The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 202: what you’re looking at

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

THE SECOND JOURNEY 185 not suit his purposes or the price was too high, and so nothing has come of it. When will you have your post-chaise got ready, sir? ”’ | “ Not until sunset,’ answered Jocelyn. ‘“‘ The environs of your village are so beautiful that I shall take another ramble ere I proceed to the city.”’ Our hero accordingly set off again to visit the adjacent scenery, for, as we have already stated, he did not wish to enter Geneva until it was dusk, the more surely to escape the notice of the Misses Owen, should they happen to be rambling or riding in the suburbs which he would have to traverse. But, seduced, as it were, by the beauty of the scenes amongst which he was now roving, and also giving way to the luxury of those thoughts which were inspired by his recovered freedom and the hope of shortly returning to England to make Louisa his bride, Jocelyn did not notice that he was still bending his steps farther and farther away from the village, although the sun was now setting. At the moment he awoke from a delicious reverie to the conscious- ness of the fact, he found himself almost close upon the margin of one of those sinuosities of the lake’s configuration which indent its southwestern shore. The hour was delicious. The last beams of the setting sun were glimmering above the heights in the horizon; a gentle breeze prevailed, just sufficient to give a. welcome freshness after the heat of the day, but not to ruffle the surface of the lake; and the shepherd’s pipe in the distance, the lowing of cattle, and the bleating of sheep, indicated that the herds and flocks were being driven home from the pastures. Although now recollecting that he must be a good three miles trom the village, and that the hour was already come when he had ordered the post-chaise, Jocelyn could not help lingering on the margin of the lake to contem- z plate the effects of the departing sunlight playing flickeringly on that blue mass of sleeping water, while the white sails of a vessel also caught those beams ere they disappeared alto- gether. And at a distance of about half a mile might be seen the steeples and towers of Geneva, around which, however, the obscurity of evening was now gradually draw- ing its veil. Altogether the scene was most beautiful, the hour most delicious, and Jocelyn’s heart appeared to leap within his breast as he contrasted the enjoyment of freedom COMMELMOO Ss (Cc) mn