First , there exists at any given time a body of beliefs, convictions, sentiments, accepted principles, or firmly rooted prejudices, which, taken together, make up the public opinion of a particular era, or what we may call the reigning or predominant current of opinion, [Pg 446] and, as regards at any rate the last three or four centuries, and especially the nineteenth century, the influence of this dominant current of opinion has, in England, if we look at the matter broadly, determined, directly or indirectly, the course of legislation.
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

But he won't,–he's too big a raskill to let the law lay hold on him.
— from The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot

Robert Audley read the letter three times before he laid it down.
— from Lady Audley's Secret by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon

But he was ever ready to listen to me; and it became the first duty of my life to say to him, and read to him, what I knew he ought to hear.
— from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The reasons that led the Commission heretofore to recommend the repeal of that provision are still operative.
— from The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. (James Henderson) Blount

" "Then we will post the note," she said, rising to leave the room, "and dismiss all further reference to the subject until the answer arrives.
— from The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins

The wind does not stop her; she cuts through the waves, making for the open gate between the pointed rocks that leads to . . .
— from Bliss, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield

Yet on getting ready to leave the ship I found four of the lads ready to come ashore in the boat!
— from Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World by Mark Twain

The eye that caused offence was to be plucked out, the hand and the foot that [73] caused offence were to be cut off, and the hardened offender who refused to listen to the solemn remonstrances of the congregation was to be treated as a heathen and an outcast.
— from The Expositor's Bible: The Pastoral Epistles by Alfred Plummer

We have had but one rain to lay the dust in two months.
— from The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, Vol. 6 (of 9) Being His Autobiography, Correspondence, Reports, Messages, Addresses, and Other Writings, Official and Private by Thomas Jefferson

Although we have already stated the results of a general comparison of the mortality in the four capitals—results very favorable to the salubrity of London—it may be interesting to our readers to learn the state of the case with regard to particular classes of disease.
— from The Catholic World, Vol. 05, April 1867 to September 1867 by Various

But by degrees he recovered himself, his spirit grew clearer, and when he left the little room to look towards the east—where, on the farther shore, rose the palace where Bent-Anat must be—a deep contempt for his enemies filled his soul, and a proud feeling of renewed manly energy.
— from Uarda : a Romance of Ancient Egypt — Complete by Georg Ebers

Fortunately for us, although we had put the most implicit faith in the fidelity of Mokalua and Vati, we had never allowed them to become aware of the existence of the subterranean passage from our dwelling cave to South-west Bay: therefore, if the worst should come to the worst, and we were attacked before we were ready to leave the island, we might no doubt barricade ourselves into our cavern and make a good stand there, and perhaps even defend the schooner from destruction, so long as our cartridges held out; but if the invaders should once succeed in effecting a landing upon the island, they could, almost to a dead certainty, prevent us from completing our preparations, launching the schooner, and getting away in her.
— from Turned Adrift by Harry Collingwood

From foot of Big Hill, to top of ridge is about 3 " thence to Big Timber on Bear river 4 Here is a company of American traders and trappers From Big Timber to Soda Springs 36 " Spring to Soda Pool seven miles, to Spring Branch three 10 " Spring to Running Branch 9 " thence to foot of hill 8 " foot of hill over dividing ridge and down to camp 12 " thence to Lewis's river bottom at Springs 18 and to Fort Hall 5 " Fort Hall to the crossing of Portneth 6 " Portneth to American falls 12 " American falls to Levey Creek 15 " thence to Cassia creek, (here the California trail turns off) 8 " Cassia to Big Marsh 15 " Marsh to River 11 " River to Goose creek four miles, seven miles to river, and twelve miles to Dry Branch, (water in pools) 23 To Rocky Creek 8 [pg. 281] To crossing of Rocky creek, eight miles, down to where the road leaves the bluff of creek, seven 15 " Salmon Falls creek 20 From thence to Salmon falls 6 " Falls to first crossing of Lewis river 23 " crossing to Bois river is about 70 Camps can be had from six to fifteen miles Down Bois river to Fort Bois (good camps) 46 Cross Lewis river and thence to Malheur 15 " Malheur to Birch creek, about 20 " Birch creek to river three miles, and thence five miles to Burnt river 8 Up Burnt river about (good camps) 26 From where the road leaves Burnt river, to the lone pine stump in the bottom of Powder river, (the last thirteen miles no water)
— from Palmer's Journal of Travels Over the Rocky Mountains, 1845-1846 by Joel Palmer

Hastily making a check beside the name, she returned the list to the officer.
— from The Girl Scouts' Good Turn by Edith Lavell