She might have left the Place indeed, but could not the
Company ; and the Remedy would have been much worse
than the Disease. Had she enraged them, all Resistance
had been in Vain, and nothing less than her Life would
have atoned- for the Offence. And now to have had that
Life (in so much Jeopardy) insured, what would I not have
given?” :

Her life was saved, however, by Thorley’s finding and
removing the queen, when the swarm left their unwilling
hostess to follow their rightful sovereign. The girl’s reward
was to become a local heroine and lose forever all fear of
bees !

Butler describes the coming forth of the queen from the
hive at the time of swarming with a pen more worthy of a
novelist than of a naturalist. He tells us that when two
thirds or three fourths of the swarm have departed, “the
music ceaseth and then cometh forth this stately dame:
who, walking a turn or two before the door (of purpose,
you would think, to be seen) she takes her leave ; leaving
but a small train to follow her, which hie them after as fast
as they can..
