"I said 'I have a right to think that he is dead, or that he wishes me to believe him dead, and his shadow shall not stand between me and prosperity.'
— from Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

When I got to this abode of misery and despair, a hell, such as Dante might have conceived, a crowd of wretches, some of whom were to be hanged in the course of the week, greeted me by deriding my elegant attire.
— from The Memoirs of Jacques Casanova de Seingalt, 1725-1798. Complete by Giacomo Casanova

There is of course much in his descriptions, and his suggestions for decoration, that shows that he did not entirely free himself from the false taste of his time.
— from Intentions by Oscar Wilde

George never forgot the hour in which he had first become bewitched by Lieutenant Maldon's pretty daughter, and however she might have changed, the image which had charmed him then, unchanged and unchanging, represented her in his heart.
— from Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

Dined at home, and after dinner come Mrs. Daniel and her sister and staid and talked a little, and then I to the office, and after setting my things in order at the office I abroad with my wife and little Betty Michell, and took them against my vowes, but I will make good my forfeit, to the King’s house, to show them a play, “The Chances.”
— from The Diary of Samuel Pepys — Complete by Samuel Pepys

‘I don’t exactly know what to do about him,’ she said, shaking her head, ‘he’s so sort of wild all the time.
— from My Antonia by Willa Cather

Then he took the black maiden to the King as his sister, and thought she really was so, because his eyes were dim, and he saw the golden garments glittering.
— from Household Tales by Brothers Grimm by Wilhelm Grimm

At these words Martin's face darkened, and he straightened himself up with a sudden jerk.
— from If Any Man Sin by H. A. (Hiram Alfred) Cody

Brodie's throat corded, the Adam's apple moved repeatedly up and down as he swallowed inarticulately.
— from The Everlasting Whisper by Jackson Gregory

Richard set two black women to fan the flies off her without stopping once under pain of death; and having seen to the proper care of the child and other things, returned alone through the blanching streets, glorifying and praising God.
— from The Life and Death of Richard Yea-and-Nay by Maurice Hewlett

The four angles of the building are finished with small turrets, capped with clumsy domes, and having several ports for cannon.
— from Travels through the Empire of Morocco by John Buffa

The founder of the present dynasty levelled its walls and desolated its gardens, but the city of the six gates still dominates the fine valley which no tyrant could destroy, and has still a pleasing appearance, though its Dewan Khana has been stripped of the royal pillars to adorn the palace of the new capital of Teheran.
— from Henry Martyn, Saint and Scholar First Modern Missionary to the Mohammedans, 1781-1812 by George Smith

[34] But a careful analysis by M. Berthelot of the numerous metal objects found at Tello, the dates of which can be definitely ascertained, has shown that, even under the later rulers of Lagash and the kings of Ur, not only votive figures, but also tools and weapons of copper, contain no trace of tin employed as an alloy.
— from A History of Sumer and Akkad An account of the early races of Babylonia from prehistoric times to the foundation of the Babylonian monarchy by L. W. (Leonard William) King

For a moment or two, Ogledon stood staring down at him, scarcely knowing what to do—while Cripps, mightily pleased with his performance, danced all round Tokely’s prostrate form, waving the decanter, and chanting a species of dirge.
— from The Second Dandy Chater by Tom Gallon

Pulling a greasy silk handkerchief still lower over his brow, and improving the sit of his frock-coat with a vigorous jerk, he then strode up to the mate; and, in a more flowery style than ever, gave him to understand that the redoubtable "Jim," himself, was before him; that the ship was his until the anchor was down; and he should like to hear what anyone had to say to it.
— from Omoo: Adventures in the South Seas by Herman Melville

His “session” signifies the establishment, and “forever” the duration; and he “sits now,” his sovereignty is as absolute, as powerful as ever.
— from The Existence and Attributes of God, Volumes 1 and 2 by Stephen Charnock

And first, as he had long fasted, and as he had a night's business before him, he went ashore to his accustomed tavern at Deptford, and had supper with Sir Clement in a room where they were alone.
— from Captain Ravenshaw; Or, The Maid of Cheapside. A Romance of Elizabethan London by Robert Neilson Stephens