“Waxywill thought of a plan for preventing annoyance. She proposed that we should cover the slug all over with wax, so that it should rather appear like a piece of the comb than a dead creature left in the hive.”
“A capital plan!” cried Spinaway. “And was the thing done?”
“Yes, it was, and before the day was over.”
“So there Mrs. Slug remains in a white wrapping,” laughed the spider; “a warning to those who go where they are not wanted. You were, I daresay, one of the foremost in the work.”
“Not I; I would not have touched the ugly creature with one of my feelers!”
“I beg your pardon!” said the spider; “indeed, I might have judged by your appearance that nothing but the most refined and elegant business would ever be given to you. You look as though you had never touched anything rougher than a rose.”
This speech put Sipsyrup in high good-humour; she began to think that she had judged the spider harshly, and that she really was an agreeable creature in spite of her ugly hunch.
“If you speak of delicate work,” observed the bee very politely, “I never saw anything so fine as your web.”
“It is tolerably well finished,” said the spider with a bow; “would you honour me by a closer inspection?”
“Oh, thank you, I’m not curious in these matters,” replied Sipsyrup, still feeling a little doubtful of her new friend.