20 AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN 



what that meant, for vanity had not ripened 

 in me yet, tho' I soon found that decided 

 pleasure in myself was growing fast. 

 After this very flattering reception there 

 quickly followed a great buzzing of wings 

 and a general rush my way. Then I heard 

 a voice of authority and snappy decision 

 say: "Seal her up! Quick! She is only 

 fourteen days old and the swarm must not 

 leave for two days yet!" At once several 

 headsful of mandibles were pushing gently 

 but forcibly against my own, and I was 

 obliged to get clear back into my cell, which 

 was not entirely closed up again, but whose 

 capping hung by a hinge on one side. 

 However, it was impossible for me to get 

 out, since four or five pairs of feet were 

 holding the lid down, and a stream of pop- 

 ulation was passing back and forth as if on 

 busy errands. Then I shouted again with 

 all my breath: "Cheep, Cheep, Cheep, 

 ee-e-e'' and behold some winning-toned per- 

 son replied: "Why, yes, of course we will; 

 Maids, it is time she had a Queen's first 



