The atmosphere was hotand sultry, the summer lightning quivered faintly on the verge of thehorizon, and was the only sight that varied the dull gloom in whicheverything was wrapped--sound there was none, except the distant barkingof some restless house-dog.
( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) 'He was seated here, one calm evening, in his old position, now and thenraising his head to watch the flight of a sea-gull, or carry his eyealong the glorious crimson path, which, commencing in the middle of theocean, seemed to lead to its very verge where the sun was setting, whenthe profound stillness of the spot was broken by a loud cry for help; helistened, doubtful of his having heard aright, when the cry was repeatedwith even greater vehemence than before, and, starting to his feet, hehastened in the direction whence it proceeded.
He was reduced to the verge of despair, when anopen door attracted his attention.
It's natur; ain't it, cook?Don't ask me, imperence,' replied the cook, in a high state of delight;and hereupon the cook and Mary laughed again, till what between thebeer, and the cold meat, and the laughter combined, the latter younglady was brought to the verge of choking--an alarming crisis from whichshe was only recovered by sundry pats on the back, and other necessaryattentions, most delicately administered by Mr. Samuel Weller.
The population is migratory,usually disappearing on the verge of quarter-day, and generally bynight.
( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) Tracy Tupman, and Augustus Snodgrass, were severally called into thebox; both corroborated the testimony of their unhappy friend; and eachwas driven to the verge of desperation by excessive badgering.
Mr. Pickwick, whose face had been undergoing most surprising changesduring this speech, and was evidently on the verge of a strong burst ofindignation, calmed his wrath as well as he could.
His account of both wasquite satisfactory to Wardle--as almost any other account would havebeen, for the good old gentleman was overflowing with Hilarity andkindness--and a handsome portion having been bestowed upon Emily, themarriage was fixed to take place on the fourth day from that time--thesuddenness of which preparations reduced three dressmakers and a tailorto the extreme verge of insanity.