Charlotte Smith

“ Miss Mary, though she would have preferred a young Ensign in the militia, who was heir to a good fortune, for a partner, was yet mortified that she should not have an opportunity of showing the handsome foreigner to the neighbouring Misses, and of showing too that her charms had equal influence on men of all nations. ”

“ He never meant ill to the people; he was no tyrant, as he has been absurdly called.—The fortitude with which he has borne reverse of fortune beyond example, proves that his conscience acquits him—for what, my friend, can in such bitter moments lend courage to the sufferer, but the consciousness of not having merited the evils under which we suffer? ”

“ The time must come, my friend, when heaven shall avenge its cause.—Dark as our prospects now are, the clouds will disappear—even the cruel persecution of our unhappy monarch, will produce a favorable change in our affairs—the power usurped and abused, that has brought him to a trial, must, whether it acquits of condemns him, find it has gone too far. ”

“ People who from choice or necessity live very remote from capitals, where knowledge is more amply diffused, and science is surrounded with all its splendors, form around them a world of their own, and become as seriously interested in the history of the next market town, as those of more enlarged views are in that of the universe—Of this order of beings was Lady Ellesmere ”

“ The young ladies maid, who had lived just long enough in London to make her unfit for the country, began the conversation, as she took her tea in the housekeeper's room, by declaring, that "she must say, that if the gentleman was not a foreigner, and such like, she should think him an handsome genteel person"—an opinion to which, without any reservation, the housemaid, who was that evening admitted to the party subscribed. ”

“ I would not omit this opportunity of entreating and exhorting you to bear your afflictions as becomes a man of your distinguished spirit and fortitude: in other words, let me conjure you to support with resolution those common vicissitudes of fortune, which no prudence can prevent, and for which no mortal is answerable. ”

“ Miss Mary, younger and more sanguine, was already wearied by the same scene but now the calling out of the militia, the arrival of the only daughter of a rich East Indian on a visit to a neighbouring family, and some other strangers coming among them, together with the return of her second brother from abroad, contributed to animate her spirits, and to reconcile her to another winter passed in the country, while her mother, who began to fear that her eldest daughter might never marry, was very anxious to have Mary appear to the best advantage ”

“ They will find it impossible to imprison him and his family for their lives; and that they dare not consummate their crime by taking his life, lest the indignation of the people should conquer their fears; for be assured that by terror only the populace has been restrained, and that the atrocities that have been committed have so astonished and intimidated them, that they have suffered to pass as their actions, the villainy of a hired banditti . ”

“ It has been said of prisoners long accustomed to darkness, that the eye at length becoming habituated to want of light, they can distinguish objects around them without it, and feel an interest in the habits of the animals or reptiles that inhabit their dungeon. ”

“ Theodora shall have no lover till she is forty, if you are not disposed of first—so let us be friends again, and go down to tea in my mother's dressing room."
On their arrival they found D'Alonville already seated between lady Ellesmere and her daughter, and assisting the latter to make tea. Lady Ellesmere endeavoured to show him all the civility in her power; for her heart, naturally good, was interested for every body in distress ”

“ She is really pretty—she is to be at the ball on Tuesday, and we long to have you contrive to engage her."
"Chimeras!" cried Ellesmere. "I promise thee, my sweet Mary, that I shall never marry a nabobess, or an heiress of any description. A pair of colours, and the honor of being shot at by Messieurs les Patriots, is, I believe, my decided destination; but you don't tell me what you think of my friend—is he not a very fine young fellow?"
"Y-e-s," answered the lady slowly, and only as half assenting ”

“ Packer, her mother's woman, entreated that some of the maids might go up and play cards with her. "'Tis so dull," said the poor girl, "to be shut up with old Griffin, from one day's end to another, when mama and my sisters are gone out; and I do so think of the ball! Heigh-ho! I was ten times better off when I was quite a child ”