“Your ridicule doesn’t disturb me,” said Menelaus. “I have put my foot down, as you will see. Hermione is to marry Orestes. I shall be civil to Pyrrhus—merely so. I don’t like him, and I didn’t like his father; now that you wish you had married one or both of them, I like them still less. While Pyrrhus is here, you can keep out of sight, except at meals, and at such other times as I shall specify. If you don’t obey me, I’ll have you locked in your room with a guard at the door. Pyrrhus will not think it strange, remembering your history. I’ll tell him, with some of your frankness, that I would have treated you with more respect than you deserved, would have restored you to your old position in society, would have given back to you everything you threw away—but you wouldn’t let me do it. You are an impossible case, Helen, good enough to look at on the outside, but inwardly anything but beautiful. You are a born trouble-maker. If I have to, I’ll tell him the whole story.”

“Menelaus,” said Helen, “when you exhibit your conception of a strong man, I’m sorry for you. I really am sorry. You and your brother always quarrelled with Achilles. You knew he was the bigger man, and you found excuses for annoying him. Now, having invited Pyrrhus to our house, at my request and for the special purpose we three understand—I include Hermione here—you say you will tell him all about me—you’ll repeat, I suppose, some of the polite terms you employ in the bosom of the family. His visit, I can see, will be full of surprises for him, but on the whole he will enjoy it, for you will make clear how high you rate him and how little you think of yourself. You’re quite right. If I must compare you two in brains, in appearance, in manners, in achievements—you’d better lock me up. Let Hermione see him; that’s what I wanted in the first place. Besides, if you are to be present, I don’t know that I wish to see Pyrrhus. I’d be too much ashamed of you, Menelaus. I couldn’t explain why I married you, or why I came back. That is, of course, I could explain if the subject were once broached, but it would be impossibly bad form to discuss you with a guest.”

“Why did you marry me, then?” said Menelaus, “and why did you come back?”

“I made a mistake,” said Helen.