The Nuptial’ Flight 
able to witness the hesitating departure 
of the bride-elect and the murderous re- 
turn of the bride. 
However great her impatience, she will 
yet choose her day and her hour, and 
linger in the shadow of the portal till a 
marvellous morning fling open wide the 
nuptial spaces in the depths of the great 
azure vault. She loves the moment when 
drops of dew still moisten the leaves 
and the flowers, when the last fragrance 
of dying dawn still wrestles with burning 
day, like a maiden caught in the arms 
of a heavy warrior; when through the 
silence of approaching noon is heard, once 
and again, a transparent cry that has lin- 
gered from sunrise. 
Then she appears on the threshold — 
in the midst of indifferent foragers, if she 
have left sisters in the hive; or sur- 
rounded by a delirious throng of workers, 
should it be impossible to fill her place. 
3093 
