In the town you have insufferable heat, boredom, and no society; if you go out into the country, you fancy poisonous spiders, scorpions, or snakes lurking under every stone and behind every bush, and beyond the fields—mountains and the desert.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Thus as briefly as possible have been sketched the conditions, degree of power, and aims which shaped and controlled the policy of the four principal seaboard States of the day,—Spain, France, England, and Holland.
— from The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783 by A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan

“Oh, for pity’s sake,” said she, “you will live, will you not?” “No, on my honor,” said Maximilian; “but that will not affect you.
— from The Count of Monte Cristo, Illustrated by Alexandre Dumas

He will come back to you,” she promised, and, uncertain as she was of Franz’ punishment, she spoke with confidence enough to make the little girl look up at her with new hope, a smile dawning on her lips.
— from Captain Lucy in the Home Sector by Aline Havard