The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

THE JOURNEY TO PARIS 57 lessly turned in such a way that her cheek rested against his own. 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 shoulder. Mrs. Ranger ceased talking at the moment, 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 indiscreet proceeding, u 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 sleep- ing, 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, — unwilling, more- over, to be precipitate or rash in attributing aught savour- ing 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 un- natural 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 became 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 described, his pressure against 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 contact with her own, and a thrill of pleasure shot through her entire COMNICLOO© Ss (C(O)