BooksBarbecue
Back The Private Life of Helen of Troy Save as PDF
Chapters (39)
  1. Cover
  2. The Private Life of Helen of Troy
  3. Contents
  4. NOTE
  5. PART I
  6. I
  7. II
  8. III
  9. IV
  10. V
  11. VI
  12. VII
  13. PART II
  14. I
  15. II
  16. III
  17. IV
  18. V
  19. VI
  20. PART III
  21. I
  22. II
  23. III
  24. IV
  25. V
  26. PART IV
  27. I
  28. II
  29. III
  30. IV
  31. V
  32. PART V
  33. I
  34. II
  35. III
  36. IV
  37. V
  38. VI
  39. VII

“That’s very well so far as I’m concerned,” said Eteoneus, “but you don’t understand your wife. I’m sorry to say it, but she’s too smart for you. The way she kept you from going off to help Orestes was one of the neatest things I’ve seen. Just an insinuation or two about Clytemnestra, and the awkwardness of arranging the marriage if you were implicated in the execution of her lover, and you actually gave up the impulse to have a share in avenging your brother! Then another hint or two about your brother’s murderess at your daughter’s wedding, and you decided against the wedding. That woman can get anything she wants. As long as you both live, she will turn you round her little finger. What I object to most is her knack of making people feel they’re wrong and she’s right. Most women have the gift, but with her it’s an art. I dare say she made Priam think she came to Troy at considerable personal sacrifice, and the city owed her something. She says nothing to me—I suppose she can guess I don’t like her; but when she turns on me that extraordinary look of hers, I feel sure she’s ready to forgive me, any time I ask it.”

“Forgive you what?” said Menelaus.

“Exactly! What?” said Eteoneus. “I’ve done nothing amiss, so far as I know. But that’s your wife’s attitude. The rest of us are always wrong, and there’s no system in it. She is very indignant with Clytemnestra, who wasn’t proper enough, and she objects to Charitas because she’s too conventional!”

“Yes,” said Menelaus, “and she doesn’t like Orestes because of his family, but she has that girl Adraste with her all the time, and now Adraste has disgraced herself.”

“I must admit I agree with Helen on the last two counts,” said Eteoneus. “I don’t care for Orestes myself, and Adraste’s a very fine girl—one of the finest women you are likely to meet.”

“I’m not likely to meet her,” said Menelaus. “I’ve noticed her about the house, but I never pay much attention to the women servants. Now I’ll send her away, and protect my home as completely as I can from this latest scandal. Where had I better send her, Eteoneus?”

“I’d leave it to Helen,” said Eteoneus; “she’ll know the best place.”

“But Helen won’t wish her to go,” said Menelaus. “It would be just like her to keep the girl and make a heroine of her!”