Cynthia hesitated a moment, plucking up the grass with her tiny hands.
— from The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

They replied in the singular, and the emperor was encouraged to hope that the Jacobites of Egypt and Syria might be reconciled by the profession of a doctrine, most certainly harmless, and most probably true, since it was taught even by the Nestorians themselves.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

With what subtle clearness it shows how effective is the egoism which makes each man first of all, and in most cases exclusively, perceive what most concerns him as most prominent!
— from Criminal Psychology: A Manual for Judges, Practitioners, and Students by Hans Gross

As this is the case, however, as Mr. Peter Debary has shown himself a Peter in the blackest sense of the word, we are obliged to look elsewhere for an heir; and my father has thought it a necessary compliment to James Digweed to offer the curacy to him, though without considering it as either a desirable or an eligible situation for him.
— from The Letters of Jane Austen Selected from the compilation of her great nephew, Edward, Lord Bradbourne by Jane Austen

‘He certainly has,’ added Miss Petowker.
— from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

The Deputy came home and made preparation for the so-called wedding.
— from Korean Folk Tales: Imps, Ghosts and Faries by Yuk Yi

I kept back the dogs and the party, as they came pressing up, and claimed him as my prisoner.
— from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

They erected on the Caelian hill a magnificent palace, and as soon as it was finished, invited Aurelian to supper.
— from The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Table of Contents with links in the HTML file to the two Project Gutenberg editions (12 volumes) by Edward Gibbon

‘Mary Ann, throw her desk out of the window!’ cried he: and my precious desk, containing my letters and papers, my small amount of cash, and all my valuables, was about to be precipitated from the three-storey window.
— from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë

2 [AC12; c1] hold a masked party.
— from A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan by John U. Wolff

Old Andrew considered him a most pernicious individual and a breeder of evil in the Glen, and for that reason as well as on general principles, Coonie took a particular delight in libelling the ruling elder.
— from Duncan Polite, the Watchman of Glenoro by Mary Esther Miller MacGregor

He was everywhere at the right moment, while County Clerk Horton, Assemblyman Mannis, Paddy Sullivan, and others were valuable auxiliaries.
— from The Cleverdale Mystery; or, The Machine and Its Wheels: A Story of American Life by W. A. Wilkins

The scene which met my eyes was charming, the different colours having a most pleasing effect.
— from The Life and Letters of Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq, Vol. 1 (of 2) by Ogier Ghislain de Busbecq

A "divine-hearted woman," this, as Horace Mann hath rightly called her, and more precious than rubies to me is her kind and Christian epistle:— ">Andover, Massachusetts, February 21st, 1853.
— from The American Prejudice Against Color An Authentic Narrative, Showing How Easily the Nation Got into an Uproar. by Allen, William G., active 1849-1853

Censured, however, as Mr. Pitt was, his conduct was both prudent and honourable.
— from Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 2 (of 4) by Horace Walpole

Yet in spite of this declaration and in spite of the fact that the five successive heads of the Madrid government recognized the belligerency of the Carlists by conventions; that treaties were made for the running of railroads and for other purposes, and that the Carlists, had a mint, postoffice and all of the equipments of a regular government, recognition was withheld by the powers.
— from Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom by Trumbull White

There is a cabin and a corral here and many pits may have been filled in.
— from California Athabascan Groups by Martin A. Baumhoff

Louise asked Maxwell, as soon as they had established their joint faith, whom Godolphin was going to get to play Salome, and he said that Grayson would like to re-engage Miss Pettrell, though he had a theory that the piece would be strengthened, and the effect of Haxard enhanced, if they could have a more powerful Salome.
— from The Story of a Play A Novel by William Dean Howells

Of all the visits to be made during this holiday Burton had looked forward to none with so much pleasure as those to Mr. Arbuthnot, or "Bunny," 427 as he called him, and Mr. Payne.
— from The Life of Sir Richard Burton by Thomas Wright