Her sisters went through the world being cherished and adored and sought after by all manner of young men。 Merope watched the parade pass by her quiet corner； pleased that it made her sisters happy。 To amuse herself； she learned to read and write and began writing down her fantasies of what her life would be like if she were as beautiful and brilliant as her siblings1。
The other six pitied Merope； for while they thought themselves beautiful； to them she was only pretty。 Where they were vibrant with the joy of life； Merope wore a dreamy countenance that many found uninviting。 She seemed so taken with the world of her dreams that they assumed she was unhappy with her lot。
The young men continued to e and go； changing as frequently as her sisters’ whims。 The only male face Merope saw with any regularity was Sisyphus； the mason who was building a stone wall around their property。 Her sisters paid him no heed； for he didn’t wear fine clothes and didn’t bring them gifts。 He would e into the kitchen through the back door and would ask Merope to find her father for him to answer some question or other about the exact placement of the wall。
Merope noticed that Sisyphus treated her with plete respect； and seemed to genuinely care when he asked how she was。 On occasion； he would bring her a bucket of berries or a bag of apples he’d found in his wanderings； and Merope would blush as she accepted these gifts。 Her sisters laughed at her； and the gifts from Sisyphus