The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy. The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer. ~ Our Mutual Friend
“I have made up my
“I have made up my mind that I must have money, Pa. I feel that I can’t beg it, borrow it, or steal it; and so I have resolved that I must marry it.” ~ Our Mutual Friend
“You see,” said Mr. Toots,
“You see,” said Mr. Toots, “what I wanted in a wife was – in short, was sense. Money, Feeder, I had. Sense I – I had not, particularly.” ~ Dombey and Son
A modest ring at the
A modest ring at the bell at length allayed her fears, and Miss Benton, hurrying into her own room and shutting herself up, in order that she might preserve that appearance of being taken by surprise which is so essential to the polite reception of visitors, awaited their coming with a smiling countenance. ~ Master Humphrey’s Clock
He was drunk upon the
He was drunk upon the average once a day, and penitent upon an equally fair calculation once a month; and when he was penitent, he was invariably in the very last stage of maudlin intoxication. He was a ragged, roving, roaring kind of fellow, with a burly form, a sharp wit, and a ready head, and could turn his hand to anything when he chose to do it. He was by no means opposed to hard labour on principle, for he would work away at a cricket-match by the day together, – running, and catching, and batting, and bowling, and revelling in toil which would exhaust a galley-slave. ~ Public Life of Mr. Trumble, Once Mayor of Mudfog
“If the law supposes that,’
“If the law supposes that,’ said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, “the law is a ass–a idiot. If that’s the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience–by experience.” ~ Oliver Twist
Over the whole, a young
Over the whole, a young lady presided, whose gloomy haughtiness as she surveyed the street, announced a deep-seated grievance against society, and an implacable determination to be avenged. ~ The Uncommercial Traveller – Refreshments for Travellers
Stranger, pause and ask thyself
Stranger, pause and ask thyself the question, canst thou do likewise? If not, with a blush retire. ~ The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Let me see you ride
Let me see you ride a donkey over my green again, and as sure as you have a head upon your shoulders, I’ll knock your bonnet off, and tread upon it! ~ David Copperfield
Others had been a little
Others had been a little wild, which was not to be wondered at, and not very blamable; but, he had made a lamentation and uproar which it was dangerous for the people to hear, as there is always contagion in weakness and selfishness. ~ Wreck of the Golden Mary
