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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

“It wasn’t Hermione’s fault either,” said Helen, “and we can see now that Orestes wasn’t to blame. The fact is as you said, daughter—we don’t know Orestes. Will you ask him to come to-morrow?”

“I’ll give him the invitation,” said Hermione. “I never know what he has to do.”

II

II

“It was good of you to come, Orestes,” said Helen. “I understand you are very busy at present, but I wanted to see you as soon as Hermione told us of the marriage.”

“I’d like to say, but I can’t, that I’m glad to come,” said Orestes. “You have every reason to hate me. I dreaded to meet you.”

“I don’t hate you,” said Helen, “and on your part I hope there is no occasion for dread. I should like to be friends with my daughter’s husband; that’s the whole reason why I asked you to come.”

“You didn’t want me to marry Hermione,” said Orestes.

“I did not.”

“You wanted her to marry Pyrrhus.”

“I did.”

“Then I’m not convinced of this sudden friendship.”

“My dear Orestes, I always knew I should be on good terms with my son-in-law, when once he was selected. The friendship isn’t sudden—the marriage was. I wish you could know how often your name has been mentioned in our house, since my return. I urged Hermione to invite you for a visit, we were so eager to meet you, but she didn’t know where you were. You had our sympathy; we realised what terrible responsibilities you were shouldering. I’d like to tell you now, if I may, how deeply I grieve for you.”

“I feel like a hypocrite to accept your sympathy,” said Orestes. “I haven’t considered you a friend.”

“How could you know I was? But I am—and may I count you one of my friends?”

“You can’t very well. I recently killed your sister.”

“I’ve heard that you did.”

“And more recently I killed your guest, Pyrrhus.”

“I’ve heard of that, too.”

“They are crimes of the worst sort, most people think.”

“I think so, too, but it wasn’t unfriendliness to me that made you commit them, was it? I thought you had other reasons.”

“But surely you don’t want to be friends with the man who killed your sister!”

“With the man who has married my daughter.”

“I must say you are generous!”