“Of course it can,” said Helen. “Meanwhile, what will you do if you meet Clytemnestra now? Won’t it be rather awkward for you to pass the time of day while you’re killing her lover? And won’t it be still more awkward afterwards? You ought to consider every side of it, Menelaus. This time I’m not urging you to avoid danger or ridicule; I’m thinking that since Agamemnon is gone, you must approach Clytemnestra, as the surviving parent, when you arrange the details of Hermione’s wedding, and perhaps it would therefore be wiser to keep out of this feud—especially since Orestes seems able to bear her wrath.”

“I don’t see that at all,” said Hermione. “He can’t keep out of the feud, mother; he can’t talk to Clytemnestra about me, nor about anything else, without remembering who killed Agamemnon. He might just as well go now and help Orestes, and I can marry without Clytemnestra’s approval—no arrangements need be made with her. In fact, I don’t wish her approval. I intend to have nothing to do with her.”

“You can’t ignore your mother-in-law,” said Menelaus. “I’m glad you feel about her as you do, but it will be difficult for you to get on after you have given yourself to her son. Do you know, Hermione, it might be wise to reconsider the whole situation. I like Orestes better than ever, and all that sort of thing, but in marriage you have to reckon with the relatives. Marriage is a frightfully social institution. I have absolutely no social leanings toward Clytemnestra.”

“Father; are you going back on me, and on Orestes?” said Hermione.

“Of course I’m not,” said Menelaus, “but you can see for yourself how it is. I could have arranged the marriage with Agamemnon, and swallowed my prejudice against his wife, but now the wife is the head of the house. That’s a very different matter. I can’t take steps to marry my daughter to the son of my brother’s murderer!”

“To the son of your brother!” said Hermione.

“That’s all very well,” said Menelaus, “but I’m considering the other side of him. Suppose we let the whole subject drop for a while; Orestes is pre-occupied, anyway, and there’s no hurry.”

“I can’t let Orestes drop, if that’s what you mean,” said Hermione. “I’m committed to him—I’ve promised myself. I haven’t changed my mind in any respect. When he’s ready to take me, I’m his. I thought you knew that, father. I’d like to marry with your blessing, but I shall marry Orestes. I wish you’d help with Ægisthus—but he can probably manage by himself.”

“I don’t think that’s quite dutiful,” said Menelaus. “You ought to listen to a parent’s advice. We used to respect our elders.”