<h2><SPAN name="XIV" id="XIV"></SPAN>XIV</h2>
<h3>A DEEP PLOT</h3>
<p><span class="smcap">As</span> time passed, Betsy continued to see a
great deal of Joseph Bumble. And she
noticed one peculiar thing: Although he
talked continually of his cousin Buster
Bumblebee, the Queen's son, no one had
ever seen the two together.</p>
<p>"How does it happen," she asked Joseph
at last, "that I never find you with your
cousin? Aren't you friends?"</p>
<p>"We're certainly not <i>enemies</i>," said Joseph
Bumble, "though I must admit that
we're not quite so intimate as we might
be. You see, Buster and I have different<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_69" id="p_69"></SPAN></span>
tastes. And now that the red clover is in
blossom he spends all his time in the clover
field. But as you know, like you I am
very fond of flowers. And I'd far rather
be here in the meadow—or the flower garden—with
you, than in the clover patch
with Buster Bumblebee."</p>
<p>Naturally such an answer was bound to
please Betsy Butterfly. And after that she
bothered her head no more about the friendship
between the two cousins. Certainly
Joseph Bumble's explanation sounded reasonable.
And she had no cause to doubt
his statement.</p>
<p>Meanwhile there were others among
Betsy Butterfly's admirers who became
very peevish on observing how much time
Betsy and the newcomer in the neighborhood,
Joseph Bumble, were spending in
each other's society. And they agreed
among themselves that something ought to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_70" id="p_70"></SPAN></span>
be done to put an end to the upstart
Bumble's boasting.</p>
<p>"Betsy Butterfly thinks the fellow is a
cousin of Buster Bumblebee's," said Chirpy
Cricket. "But I've noticed that he and
Buster are never together. Let's ask Buster
to come over to the meadow so that he
may meet this cousin of his! And then
perhaps we'll learn something more about
Joseph Bumble than we know now."</p>
<p>Everybody said that that was a good
plan. And Betsy's admirers chose Daddy
Longlegs to call on Buster Bumblebee and
invite him to a party to be given in the
meadow the following day.</p>
<p>Daddy Longlegs agreed to do the errand,
in spite of the fact that for him it
was half a day's journey to the Bumblebee's
home from the stone wall where he
lived. But he thought that by hurrying
he ought to be able to get back in time to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_71" id="p_71"></SPAN></span>
put on his best coat and go to the party,
though he might arrive somewhat late.</p>
<p>"Don't forget to ask Betsy Butterfly to
the party!" Daddy called, as he started off
on his long trip.</p>
<p>"Don't worry! I'll attend to that myself,"
Chirpy Cricket promised.</p>
<p>"And don't forget to invite Joseph
Bumble!" Daddy cautioned him.</p>
<p>"Oh! we don't need to ask him," said
Chirpy Cricket. "<i>He'll</i> come without being
invited, unless I'm greatly mistaken."</p>
<hr class="sorta" />
<p>Luckily for Daddy Longlegs there was
not a breath of wind either that day or
the following one. So he made excellent
time to the Bumblebee home, where he
found Buster Bumblebee and gave him his
invitation. Then Daddy turned around
and started back towards his stone wall. Buster Bumblebee had promised to come to<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_72" id="p_72"></SPAN></span>
the party. And Daddy wanted to be present
when the two cousins, Buster Bumblebee
and Joseph Bumble, met—with Betsy
Butterfly right there to watch them.</p>
<hr class="chapter" />
<p class="chapter"><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="p_73" id="p_73"></SPAN></span></p>
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