Page 23 of The Irish Gypsy
"It was in one of the boxes that weredelivered. Mr. O'Reilly picked it for you."
"I can't wear that. It's indecent! Bring mypetticoat back, please."
"Nonsense. Put the nightgown on before hecomes up. I think he's been patient long enough."
"Hasn't Patrick left yet?" asked Kitty,surprised.
"Of course he hasn't left--he's spending thenight."
"But where will he sleep?" puzzled Kitty.
"With you, of course," Mrs. Harris answeredfirmly.
"But men and women don't sleep in the samebed," said Kitty, shocked.
"I don't know what game you're playing, miss,but you'd better slip into that nightgown and pop into bed or we'regoing to have one angry young man on our hands."
Kitty was furious. "I will not put that thingon. Bring my clothes."
"Then you'll have to get into bed naked.He'll soon have you in that state anyway."
"Mrs. Harris, you are an evil woman and Idon't want you here."
"Listen to me, dearie. You an' me have a goodthing going here if you'll just be sensible. All you have to do isopen your legs for him and he'll give you anything you ask for. Onthe other hand, if you cross him, he looks like he could be a verynasty customer."
"Oh, I won't listen to such wicked talk,"Kitty said, close to tears. She stepped from the water and driedherself on the big white towel. "Where are my clothes?" shedemanded.
"You'll never find them," asserted Mrs.Harris.
Wildly, Kitty opened drawers and pulled outtheir contents, but she could only find nightgowns andundergarments. Tears of frustration filled her eyes. Realizing howundignified she must look, scrambling about for clothes, she ranback to the bathroom and swept up the white nightgown. It was slitdown the sides and fastened with delicate ribbons. She put it onfuriously and Mrs. Harris approved. "That's better. It was designedto give a man pleasure."
Kitty caught a sob in her throat and randownstairs to the sitting room.
Patrick's cheroot glowed in the darkened roomand Kitty ran to him. "Patrick, thank God you are still here!"
"My darling, what's wrong?" he gathered herclose and she hid her face against his chest.
"It's Mrs. Harris. She's an evil woman. She'sbeen saying such wicked things to me. Oh, you wouldn't believe thethings she said."
Mrs. Harris appeared in the doorway and said,"I'm sorry, sir, but she wouldn't go to bed. I can't understandwhat's upset her so much."
"You may leave us, Mrs. Harris. She'll be allright with me," he told her coldly. She bobbed a curtsy anddisappeared.
"My darling, what's the damned woman beensaying to you?" he asked soothingly.
"I....I can't tell you," she whispered.
He reached over and turned up the lamp. Kittygasped as the light flooded over herdishabille.
He raised her face and demanded, "Tell meinstantly what she said to you."
"She said....she said that men and womensleep in the same bed. I've never heard of such a thing," and shebegan to cry again.
He kissed her forehead and smoothed her hair."Kitty, when people love each other, they do sleep in the samebed." He stroked her back gently until her tears subsided. He hadher gentled now and he didn't want her to see the naked desire inhis eyes.
"I love you, Kitty. Do you care for me alittle?"
"Patrick, you know I love you." She looked upat him and the tears spiked her eyelashes. He bent forward and tookher mouth possessively.
