LABOUR IN VAIN. 97 
fall off sooner or later—but fell out; that is, 
a circular piece of leaf, about 0°7 inch across, 
fell bodily out, and there was an amazed and 
angry buzz on the far side. 
Our bee fell, too, with this part of the leaf 
for a space, till she could collect herself. 
Then an odd face, with huge eyes, looked 
over from the other side and said ‘Bzz!’ 
very angrily, and she fled. 
She had been sitting on a part of a leaf 
which was being cut through from the other 
side by a leaf-cutter bee—who lines her nests 
with neat pieces cut from leaves—and—well, 
the piece had come out. 
Our bee went booming away through the 
hot sunshine, whirring like an aeroplane, and 
in a direct line. She was not alone. The air 
was full of insects, busy passing upon their 
‘lawful occasions.’ 
But it seemed at first as if our bee—who 
evidently knew where she was going—was 
alone, all the same. In a moment, however, 
it was evident that one flew with her, as if 
guarding her and guiding her through the 
dangerous avenues of the aerial ways. 
He was like her, but bright brown, and was 
her husband, if our insect may be said to have 
a husband, and there were men who said that 
he had never been known to settle. He cer- 
