The Nuptial Flight 



able to witness the hesitating departure 

 of the bride-elect and the murderous re- 

 turn of the bride. 



However great her impatience, she will 

 yet choose her day and her hour, and 

 linger in the shadow of the portal till a 

 marvellous morning fling open wide the 

 nuptial spaces in the depths of the great 

 azure vault. She loves the moment when 

 drops of dew still moisten the leaves 

 and the flowers, when the last fragrance 

 of dying dawn still wrestles with burning 

 day, like a maiden caught in the arms 

 of a heavy warrior; when through the 

 silence of approaching noon is heard, once 

 and again, a transparent cry that has lin- 

 gered from sunrise. 



Then she appears on the threshold — 

 in the midst of indifferent foragers, if she 

 have left sisters in the hive ; or sur- 

 rounded by a delirious throng of workers, 

 should it be impossible to fill her place. 

 303 



