`The title-page – Note the date, 1824. But the pictures are mostly classic Greece
and dome, except one in Egypt. Father said that, despite that date less than a
hundred years back, these pictures match murals in whorehouses in Pompeii… except
that these are artistically much superior to the Pompeii paintings.’
`Dr Johnson has been to Pompeii?’
‘No. Well, I don’t think he has. With Father it is sometimes hard to be sure. He did
tell me that he had seen photographs of Pompeii murals in Chicago. At Northwestern
or in some museum:
`But how did he get these pictures? I hate to tell you, my sweet innocent, but I’m
certain that these pictures would get us a long rest at Federal expense… under the
Comstock Act. If we were caught with them.’
`If we were caught. “Caught” is the important word. Father urged me to know the law
as thoroughly as possible… so as not to get caught when I broke one. Father never
felt that any law applied to him… other than in that sense.’
‘I think it is clear that your father is a subversive character, a bad influence, a
wicked old man… and I admire him without limit and hope to grow up like him.’
‘I love him all to pieces, mon homme. He could have had my maidenhead just by
lifting his eyebrow. He wouldn’t take it.’
‘I know that, beloved. I’ve known it since I first met you.’
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Heinlein, Robert A – To Sail Beyond the Sunset.txt
‘Yes, I’m a woman scorned… and someday he’ll pay. But I want to take his advice
about the Law. Briney, do you suppose I could attend classes at the Kansas City
School of Law… if I could squeeze the tuition out of my household allowance?’
‘Perhaps. But you won’t have to squeeze it out of your housekeeping money; any
schooling you want we can now afford. But never mind such trivial matters; we’re
talking about sex. S-E-X, the stuff that makes the world go around. Next picture,
please.’
‘Yes, sir. Missionary sty1e. Approved even by priests. ‘Me next picture is almost as
widely accepted, although perhaps Mrs Grundy never gets on top. This next one is
certainly not used by Mrs Grundy although by everybody else – says Father. But he
noted that a gentleman, in coupling with a lady from behind and standing up, will
reach under and find her button, so that she is ensured a good time, too. Now the
next – Oh! Briney, someday, when we can afford it, I want a bed just the right
height so that you can put me on it in that position, on my back, legs up – just the
right height so that you can stand up and enter me without crouching. I like that
position, so do you – but the last time we used it, you got cramps in your legs and
were trembling toward the last, you got so tired. Darling, I want you to enjoy it as
much as I do. Loads, that is.’
‘Lady, you’re a gentleman.’
‘Why, thank you, sir! If that is not a jest.’
No jest. Most ladies are not gentlemen; they will pull stunts that would get a man
ten days in the stocks… and walk on, with their noses in the air. But not my Mo.
With you, fair is fair and you don’t expect to get by on your sex.’
‘Ah, but I do. By “ringing the cash register”.’
‘Don’t confuse me with logic. You treat everyone decently, that’s all, even your
poor old husband. Yes, I’ll build you that bed. Not only the right height but one
guaranteed not to squeak. I’ll get busy on the design. Hmm, Mo, how would you like a
really big bed? Say one that would hold you and me and Hal and Jane – or playmates
of your choice – all at once.’
‘Goodness, what a thought! I hear that Annie Chambers has a bed like that.’
‘But I’ll design a better one. Mo, where did you hear of KC’s top Madam?’
‘At a Ladies’ Aid meeting. Mrs Bunch was deploring the open immorality of this city.