Saggia turned again to the bees. "That Hero loves Nuova proves that she can be loved; that Nuova loves Hero proves that she can be our Queen. Let Nuova, the new bee, be our new Queen!"
The bees were already buzzing and fluttering about in great excitement again. They were not able to comprehend immediately all that Saggia's words implied, but they saw in them a hope for their hive, and some of the bees already began to call out joyously. Just then Beffa began dancing vigorously and waving his wings and antennæ in triumph and singing loudly and clearly:
"Bee-Bird may yet be beaten; We yet may peal the wedding bell, Although our Queen is eaten!"
Then he made a grand whirl which brought him squarely in front of Nuova, and with a deep curtsy and elaborate gesture he called out to all the bees, like a herald:
"The Queen has passed. Long live the Queen!"
And Saggia immediately echoed him, also bowing low before Nuova: "The Queen has passed. Long live the Queen!"
Other bees took up the shout, which soon spread to all. Beffa beckoned all to follow him in a triumphal march and dance around the amazed and happy pair, and altogether they set up a great song of joy and triumph. Nuova and Hero were not only saved, but they were become in a second King and Queen of the hive. It was breath-taking. They could only look at each other in utter thanksgiving and love. But as Beffa, tiring of the exertion of the dance, stopped by the side of Nuova, she put out an antenna caressingly to him and then turned to Hero.
"Hero, our King!" proudly shouted all the bees.
"Beffa, our jester!" shouted all the bees.
Beffa gave a little hop; then looking up at Nuova, he sang:
"Ah, well, who knows? Ah, well, who knows?"
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Nuova, by Vernon Kellogg