The Swarm 
had to defend, and they no longer recognise 
their enemies. They become inoffensive be- 
cause of their happiness, though why they 
are happy we know not, except it be because 
they are obeying their law. A moment of 
such blind happiness is accorded by nature 
at times to every living thing, when she 
seeks to accomplish her ends. Nor need we 
feel any surprise that here the bees are her 
dupes; we ourselves, who have studied her 
movements these centuries past, and with a 
brain more perfect than that of the bee, we, 
too, are her dupes, and know not even yet 
whether she be benevolent or indifferent, or 
only basely cruel. 
There where the queen has alighted the 
swarm will remain; and had she descended 
alone into the hive the bees would have 
followed, in long black files, as soon as in- 
telligence had reached them of the maternal 
retreat. The majority will hasten to her 
with utmost eagerness; but large numbers 
will pause for an instant on the threshold 
of the unknown abode, and there will 
describe the circles of solemn rejoicing with 
which it is their habit to celebrate happy 
103 
