The Young Queens 
royal cells; but instead of meeting with 
docile servants who second her efforts, she 
will find her path blocked by a numerous 
and hostile guard. In her fury, and urged 
on by her fixed idea, she will endeavour to 
force her way through, or to outflank them ; 
but everywhere sentinels are posted to pro- 
tect the sleeping princesses. She persists, 
she returns to the charge, to be repulsed 
with ever-increasing severity, to be somewhat 
roughly handled even, until at last she begins 
vaguely to understand that these little in- 
flexible workers stand for a law before which 
that law must bend whereby she is inspired. 
And at last she goes, and wanders from 
comb to comb, her unsatisfied wrath finding 
vent in the war-song, or angry complaint, 
that every bee-keeper knows; resembling 
somewhat the note of a distant trumpet of 
silver; so intense, in its passionate feeble- 
ness, as to be clearly audible, in the evening 
especially, two or three yards away from the 
double walls of the most carefully enclosed 
hive. 
Upon the workers this royal cry has a 
magical effect. It terrifies them, it induces 
209 fe) 
