“You ask me if I knew what was happening,” she began. “I knew they were in love, and as I said to you, you remember, I feared it would end badly. I advised Adraste not to lose her heart to Damastor if she could help it. She couldn’t help it. The boy would not have run away if his mother had not compelled him. In my judgment Charitas is the scandalous person. If she had kept her hands off, there would have been an imprudent marriage. Thanks to her meddling, there is a clandestine love-affair and an illegitimate child.”

“Good heavens, is the child here already?” said Menelaus.

“Not yet,” said Helen.

“Then before it’s too late we’ll send the girl to some place where the child can be born without involving us. Afterwards I’ll provide for it’s support so long as they stay away. Have you any place to suggest?”

“None,” said Helen. “And it’s not necessary. This is really the most convenient place I know.”

“I don’t think you understand me,” said Menelaus.

“Perhaps I don’t,” said Helen. “I thought you asked me if I had any place to suggest where the child could be born without involving us. There is no such place. I am responsible for Adraste, and she depends upon me for comfort—even at that, she is in despair over Damastor’s deserting her. In ordinary decency I am, in a way, involved. You are, too, I should say.”

“You never were more mistaken in your life,” said Menelaus. “I have no responsibility in the matter, and I know what I am about when I say that the child should not be born in this house. It will do Hermione no good to become accustomed to such events in a supposedly well-ordered home. She is full of rather advanced ideas already, and her environment should be more normal rather than less so.”

“If Hermione were to talk with Adraste now,” said Helen, “she would see in the poor girl no encouragement to vice, no possible inducement toward indiscreet conduct. She might even learn from Adraste, in her present despondent mood, to avoid love altogether, and to distrust all men.”

“You think first of Adraste,” said Menelaus. “I am thinking of Hermione. Our daughter is entitled to a quiet and respectable home—”

“Then it’s well you have abandoned your support of Orestes!” said Helen.

“A thoroughly respectable home, and a certain amount of what is usually called innocence. It’s wrong to force the ugly facts of life on a young girl’s attention; they’ll come soon enough of themselves. I’m sorry, but Adraste must go. It’s very unfortunate.”

“Very!” said Helen.

Menelaus stood looking at her a moment. “Well,” he said, “I didn’t like to speak of it, and I’m glad you don’t oppose me.”