To me, at least in my present circumstances, these would be vastly more interesting than this spectacle of old-time geology in decay.
— from The Time Machine by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

It is the school of genre, and employs itself mainly with "painted idylls," but, in the production of this pictorial poetry, exercises a wonderful tact in the selecting of such matter as lends itself most readily and entirely to pictorial form, to complete expression by drawing and colour.
— from The Renaissance: Studies in Art and Poetry by Walter Pater

Fanny took the work very quietly, without attempting any defence; but her kinder aunt Bertram observed on her behalf— “One cannot wonder, sister, that Fanny should be delighted: it is all new to her, you know; you and I used to be very fond of a play ourselves, and so am I still; and as soon as I am a little more at leisure, I mean to look in at their rehearsals too.
— from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

And all my armour laid into my tent?
— from Intentions by Oscar Wilde

He came straight up to me and laughed into my eyes.
— from The Time Machine by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

He was still positive in refusing it; but was pleased to thank me for my generous offer, saying, it was a present that no nobleman need be ashamed of receiving: though he was resolved to show his disinterestedness with regard to me, for whom he had conceived a particular friendship; and insisted (if I were willing to part with the watch) upon knowing what it had cost, that he might at least indemnify me, by refunding the money.
— from The Adventures of Roderick Random by T. (Tobias) Smollett

She made a little impatient movement with her hand, and looked away from him a moment, out to sea.
— from Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini

We are so little accustomed to test the potency of the will out of the ordinary plane of its operation, that we have little conception how mighty a lever it may be made, or to what new exercise it may be directed; and yet
— from The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 10, No. 57, July, 1862 A Magazine of Literature, Art, and Politics by Various

"The point is that, busy as you are and up to the eyes in affairs and beasts and money-making in general, you've missed a lot in Madge that's worth finding out.
— from The Virgin in Judgment by Eden Phillpotts

Mother’s usual state of mind about Lydia is more so than ever, I warn you.
— from The Squirrel-Cage by Dorothy Canfield Fisher

Should you conclude to accept the present, you may consider it as engaged to you, only be so good as to drop me a line informing me of your resolution.
— from The Poems of Philip Freneau, Poet of the American Revolution. Volume 1 (of 3) by Philip Morin Freneau

In a dinner, the salad is generally served as a separate course, but in such a meal as luncheon it may be used as the main dish.
— from Woman's Institute Library of Cookery Volume 4: Salads and Sandwiches; Cold and Frozen Desserts; Cakes, Cookies and Puddings; Pastries and Pies by Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences

She made a little impatient motion.
— from The Portion of Labor by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman

My new master was a well-dressed, keen-eyed, wizen-faced old Arab of the tribe known as Jalin, who, after inspecting me and looking into my mouth as he would a horse, handed payment with ill grace to the black-faced scoundrel who sold me, and ordered me to follow him.
— from The Eye of Istar: A Romance of the Land of No Return by William Le Queux

Mounier described Rachel’s stay with them for three months at Luxor, in my house, where they then lived.
— from Letters from Egypt by Duff Gordon, Lucie, Lady