She told us boys we had better do the same, as she had some private matters to attend to.
— from The Romance of Lust: A classic Victorian erotic novel by Anonymous

If that is the law, it must go on one of two grounds, either that self-preference is proper in the case supposed, or that, even if it is improper, the law cannot prevent it by punishment, because a threat of death at some future time can never be a sufficiently powerful motive to make a man choose death now in order to avoid the threat.
— from The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes

'I never was more convinced of anything in my life,' said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning: 'I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung.' As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the interest of this narrative (supposing it to possess any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no. CHAPTER III RELATES
— from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Tambal nga muhátag sab ug talagsaung sagang sa mga sakit sa pánit, Medicine that gives unusual protection against skin diseases.
— from A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan by John U. Wolff

“There is some painful mystery there!” said Harding.
— from The Mysterious Island by Jules Verne

The Schwan column started from San Pedro Macati, the initial rendezvous, [ 261 ] a few miles out of Manila, on January 4, 1900, now garrisoning the towns en route, instead of leaving them to be fought over and captured again as heretofore.
— from The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. (James Henderson) Blount

Well then, said I, comes my late dear good lady, and takes a fancy to me, and said, she would be the making of me, if I was a good girl; and she put me to sing, to dance, to play on the spinnet, in order to divert her melancholy hours; and also taught me all manner of fine needle-work; but still this was her lesson, My good Pamela, be virtuous, and keep the men at a distance.
— from Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded by Samuel Richardson

"Will somebody please measure the twins' waists?" bleated Christine.
— from For the Sake of the School by Angela Brazil

"The sun part means that I like sunshine and the fish part means that I like the water."
— from The Camp Fire Girls at Camp Keewaydin; Or, Paddles Down by Hildegard G. Frey

Valentine cried, in a voice that sounded like a trumpet, "in the name of your companions, you have very properly rejected the shameful proposals made to you; we are here a hundred and fifty resolute men, resolved to perish rather than accept them."
— from The Pearl of the Andes: A Tale of Love and Adventure by Gustave Aimard

“I have seen him swim a river at the risk of drowning, though there was a bridge to be found for riding two hundred yards.” “True, Sire; and he that weighs not his life against the gratification of a moment of impetuous passion will, on the same impulse, prefer the gratification of his will to the increase of his substantial power.” “Most true,” replied the King; “a fool will ever grasp rather at the appearance than the reality of authority.
— from Quentin Durward by Walter Scott

If there is no hope, if Sir Hindley says so, promise me that I shall see her—before—before—you know what I mean."
— from Mollie's Prince: A Novel by Rosa Nouchette Carey

Sir, she panted, methought 't was thy mood to shame thy daughters; yet this shameth only me.
— from Long Will by Florence Converse

Scarcely [Pg_29] more than a generation ago every American boy came under the spell of hunting and fishing; and there is no more powerful incentive to laborious days, nor any anodyne so potent for bodily discomfort and hardship!
— from Bill's School and Mine: A Collection of Essays on Education by William S. (William Suddards) Franklin