After trying his best to rouse Peppery Polly's people, Freddie Firefly
at last grew discouraged. He saw that the Bumblebee family was bound to
sleep until dawn came, no matter what happened.

He reflected, then, that there were two things he could do. He could go
back alone to the clover field and try to set that ill-tempered worker
free--and no doubt get stung by her for his pains. Or he could go to the
dance of the Fireflies over near the swamp, and have a delightful time.

"Let me see!" Freddie mused aloud. "I promised Peppery Polly that I'd
come back with one of her own people--IF _I_ COULD. And since I can't do
that, I ought not to go back to the clover-patch at all. For if I did,
it would be about the same as breaking a promise. ... No! I'll go to the
dance instead!" And away he flew.

Luckily the dance was not half finished when he reached it. And he had
such a pleasant time that he forgot all about that Bumblebee worker,
stuck fast to the thistle blossom.

But you may be sure that Peppery Polly did not forget him. After her
friends set her free the following morning she spent the whole day
looking for Freddie Firefly.

But he lay very low. And all the rest of the summer he shunned the
clover field--and the flower garden, too.