because,
seeing Maya's blush of embarrassment, he softened to her
childish ignorance.

"It's a rose," he explained indulgently. "So now you know.-- We
moved in four days ago, and since we moved in, it has flourished
wonderfully under our care.-- Won't you come in?"

Maya hesitated, then conquered her misgivings and took a few
steps forward. He pressed aside a bright petal, Maya entered,
and she and the beetle walked beside each other through the
narrow chambers with their subdued light and fragrant walls.

"What a charming home!" exclaimed Maya, genuinely taken with the
place. "The perfume is positively intoxicating."

Maya's admiration pleased the beetle.

"It takes wisdom to know where to live," he said, and smiled
good-naturedly. "'Tell me where you live and I'll tell you what
you're worth,' says an old adage.-- Would you like some nectar?"

"Oh," Maya burst out, "I'd love some."

The beetle nodded and disappeared behind one of the walls. Maya
looked about. She was happy. She pressed her cheeks and little
hands against the dainty red hangings and took deep breaths of
the delicious perfume, in an ecstasy of delight at being
permitted to stop in such a beautiful dwelling.

"It certainly is a great joy to be alive," she thought. "And
there's no comparison between the dingy, crowded stories in
which the bees live and work and this house. The very quiet here
is splendid."

Suddenly there was a loud sound of scolding behind the walls. It
was the beetle growling excitedly in great anger. He seemed to
be hustling and pushing someone along roughly, and Maya caught
the following, in a clear, piping voice full of fright and
mortification.

"Of course, because I'm alone, you dare to lay hands on me. But
wait and see what you get when I bring my associates along. You
are a ruffian. Very well, I am going. But remember, I called you
a ruffian. You'll never forget _that_."

The stranger's emphatic tone, so sharp and vicious, frightened
Maya dreadfully. In a few moments she heard the sound of someone
running out.

The beetle returned and sullenly flung down some nectar.

"An outrage," he said. "You can't escape those vermin anywhere.
They don't allow you a moment's peace."

Maya was so hungry she forgot to thank him and took a mouthful
of nectar and chewed, while the beetle wiped the perspiration
from his forehead and slightly loosened his upper armor so as to
catch his breath.

"Who was that?" mumbled Maya, w