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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

“No, for a wonder, it’s not. My guess is—of course I don’t know—it’s Adraste.”

“And who is Adraste?”

“You know—you’ve seen her—the girl who attends my mother.”

“The one who came with Helen to my garden? Hermione! She’s very beautiful.”

“She certainly is—if you like the type.”

“How awful! I dare say she has no character at all. She’s a nobody, at best. And constantly with Helen! … Hermione, why do you think Damastor’s infatuated with her?”

“They’ve been together a good deal—I’ve seen them walking and talking, when they perhaps supposed themselves alone. He’s only a boy, Charitas, and she’s a scheming little thing, if I guess right. She knows her charms, and would rather die than not use them, and I doubt if she has any morals to speak of. I may be wrong, but I imagine Damastor has fallen into her clutches.”

“My poor boy! My poor boy! I might have known. This is your mother’s doings, Hermione! I’d spare your feelings if I could, but I must say that woman has paid me shabbily for my loyalty to her—even when I knew she didn’t deserve it. What right has she to come back among honest women, who have put up with worse husbands, perhaps, than she ever had, and give herself airs as if she were a goddess, beyond human measures of right and wrong—and bring with her this little snake, to charm away our men and poison our lives! If your mother had her just reward, Hermione! Well, I can save Damastor yet. I’ll send him away where that girl can’t get her hands on him. He’ll forget her if he sees a little more of the world. I’ll send him to my brother’s, for a visit. If she ever speaks to him again, it will be at my funeral!”

“On the whole, I think you’re wise,” said Hermione. “Damastor is too nice a boy, I’m sure, to have his life spoiled by the wrong kind of woman. I’d be sorry for any well brought up man who chose Adraste. I’m glad that Orestes, so far as he knows about her, doesn’t like her at all.”

PART III

PART III

their elders

I

I