At once they went in a solemn procession to the six-sided cell
where the little Grub lay. The head Bee Nurse politely knocked at
the door, opened it cautiously, and told the Grub what the Bees had
decided. At first she could hardly believe her own ears; but when
they had carried her carefully into one of the large, delightful
chambers, and brought her as much honey as she could eat, she
perceived that it was all in earnest.

"So I am to be Queen after all," she said to the head Bee Nurse.
"You would not believe it, you old growler!"

"I hope that your majesty will forget the rude remarks that I made
at the time you lay in the six-sided cell," said the old Bee, with
a respectful bow.

"I forgive you," said the new-baked Princess. "Fetch me some more
honey."

A little time after the Grub was full grown, and stepped out of her
cell as big and as beautiful as the Bees could wish. And besides,
she knew how to commando "Away with you!" she said. "We must have
more honey for our use in the winter, and you others must perspire
more wax. I am thinking of building a new wing to the hive. The new
Princesses shall live there next year; it is very unsuitable for
them to be so near common Grubs."

"Heyday!" said the Bees to one another. "One would think she had
been a Queen ever since she lay in the egg."

"No," said the head Bee Nurse; "that is not so. But she has had