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

“Well, I should say that if they always have the same effect, there may be something constant in them, something in the proportions, perhaps, or the colours, which you might call beauty. I wish I had mother’s colouring.”

“You may say just as easily that there is something universal in human nature. Your mother has had her career because she has certain physical proportions which you call beauty, or because—”

“Or because men are all alike!” said Hermione. “I see your point now. Shall we walk on? I don’t see a house on the horizon.”

“There’s one seven miles ahead, if that man was a good judge of distance,” said Orestes. “We’ll get there by nightfall.”

“I couldn’t walk so far if my life depended on it,” said Hermione. “Can’t we sleep out to-night, in some cave or shelter or something? I’ve heard of it’s being done.”

“Have you heard of any cave in the neighbourhood?” said Orestes. “That’s the point. The country is all flat rocks and sunlight, so far as I can see. Let’s walk till you want to stop, and we’ll decide then what to do next.”

“Orestes, this can’t go on, day after day. We shall perish. I try to be cheerful, but I’m giving out.”

“You’re all right, Hermione,” said Orestes. “You’re a bit over-tired, and perhaps the strain of that reception we got last evening has told on you. A night in the open air is just what we want. At least we can get away from people. We could be perfectly happy, you and I, if it weren’t for the people we have to meet.”

“Well, I’ll try it a little farther.”

He got the bundles on his shoulder and started off, and she followed slowly. When they had gone half a mile or so, he turned round and faced her.

“There’s another striking thing about your mother,” he said. “Have you noticed that whenever she addresses you—”

VI

VI

“Menelaus,” said Eteoneus, “I think I’ve done your wife some injustice, and I’d like to retract several things I said of her—we needn’t recall them. I’ve been talking with her.”

“You mean you’ve been looking at her,” said Menelaus. “I quite understand, and your apology is accepted. She has a persuading appearance. You are not the first.”

VII

VII