No sooner had I reached the room, than the three
bees, which had followed me, flew at once to the lady, and
settled upon her hair. Then first I saw her move. She started,
put up her hand, and caught them; then rose and, having held
them into the flame of the lamp one after the other, turned to
me. Her face was not so sad now as stern. It frightened me much.
'Nanny, you have got me into trouble,' she said. 'You have been
letting out my bees, which it is all I can do to manage. You
have forced me to burn them. It is a great loss, and there will
be a storm.' As she spoke, the clouds had gathered all about us.
I could see them come crowding up white about the windows. 'I am
sorry to find,' said the lady, 'that you are not to be trusted.
You must go home again -- you won't do for us.' Then came a
great clap of thunder, and the moon rocked and swayed. All grew
dark about me, and I fell on the floor and lay half-stunned. I
could hear everything but could see nothing. 'Shall I throw her
out of the door, my lady?' said the little man. 'No,' she
answered; 'she's not quite bad enough for that. I don't think
there's much harm in her; only she'll never do for us. She would
make dreadful mischief up here. She's only fit for the mud.
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