It is not easy to conceive a much more tremendous figure than he now exhibited.
— from History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding

In cutting it the only thought was the requirements of the tomb, and no other care was taken than to make the stone long enough and narrow enough to cover a man.
— from Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

In cutting it, only the necessities of the tomb were taken into consideration; no further care was taken than to make the stone long enough and narrow enough to cover a man.
— from Les Misérables, v. 5/5: Jean Valjean by Victor Hugo

It is not easy to conceive a more happy man than he was that day, he was so proud of his parents’ kindness to Jane, and of the good he thought he was doing to all parties, and, besides, the twenty guineas was a for [190] tune to him.
— from The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales (Vol. 2 of 2) by James Hogg

Since, however, they do not explain the cause and motion of the aurora borealis, I had rather rely on the simple and religious traditions of an ignorant people, to that of the Greenlanders, who say that the rays of the aurora come from the glare of souls which wander over the skies."
— from International Miscellany of Literature, Art and Science, Vol. 1, No. 3, Oct. 1, 1850 by Various

“It is not easy to conceive a more dismal scene of misery than this, families locked up from all their acquaintance, though seized with a distemper which the most of any in the world requires comfort and assistance, abandoned it may be to the treatment of an inhuman nurse, (for such are often found at these times about the sick,) and strangers to every thing but the melancholy sight of the progress death makes among themselves, with small hopes of life left to the survivors and those mixed with anxiety and doubt, whether it be not better to die, than to prolong a miserable being, after the loss of their best friends and nearest relations.” — Dr. Mead's Medical Works p. 273.—
— from The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning

This could not be done at Lady D—-'s; but by his command, which I was now entitled to consider as my law, I contrived twice to visit him at his own hotel, accompanied only by Monna Paula.
— from The Fortunes of Nigel by Walter Scott

This was no great embarrassment, for Craddock had been to the studio not long before: also his mother knew nothing, except that Charles a month ago had been greatly upset in connection with Craddock.
— from Thorley Weir by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

" Nita entered the cabin, and Maria Theresa arose uncertainly.
— from The Ghost Breaker: A Novel Based Upon the Play by Charles Goddard

“After the King and his chiefs had been entertained on board, the English were in return invited to a feast by Wicananish; and it is not easy to conceive a more interesting picture of savage life than witnessed on this occasion.
— from The Storehouses of the King; Or, the Pyramids of Egypt What They Are and Who Built Them by Jane (Trill) van Gelder