They went to her of all sorts, both old and young, rich and poor, especially young maidens, to be resolved of their doubts relating to things to come; and all returned wonderfully satisfied in the explanations she gave to their questions.”
— from Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds by Charles Mackay

Tell me, has that sublime Canalis been making you the disinterested offer that you now fling as a reproach at poor Ernest?” “Yes.”
— from The Works of Balzac: A linked index to all Project Gutenberg editions by Honoré de Balzac

Mrs. Prigley was the exact opposite of a woman of the world, having about as much experience of society as a girl of nine years old who is receiving a private education; yet her manners were very good, except so far as she was too deferential, and it was easy to see that she was a lady, though a lady who had led a very retired life.
— from Wenderholme: A Story of Lancashire and Yorkshire by Philip Gilbert Hamerton

8-12); and now it was, after the return from Herod, that Pilate thought of releasing Jesus, in accordance with his custom of releasing a prisoner every year at the festival of the Pasch.
— from The Gospel of St. John by Joseph MacRory

By playing light and refusing a proffered engagement you put a stop to all forcing strokes,— croisés , beats, binds, flanconnade ,—which are the most dangerous of all strokes, because they are the most certain.
— from Secrets of the Sword by Bazancourt, César Lecat, baron de

But suppose a man hath room and provision enough, yet a large company itself is to be avoided for its own sake, as hindering all familiarity and conversation; and it is more tolerable to let the company have no wine, than to exclude all converse from a feast.
— from Complete Works of Plutarch — Volume 3: Essays and Miscellanies by Plutarch

First, the fact that reports from India were required and published each year acted as a spur to the authorities in that country; and, secondly, the introductory memorandum, and the inclusion of reports on Indian matters by the War Office Sanitary Committee, gave opportunity, year by year, for making suggestions and criticisms.
— from The Life of Florence Nightingale, vol. 2 of 2 by Cook, Edward Tyas, Sir