Then he knew where that
adorable smell came from. For though, as I think I have said, his
experience was extremely limited, his mother had managed to convey to
him an astonishing lot of useful and varied information.
"Teddy Bear had an idea that bees, in spite of their altogether
diminutive size, were capable of making themselves unpleasant, and also
that they had a temper which was liable to go off at half-cock.
Nevertheless, being a bear of great decision, he lost no time in
wondering what he had better do. The moment he had convinced himself
that the honey was up that tree, up that tree he went to get it."
"Oh!" cried the Babe, in tones of shuddering sympathy, as he felt at
his leg and his ear. "Oh! why _didn't_ he stop to think?"
Uncle Andy did not seem to consider that this remark called for any
reply. He ignored it. Stopping just at this critical point he
proceeded with exasperating deliberation to roll himself another fat
and clumsy cigarette. Then he applied fresh earth to both the Babe's
stings and his own. At last he went on.
"That tree must have been hollow a long way down, for almost as soon as
Teddy Bear's claws began to rattle on the bark the bees suspected
trouble and began to get excited.
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