and
it's all right."

I shuddered.

"Perhaps," said Berry, looking at me, "perhaps you have that power.
Who knows?"

"Who will ever know?" said I defiantly.

"We can easily find out," said Berry eagerly.

I sat up. "It is," I said, "just conceivable that I have that power.
I do not recollect my immersion in the Styx, but it is, I suppose, not
impossible that, although I am not actually invulnerable, my sterling
qualities may yet be so apparent to the bee mind that, even were I so
indiscreet as to lay hands upon their hive, they would not so far
forget themselves as to assail me. At the same time, it is equally on
the cards that the inmates of the hive I so foolishly approached would
be a dull lot--shall we say, Baeotian bees? Or an impulsive lot, who
sting first and look for qualities afterwards. In short, mistakes will
occur, and, as an orphan and a useful member of society, I must refuse
to gratify your curiosity."

"I think you might try," said Daphne. "We want them to swarm awfully,
and they might actually swarm on you. You never know."

"Pardon me, I do know. I have no doubt that they would swarm on me.
No doubt at all."

"Well, then--"

"Disobliging of me not to let them, isn't it? And we could have the
funeral one day next week. What are you doing on Tuesday?"

"Well, we've got to move them from the skep into the new hive tonight
somehow," said my sister, "and you've got to help."

"Oh, I'Il help right enough."

"What'll you do?"

"I'Il go up the road and send the traffic round by West Hanger. We
don't want to be hauled up for manslaughter."

Daphne turned to Berry.

"He'd better hold the skep, I think," she said simply.

"Yes," said her husband. "Or keep the new hive steady while we shake
the bees out of the skep into it. We've only got two veils, but he
won't want one for that."

"Of course not," said I with a bitter laugh. "In fact, I think I'd
better wear a zephyr and running shorts. I shall be able to move with
more freedom."

"Ah, no," said Berry. "You must keep the trunk covered. The face and
hands don't really matter, but the back and legs...That might be
dangerous."

"Nonsense, nonsense," said I. "I'm not afraid of a bee or two. How
many are there in the hive?"

"Twenty or twenty-five thousand," said Daphne. "Where are you going?"

"To set my house in order. Heaven forgive you, as I do. I have
already forgiven Berry. I should like Jonah to have my stop-