80 
UNDER THE PLANTAIN LEAF 
“Well, I must say, you two are 
very anxious to learn how one poor 
honey bee has spent this summer 
day! I should feel very much flat¬ 
tered if I did not know it was 
pure stubbornness on ‘your part.” 
“And I suppose your determina¬ 
tion not to tell us was only that 
commendable trait, firmness. I have 
often noticed that what is horrid 
stubbornness on the part of others 
becomes a noble firmness when we 
show it ourselves,” said the ant. 
The bee pretended not to hear 
this very sage remark, but at 
once plunged into her story by 
saying: 
“Well, the first thing I did this 
morning was to help kill the males 
