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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

“Now, I wonder why Helen went with her,” said Menelaus. “I’d like to hear what they’re saying to each other, in private. Why do you think my wife has changed her mind about Pyrrhus?”

“She hasn’t, I should say, but she sees it’s useless,” said Eteoneus. “Your daughter’s going to marry Orestes. I don’t know how, nor when, but Orestes is as good as a married man from now on.”

“But he hasn’t a thing in the world! He can’t support a wife with this curse on him. It’s the last moment you’d think he would choose for matrimony.”

“I didn’t say he’d choose—I said she would marry him. A sense of duty once roused is an awful thing, Menelaus. Women have such a turn for making it fit in with what they want to do. She’ll marry him, and later on he’ll hear, from time to time, of the sacrifices she made for his benefit. Poor devil!”

“But she went out quite docile,” said Menelaus. “She practically gave in to me, didn’t you notice? And I count on Helen to follow up the advantage when they’re alone. She wants Pyrrhus more than I do, and she must abhor the thought of Orestes now.”

“That’s so, but your wife is pretty shrewd, I must say, in the way she retires from an argument. She seems to know when she has won it, and also when she has lost it. That’s rare in a woman. It’s Helen’s gift for accepting a fact that makes her so hard to manage. Helen didn’t like your bringing up the marriage question just now—I could see that. I fancy she thinks you finally threw your case away. Hermione may have been docile; my guess is that Helen is trying to find out, at this very minute, whether she is or not.”

“You may be right,” said Menelaus. “I’d like to know where you learned so much about women.”

“I know too much,” said Eteoneus, “and in this house I’m constantly reminded of all I know. I ought to be in a place where I could forget some of it. I’ve been thinking over my retirement, as you suggested. Next week, when you’re more at leisure, I’d like to come in and talk with you about it.”

V

V

“Why, he’s a perfect darling, Adraste! You’re a fortunate girl. Let me take him—it’s ages since I held one in my arms, but I still know how.”

“You certainly do, Helen! There he goes, sucking his thumb again! Take it out, will you, Helen, please?”

“So you think you’re going to break him of that habit?”

“Oughtn’t I to try?”