The morning was as dark and cold as city snow could make it--a
dingy whirl at the window; a read more

The morning was as dark and cold as city snow could make it--a
dingy whirl at the window; a smoky gust through the fire-place; a
shadow black as a bear's cave under the table. Nothing in all
the cavernous room, loomed really warm or familiar except a glass
of stale water, and a vapid, half-eaten grape-fruit.

In the twentieth year of the reign of the right high and puissant
King Henry the Eighth, namely, in read more

In the twentieth year of the reign of the right high and puissant
King Henry the Eighth, namely, in 1529, on the twenty-first of
April, and on one of the loveliest evenings that ever fell on the
loveliest district in England, a fair youth, having somewhat the
appearance of a page, was leaning over the terrace-wall on the
north side of Windsor Castle, and gazing at the magnificent scene
before him.

To stretch his legs between consultations, Maclean escorted his
last patient to Baker Street station.

To stretch his legs between consultations, Maclean escorted his
last patient to Baker Street station.

One night, at the latter end of April 1665, the family of a
citizen of London carrying on an read more

One night, at the latter end of April 1665, the family of a
citizen of London carrying on an extensive business as a grocer
in Wood Street, Cheapside, were assembled, according to custom,
at prayer.

In 1846 the prairie town of Oak River existed only in a settler's
dream.

In 1846 the prairie town of Oak River existed only in a settler's
dream.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

It was a cold winter Sunday afternoon.

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of
the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies read more

Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of
the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded
yellow sun.

It was the first Tuesday in August. The Nebraska heat rolled in
upon one like the engulfing waves of read more

It was the first Tuesday in August. The Nebraska heat rolled in
upon one like the engulfing waves of a dry sea,--a thick material
substance against which one seemed to push when moving about.

Early one morning I, Vadim Maslennikov, set off for school (I was
going on seventeen at the time) having read more

Early one morning I, Vadim Maslennikov, set off for school (I was
going on seventeen at the time) having forgotten the envelope
with the first-semester fees Mother had left me in the dining
room the day before.