ITALIAN QUEEN BEE 43 



had never been born to servitude or defense, 

 but to be waited upon as princes are, and 

 they were quite ambushed by a silky mus- 

 tache and goatee which were as illustrious 

 in grooming and aspect as those of a high 

 caste Chinese Mandarin. He urged some 

 Maids aside rather unceremoniously, but I 

 could not think him impolite, for I now be- 

 lieve I naturally doted upon a becoming 

 conceit and brusqueness in one whose phys- 

 ical construction and mien bespoke hand- 

 some masculinity as well as impressive 

 strength of character. As this noble being 

 neared me I admired him instantly as if I 

 had been born to do so, and inquired of a 

 Maid who and what this grand personage 

 might be. "His name is Chap," said she. 

 "He is a Prince of Melapis, a line-bred 

 Italian Drone. We call them all Chaps. 

 We are Maids. We had over a thousand 

 Chaps before the swarm issued, but at pres- 

 ent there are only a few who were too young 

 to go with the rest. We shall very soon 

 have more. By to-morrow, perhaps hun- 



