“Menelaus, you remember you invited Pyrrhus of your own accord—indeed, against my expressed desire. I suggested the visit, of course, and I even hoped Hermione and he might be interested in each other. When you discouraged that idea, I contented myself with the wish that Hermione at least might meet him, even though she chose Orestes. But when I saw how impossible it would be to receive him hospitably, I begged you to postpone the visit. You wouldn’t listen to me, and now you are sorry he is coming. But I shall do my best to entertain him, and he probably won’t stay long.”

“On the contrary,” said Menelaus, “if you do your best to entertain him, he probably will never leave. That’s what I’ve been afraid of, all along. I think you had better keep in the background as much as possible and perhaps Hermione had better, also. I’ll entertain him. The more I know of the men of the younger generation, the less I care to see my daughter with them. I’ll entertain him, and I’ll see that he goes home soon. The recent tragedy, in which your sister figured, will give you an excuse for secluding yourself.”

Helen smiled at him, and he took to walking up and down again.

“Seclusion for me, certainly, but why for Hermione? She has been too much secluded already. The point of this visit, which seems to embarrass you, was merely to give her another idea of the world, to widen her acquaintance beyond this small place. I have entire confidence that even in my absence you can protect her from whatever danger there is in a few conversations with Pyrrhus.”

“Quite true,” said Menelaus, “but I foresee awkward possibilities. If Hermione should by chance fall in love with him now, Orestes might think I had Pyrrhus here for that purpose.”

“You can always lay the blame on me, you know,” said Helen.

“But Orestes is going to be angry anyway when I tell him he can’t marry Hermione,” said Menelaus, “and I want to keep the debate on a high plane—on the question of principle. My daughter can’t marry the son of a woman who killed her husband. If Orestes hears that I’m trying to marry Hermione to Pyrrhus, he’ll say my objection to the murder is just a device to break his engagement and win a more celebrated son-in-law.”

“I don’t see why you have to fear what Orestes thinks,” said Helen. “After all, Hermione doesn’t belong to him. He has done nothing to justify his pretensions to her hand, if indeed he wishes to marry her. Have you thought of that? Hermione wants him, but you and I have no reason to think he reciprocates. Treat Pyrrhus as you would if Orestes did not exist; it’s the courteous way, and the only self-respecting.”