But here we enter on a very intricate subject, for naturalists have not defined to each other's satisfaction what is meant by an advance in organization.
— from Introduction to the Science of Sociology by E. W. (Ernest Watson) Burgess

“I can't profess to say what it means,” he answered.
— from The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle

and, as it appears from the same authority, 'That he did not get down to his wife and family till the second week in May following,'—it brings the thing almost to a certainty.
— from The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman by Laurence Sterne

It was drawing on to sundown when I met a stout, dark, sour-looking woman coming trudging down a hill; and she, when I had put my usual question, turned sharp about, accompanied me back to the summit she had just left, and pointed to a great bulk of building standing very bare upon a green in the bottom of the next valley.
— from Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Here is a kind of a whim on that subject which I made formerly: One evening when Toss-pot had been at his butts, And Joan his fat spouse crammed with turnips her guts, Together they pigged, nor did drink so besot him
— from Gargantua and Pantagruel by François Rabelais

When the frosts began I was presented in the same way in my absence with a soft knitted scarf brought by the soldier.
— from Project Gutenberg Compilation of 233 Short Stories of Chekhov by Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

Although the petrol engines, used for running on the surface, were in motion, the clutches of both shafts were disconnected and the exhaust completely muffled.
— from A Sub. of the R.N.R.: A Story of the Great War by Percy F. (Percy Francis) Westerman

And thou, almighty Love, Dance in a thousand forms about my Person, That this same Queen, this easy Spanish Dame, May be bewitch’d, and dote upon me still; Whilst I make use of the insatiate Flame To set all Spain on fire.— Mischief, erect thy Throne, And sit on high; here, here upon my Head.
— from The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume II by Aphra Behn

It is certain, however, that so-called regenerator furnaces of various forms have, from time to time, been brought into use at gas works for the purpose in question both on the Continent and in this country; and in recent years the subject has received much attention from gas engineers, the general opinion eventually being that the adoption of such a system of working would be certain to result in so great an amount of economy as to put gas as an illuminating agent on a more secure footing to compete successfully with its modern and somewhat aggressive rival, the electric light.
— from Scientific American Supplement, No. 401, September 8, 1883 by Various

He might have said where is my evidence that it will do any good to try?
— from The Theology of Holiness by Dougan Clark

He left a son, who inherits much of his father's genius.
— from English Eccentrics and Eccentricities by John Timbs

She gave me a searching look, and said, "Well, I must confess you do look like one.
— from Life in the Grey Nunnery at Montreal An Authentic Narrative of the Horrors, Mysteries, and Cruelties of Convent Life by Sarah J. Richardson

I say what I mean, neither more nor less.
— from Pearl-Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard