QUEENIE 



II 



I become Mistress of a Colony of Bees of my own. 

 My reception and exalted position. The Address 

 of Welcome. Prince Melapis. The Chaps and 

 the Maids. The three Orders. "Hock, Hock," I 

 am defied. I meet and vanquish a rival Queen. I 

 have no moral nature. 



A SHORT time after this, I seemed to 

 feel our home moving somewhat, as 

 if it were being shoved along the hive-stand, 

 and scraping on something rough. This 

 only lasted a moment, however, and I won- 

 dered what was the matter. Suddenly I 

 heard a great stampede and fluffing of 

 wings, and at first thought my mother and 

 her swarm were coming back to our home, 

 but I soon made up my mind that the up- 

 roar was at the entrance of a new hive a 

 few inches away from ours. 



I heard tramping of feet, and voices near, 

 and finally my Master's wife and little 

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