Summary

In “Royal Jelly,” because Albert’s and Mabel’s new baby lost two pounds since birth, Mabel was sick with worry. Albert tried calming her down without success. Like every night, Mabel took the baby upstairs and cried. Albert told himself they must trust the doctor, who insisted “there was nothing the matter” (129). Because it had taken the couple “nine years to get this baby,” they were naturally worried (129).

To distract himself, Albert read about bees. He “had been fascinated . . . with bees” his whole life (130). As a boy, he discovered an affinity for them. The bees liked Albert, too. They would land on him without stinging him. He now raised bees and had many hives.

Albert read an article called “The Latest on Royal Jelly” (132). The article explained that royal jelly was fed to queens throughout “the whole of their...