The Life of the Bee 



accusing her of laziness, probably, or sus- 

 pecting her of feeble mind. On their 

 second departure, when they find that she 

 still has not followed, her ill-faith becomes 

 evident to them, and their attacks grow 

 more serious. And finally, when they 

 shall have gone forth once more, and still 

 with the same result, they will almost 

 always condemn her, as being irremediably 

 faithless to her destiny and to the future 

 of the race, and put her to death in the 

 royal prison. 



l3Sl 



It is to the future, therefore, that the 

 bees subordinate all things ; and with 

 a foresight, a harmonious co-operation, a 

 skill in interpreting events and turning 

 them to the best advantage, that must 

 compel our heartiest admiration, particu- 

 larly when we remember in how startling 

 and supernatural a light our recent inter- 



