I never—' 'If you mean to say,' Miss Lavvy cut him short, that you never brought up a young gazelle, you may save yourself the trouble, because nobody in this carriage supposes that you ever did.
— from Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

What does your money say to you: what message does it bring to you? Does it say to you, "Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die"? Does it bring a message of comfort, of education, of culture, of travel, of books, of an opportunity to help your fellow-men or is the message "More land, more thousands and millions"?
— from Pushing to the Front by Orison Swett Marden

I have no literary propensities; but in spite of the latter advantage, in all probability I shall make no exertion at all; so that your energy, damped by disgust and disappointment, and my laziness, will end in the same thing, and we shall both return like bad pennies to our native shores.
— from Roughing It in the Bush by Susanna Moodie

As Edward closed the book upon the completion of the story, "Mamma," said the younger Elsie, "do you quite approve of all the teachings the author has given there?
— from Elsie's Widowhood A Sequel to Elsie's Children by Martha Finley

"Well, I will add three crowns a day to your pay while you are there, and I will give the shop to your eldest daughter.
— from The Regent's Daughter by Alexandre Dumas

I will request my mother to do me the kindness to sit to you every day for her portrait, which you are to paint for me.
— from The Youth of the Great Elector by L. (Luise) Mühlbach

You will understand, for I shall tell you everything, down to his very words.
— from The Mistletoe Bough by Anthony Trollope