“You shan’t be queen! I will! I will!” they all yelled together and began to thump on the walls and make a frightful din.
The head-nurse came running up at once and opened the doors:
“What are your Royal Highnesses’ commands?” she asked and curtseyed and scraped with her legs.
“More honey!” they all cried together. “But me first, me first! I’m going to be queen!”
“This minute, this minute, your Royal Highnesses!” she replied and ran off as fast as her six old legs could carry her.
Soon after, she came back with several other bees. They dragged a quantity of honey with them, which they put down the throats of the angry little princesses, till gradually they grew quiet and all ten of them went to sleep.
But the little grub lay awake and thought over what had happened. She was yearning for honey and shook the door:
“Give me some honey! I can stand this no longer; I’m quite as good as the others.”
The old bee told her to be silent:
“Keep still, you little squaller! Here comes the queen.”