One kiss, and then a long look, until Maggie said tremulously, "Let me go,–let me make haste back."
— from The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

“You had no loss, I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's playing at see-saw and learning Latin; upon my soul there is not.”
— from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

Then turning to the Pope, "Holy Father," continued he, "you see what I gain; the fatigue I undergo is time and labour lost, unless my soul gain by it.
— from The Life and Writings of Henry Fuseli, Volume 3 (of 3) by Henry Fuseli

“I am culpable, I know, but when you have heard everything and are aware of the extraordinary circumstances which have brought me to what I am, I know you will forgive me and look leniently upon my shortcomings.
— from The Closed Book: Concerning the Secret of the Borgias by William Le Queux

How dead and lifeless lay upon my spirit that dull, cold winter!
— from Autobiography of a Female Slave by Martha Griffith Browne

Why, but even if, of your prodigal graciousness, mademoiselle, you were so foolish as to waste a little liking upon my so many demerits—" He gave a hopeless gesture.
— from The Line of Love; Dizain des Mariages by James Branch Cabell

I thank you for recalling to my mind the golden vision of the past, wherein a king knelt at my feet, and Louvois lived upon my smiles.
— from Prince Eugene and His Times by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

she now and then laughs at a little, { 51} as when, after John Thorpe has said to Catherine (who confesses she has never read Camilla ): "You had no loss, I assure you; it is the horridest nonsense you can imagine; there is nothing in the world in it but an old man's playing at see-saw and learning Latin; upon my soul, there is not," Jane Austen adds that "the justness" of this critique "was unfortunately lost on poor Catherine."
— from Jane Austen and Her Country-house Comedy by W. H. (William Henry) Helm