vering hands.

Then he, seeing how her thoughts lay, gently toward home, and desiring
to please her now more than anything in the world, spake of the child,
swearing by the Gods of Lacedaemon that she was not forgotten. "Nay," he
said, "but still she talks of her mother, and every day would know of
her return. And those about her in our house, faithful ones, say, 'The
King thy father has gone to bring our lady back; and all will be happy
again.' And so," said he, "it shall be, beloved, if thou wilt but come."
Then Helen lifted up her face from her covering hands, and showed him
her eyes. And he said, "O Wonder of the World, shall I come for thee?"

And her words were sped down the wall, soft as dropping rose-leaves:
"Come soon." And King Menelaus returned to his quarters, glorying in his
strength.

* * * * *

This day he took counsel with King Agamemnon his brother, and with
Odysseus, wisest of the Achaeans, and told them all. And while they
pondered what the news might mean he declared his purpose, which was to
have Helen again by all means, and to enter Troy disguised by night, and
in the morning to drop with her in his arms over the wall, from the
garden of Paris' house. But Odysseus dissuaded him, and so did the King
his brother; for they knew very well that Troy must be sacked, and the
Achaeans satisfied with plunder, and death, and women. For after ten
years of strife men raven for such things, and will not give over until
they have them. Also it was written in the heart of Hera that the walls
of Troy must be cast down, and the pride thereof made a byword. So it
was that the counsel of King Menelaus was overpassed, and that of
Odysseus prevailed. And with him lay the word that he should make his
plan, and tell it over to Menelaus, that he might tell it again to Helen
when he saw her on the wall.

* * * * *

At this time a great heart was in Helen, and strong purpose. And it was
so that while Paris marvelled to see her beauty wax ever the clearer,
and while he loved her more than ever he had, and found her compliance
the sweeter, he guessed nothing of what spirit it was that possessed
her, nor of what she did when she was by herself. Nor could he guess,
since she refused him never what he asked of her, how she weighed him
lightly beside Menelaus her husband; nor, while she let herself be
loved, what soft desires were astir in her heart to be cheris