ELECTRA (with sudden bitterness).

Stranger, I am a wife.... 
O better dead!

ORESTES.

That seals thy brother’s doom! 
What Prince of Argos...?

ELECTRA.

Not the man to whom
My father thought to give me.

ORESTES.

Speak; that I
May tell thy brother all.

ELECTRA.

’Tis there, hard by,
His dwelling, where I live, far from men’s eyes.

ORESTES.

Some ditcher’s cot, or cowherd’s, by its guise!

ELECTRA (struck with shame for her ingratitude).

A poor man; but true-hearted, and to me
God-fearing.

ORESTES.

How?  What fear of God hath he?

ELECTRA.

He hath never held my body to his own.

ORESTES.

Hath he some vow to keep?  Or is it done
To scorn thee?

ELECTRA.

Nay; he only scorns to sin
Against my father’s greatness.

ORESTES.

But to win
A princess!  Doth his heart not leap for pride?

ELECTRA.

He honoureth not the hand that gave the bride.

ORESTES.

I see.  He trembles for Orestes’ wrath?

ELECTRA.

Aye, that would move him.  But beside, he hath
A gentle heart.

ORESTES.

Strange!  A good man....  I swear
He well shall be requited.

ELECTRA.

Whensoe’er
Our wanderer comes again!

ORESTES.

Thy mother stays
Unmoved ’mid all thy wrong?

ELECTRA.

A lover weighs
More than a child in any woman’s heart.

ORESTES.

But what end seeks Aegisthus, by such art
Of shame?

ELECTRA.

To make mine unborn children low
And weak, even as my husband.

ORESTES.

Lest there grow
From thee the avenger?

ELECTRA.

Such his purpose is: 
For which may I requite him!

ORESTES.

And of this
Thy virgin life—­Aegisthus knows it?

ELECTRA.

Nay,
We speak it not.  It cometh not his way.

ORESTES.

These women hear us.  Are they friends to thee?

ELECTRA.

Aye, friends and true.  They will keep faithfully
All words of mine and thine.

ORESTES (trying her).

Thou art well stayed
With friends.  And could Orestes give thee aid
In aught, if e’er...

ELECTRA.

Shame on thee!  Seest thou not? 
Is it not time?

ORESTES (catching her excitement).

How time?  And if he sought
To slay, how should he come at his desire?

ELECTRA.

By daring, as they dared who slew his sire!

ORESTES.

Wouldst thou dare with him, if he came, thou too,
To slay her?

ELECTRA.