1 Suddenly her expression changed from desultory enjoyment to active conjecture, and she turned to Selden with a question.
2 Hitherto he had found, in her presence and her talk, the aesthetic amusement which a reflective man is apt to seek in desultory intercourse with pretty women.
3 It was mid-April, and one felt that the revelry had reached its climax and that the desultory groups in the square and gardens would soon dissolve and re-form in other scenes.
4 In the lulls, Robert and his mother exchanged bits of desultory conversation.
5 The talk was much more desultory than when only the cronies were there, and everybody was a bit bored, for the weather was bad, and there was only billiards, and the pianola to dance to.
6 She did not speak many words; and as for him, something had been just done and some words had been just said on the hill which prevented him from beginning a desultory chat.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 3: 3 The First Act in a Timeworn Drama 7 In these desultory ramblings she passed the cottage of Susan Nunsuch, a little lower down than her grandfather's.
Return of the Native By Thomas HardyContext Highlight In BOOK 5: 7 The Night of the Sixth of November 8 Our client appeared to have taken fresh heart at the little glimpse of hope which had been presented to him, and he even broke into a desultory chat with me over his business affairs.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes By Arthur Conan DoyleContext Highlight In XI. THE ADVENTURE OF THE BERYL CORONET 9 She entreated that there might be no more searching; but it was still sought for, in a desultory way, until she was quite well, and the company took their departure.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 16. I AM A NEW BOY IN MORE SENSES THAN ONE 10 To mend the matter, Hamlet's aunt had the family failing of indulging in soliloquy, and held forth in a desultory manner, by herself, on every topic that was introduced.
David Copperfield By Charles DickensContext Highlight In CHAPTER 25. GOOD AND BAD ANGELS