The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

58 THE COURT OF LONDON frame. But still she stayed perfectly still, in a tantalizing uncertainty as to whether the occurrence were accidental or not. In a few moments the pressure against her grew more apparently decisive, and the wanton blood now coursed hke hghtning 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 to an 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 demonstra- tion of tenderness would be continued. It was not, however, for Agatha was now lounging back in her own corner, and Loftus was no longer inconvenienced for room. Emma therefore gently and gradually pressed toward 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. All in a moment the truth flashed to Jocelyn’s mind, once more he started abruptly, and the second temptress as abruptly shrank back into her own corner, complaining of the ruggedness of the road and the Jolting of the carriage. Almost immediately afterward the vehicle entered Abbe- ville; and in the bustle occasioned by the examination of the passports at the town gates, the arrival at the hotel, the handing the ladies out of the carriage, the duty of looking after their luggage and his own, and then the task of giving orders to the waiters, etc., in the excitement of these manifold proceedings, we say, Jocelyn for the time lost sight of the previous topic of his unpleasant meditations. Almost immediately after their arrival at the inn, the ladies withdrew to the chambers prepared for them, and Loftus was equally ready to seek repose. Before he, however, fell asleep, the behaviour of the two eldest Misses Owen recurred to his memory; and it was while still perplexing himself with arguments for and against a deliberate intention on their part that slumber visited his eyes. Gomichbooks (E©)