Come on," said Buz, and away they flew. 



Later on, when they returned to the hive, they 

 were surprised to see a great commotion, and crowds 

 of bees pouring in. 



" What is all this bustle about ? " asked Buz of the 

 first bee she encountered. " Is any thing the mat- 

 ter?" 



" Ever so much," was the answer. " There has 

 been an accident, and the swarm that left so lately is 

 returning." 



" Indeed! " cried Buz ; "but what accident could 

 possibly induce the old queen to come back? " 



