THE SWARM 



be loss to us through our having retreated, 

 or waited. 



♦ 



V 



However these things may be, and 

 without abandoning this conjecture of 

 ours, that at least has the advantage of 

 connecting in our mind certain actions 

 that have evident connection in fact, it is 

 certain that the bees have far less adora- 

 tion for the queen herself than for the 

 infinite future of the race that she repre- 

 sents. They are not sentimental ; and 

 should one of their number return from 

 work so severely wounded as to be held 

 incapable of further sen.-ice, they will ruth- 

 lessly expel her from the hive. And yet 

 it cannot be said that they are altogether 



[74] 



