The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 205: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERIES having thus regarded her ina manner which she might consider as savouring of rudeness or im- pertinence. But as the conversation turned upon different topics, it became clearly apparent that she had taken no offence: for she treated Jocelyn with a friendly but well-bred courtesy, as much as to imply that since it was agreed they were to be travelling companions on a very long journey, there was no necessity to regard each other as the mere acquaintances of a few hours. At least, such was the interpretation which the young gentleman now put upon her demeanour, as well as on the bearing of her two sisters and Mrs. Ranger: and as it was his object to gain the good opinion and the confidence of the three girls as speedily as was practicable under the circumstances, he of course encouraged all their friendly advances. Thus by the time the party reached Boulogne to lunch, the ladies were already on very good terms with their handsome travelling-companion: and when they stopped in the evening to®dine at Ber- nay, it would have seemed as if they bad been acquainted for a whole year instead of a single day. Indeed Jocelyn was more than once inwardly and se- cretly vexed at the somewhat meaning looks of ten- derness which Agatha cast upon him: but as those side-long and furtive glances were instantaneously withdrawn when she saw that they were noticed, he tranquillised himself with the hope that any feeling which the young lady might have so suddenly con- ceived towards him, would not be conveyed by a more marked demonstration. After dinner the journey was resumed towards Abbeville, where it was proposed to rest for the night. The sun sank into its western home—and obscurity veiled the road which our travellers were pursuing. Mrs. Ranger got nervous about robbers, upon the chances of an attack from whom she would nevertheless persist in talking—while Julia, already much wearied, dozed by her side. Jocelyn sustained the conversation with the old lady and Emma: but Agatha had gradually ceased to take part in the discourse, and soon became altogether silent. It was very dark inside the vehicle: and Jocelyn soon experienced a new cause for annoyance. For while he was endeavouring to reason Mrs. Kanger out of her fears, which, whether affected or not, seemed to be augmenting, he felt Agatha’s head gently droop upon his shoulder. It was true that she had on a plain travelling-bonnet, so that the silk material alone came in contact with him: but still his extreme sense of propriety made him shrink from anything that appeared to approach an undue familiarity. He nevertheless fancied that she must have fallen asleep, and therefore had un- consciously lain her head upon his shoulder: and as the circumstances of travelling may in such cases somewhat mitigate the strict observances to be followed on ordinary occasions, he made due allowances for the present little incident and offered not to disturb his fair companion. But in a few minutes he felt her head gradually moving: then it became still again—and then she suddenly, but noiselessly turned in such a way that her cheek rested against hisown. He started—but not enough to compel her to shift her position: and then astonished that she did not, he gently drew back, so that while his face no longer touched her own, her head nevertheless remained upon his ~~ OF THE COURT. 191 shoulder. Mrs, Ranger ceased talking at the mo- ment; and he listened attentively to ascertain whether Agatha was sleeping or not. But her breath came not as from the lips of a sleeper: and | shocked at an occurrence which he was now forced to regard as a deliberate, intended, and most indis- creet proceeding, if not a positive overture, on her part, he drew still farther aside. Agatha thereupon abruptly raised her head, and gave vent to an ejaculation as if just awaking from a doze. Jocelyn was now again bewildered, and in deep perplexity what to think. After all, she might have really been sleeping, though he fancied she was not: and, prompted by his generous nature to put the most charitable construction upon the deeds of his fellow-creatures,—unwilliny, moreover, to be precipitate or rash in attributing aught sa- vouring of gross indelicacy to a young and gay- hearted girl,—he brought his mind to settle the point in her favour. Still, when he reflected upon all that Mary Owen had told him, his misgivings were again aroused; and the painful conviction was forced upon him that the training to which the unfortunate sisters had been subjected by their unnatural mother, was indeed sufficient to destroy all their moral principles, even if its effect had not as yet been to ruin their chastity. But while Jocelyn was thus painfully giving way to his meditations, and almost regretting that he had joined the company of the ladies, he soon be- came sensible of another source of vexation. For be it observed that, in consequence of occupying a place in the carriage between Agatha and Emma, while he was withdrawing himself from the contact of the former he was unconsciously pressing against the latter: then, as he drew more and more away from the eldest sister in the manner already de- scribed, his pressure agaiust Emma became all the closer. This circumstance he did not immediately perceive in the confusion of his ideas: but to Emma that pressure appeared full of a tender meaning. She felt his form coming in nearer con- tact with her own—and a thrill of pleasure shot through her entire frame. But still she stayed perfectly still, in a tantalizing uncertainty as to whether the occurrence were accidental or not. Ia a few moments the pressure against her grew more apparently decisive—and the wanton blood now coursed like lightning through Emma’s veins. Jocelyn’s left arm pressed against her bosom, which heaved and swelled to a contact which she believed was intentional: and with a voluptuous ardour she pressed against him in return. At that instant was it that Agatha raised her head and gave vent toan ejaculation as if she were starting from a doze— and then the pressure between Jocelyn and Emma suddenly ceased. But still the impression remained in Emma’s mind that the occurrence which had just taken place, was deliberate and intentional on Jocelyn’s part: and she waited a few minutes in the anxious hope that the presumed demonstration of tender- ness would be continued. It was not, however— for Agatha was now lounying back in her own cor- ner, and Loftus was no longer inconvenienced for room. Emma therefore gently and gradually pressed towards him,—now pausing for the tacit response so anxiously awaited—then pressing closer still, until the contours of her well-developed bust heaved amorously against his arm. Allin a moment CONMICIOOMKS (CO)