THE NEW QUEEN. 



MEANTIME all is not fair weather in 

 the old hive. 



The new queen, although just out of her 

 cell, understands her business perfectly, and 

 is quite capable of going about it, but there 

 are complications. Hers was not the only 

 queen cell in that hive. 



There were others. And now, just as 

 she has ascended the throne with the old 

 queen peaceably out of the way, the suc- 

 cession being accomplished without oppo- 

 sition, lo and behold !' she hears a sound, — 

 a sound that probably sends the blood to 

 her heart, and causes her very toes to tingle. 



The sound she hears is not that of can- 

 non afar, nor of drum-beats in the distance, 

 147 



