Queen's wicked design.

"Good gracious! is that true?" cried the old Nurse, and beat her
wings in horror. And without hearing a word more, she hurried off
to tell the other Bees.

"I think I deserve a little honey for what I have done," said the
little Grub. "But I can now lie down and sleep with a good
conscience."

Next evening, when the Queen thought that all the Bees were in bed,
she came to kill the Princesses. The Grub could hear her talking
aloud to herself. But she was quite afraid of the wicked Queen, and
dared not stir. "I hope she won't kill the Princesses," she
thought, and squeezed herself nearer to the door to hear what
happened.

The Queen looked cautiously round on all sides, and then opened the
first of the doors. But at the same moment the Bees swarmed out
from all directions, seized her by the legs and wings, and dragged
her out. "What is the matter?" she cried. "Are you raising a
rebellion?"

"No, your majesty," answered the Bees, with great reverence; "but
we know that you are intending to kill the Princesses, and
_that_ you shall not be allowed to do. What would become of us
in the autumn after your majesty's death?"

"Let me go!" cried the Queen, and tried to get away. "I am Queen
now anyway, and have the power to do what I like. How do you know