I said, 'you're welcome'; and with a little difficulty he came out.
— from The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

Mr. David Hume related to me from Mr. Garrick, that Johnson at last denied himself this amusement, from considerations of rigid virtue; saying, 'I'll come no more behind your scenes, David; for the silk stockings and white bosoms of your actresses excite my amorous propensities.' 1750: AETAT. 41.]—In 1750 he came forth in the character for which he was eminently qualified, a majestick teacher of moral and religious wisdom.
— from Boswell's Life of Johnson Abridged and edited, with an introduction by Charles Grosvenor Osgood by James Boswell

When Emily ventured still to plead, he sternly silenced and rebuked her for interfering in his domestic affairs, but, at length, dismissed her with this concession—That he would not remove Madame Montoni, on the ensuing night, but allow her till the next to consider, whether she would resign her settlements, or be imprisoned in the east turret of the castle, 'where she shall find,' he added, 'a punishment she may not expect.'
— from The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Ward Radcliffe

But modern science, here as in medicine, recognizes that crime also (like disease) has natural causes.
— from Criminal Psychology: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross

‘Bob,’ said Mr. Ben Allen, laying down his knife and fork, and fixing his eyes on the visage of his friend, ‘Bob, I’ll tell you what it is.’
— from The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens

She was conquered, and laying down her arms, as it were, she humbly submitted.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray

Democritus a Leucippo doctus, haeridatem stultitiae reliquit Epic.
— from The Anatomy of Melancholy by Robert Burton

O, but they say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep harmony.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

It was enthusiastically taken up by the village doctor at Kingskerswell, in association with an institute for the labourers and young men of the parish, and after a little difficulty he succeeded in getting hold of some premises for the purpose.
— from A Book of the West. Volume 1: Devon Being an introduction to Devon and Cornwall by S. (Sabine) Baring-Gould

It was chiefly owing to her exertions that the show of flowers was so good, though Gwen was her ally in that respect, and even Lesbia gave a little desultory help.
— from The Youngest Girl in the Fifth: A School Story by Angela Brazil

But either by reason of envy, or because good things rarely have any long duration, he died in the flower of his youth, and that so suddenly, that there were not wanting people who put it down to poison rather than to any other reason.
— from Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 02 (of 10) Berna to Michelozzo Michelozzi by Giorgio Vasari

The magistrate thought that at last doubt had begun to effect her pure and noble belief.
— from The Lerouge Case by Emile Gaboriau

Sharply ordering Arthur to jump in and lie down, he seated himself in the boat and began rowing towards the harbour's mouth.
— from The Gadfly by E. L. (Ethel Lillian) Voynich

“Has she been seen since the soldiers went away?” he asked, laying down his spoon with a new fear.
— from The Little Minister by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie

Then he put the slip of paper into his pocket, and leaning down he said:— "Before I go I am going to ask you to let my corporal pull down your flags.
— from A Hilltop on the Marne Being Letters Written June 3-September 8, 1914 by Mildred Aldrich

“The waiting is harder than the work,” replied Wilfred, again laying down his pen.
— from The White Rose of Langley A Story of the Olden Time by Emily Sarah Holt

At last, disengaging herself from the frantic clutch of the still shrieking Esmeralda, Jane crossed the room to look into the little cradle, knowing what she should see there even before the tiny skeleton disclosed itself in all its pitiful and pathetic frailty.
— from Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs

It is with me, as it is with a weak man among the strong, or as with a sick man among the healthy, or as a lamp despised ('He that is ready to slip with his feet, is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease' Job 12:5), so that I know not what to do.[249] GREAT-HEART.
— from Works of John Bunyan — Complete by John Bunyan