70 
UNDER THE PLANTAIN LEAF 
each cell, and for a time she has to 
do all the work herself, even feeding 
the larvae.” 
“It must be rather hard work to 
be a queen wasp,” said the bee. 
“So it is for a while, but she soon 
has plenty of helpers, for the first 
wasps that are hatched are always 
workers. Then she can take things 
a little easier, you see, so that on 
the whole it is a rather good thing 
to be a queen, for she lives on year 
after year.” 
“Yes,” said the ant, “and that is 
worth working pretty hard for.” 
“Your story has been very inter¬ 
esting, Miss Vespa,” said the bee, 
spreading her wings for flight; “and I 
think I must bid you good-afternoon.” 
