She spoke precisely as if she had a sick child to humour; as if she were the nurse in charge, determined at any sacrifice to keep the peevish little one from crying. "The Northern Iron 1907" by George A. Birmingham

Her employer was fault- finding, peevish, unreasonable, and many a time Margaret's patience almost failed her- almost, but not quite. "Lucy Maud Montgomery Short Stories, 1907 to 1908" by Lucy Maud Montgomery

It was almost worse to think of Harold than of his sick brother; and Alfred grieved very much too, and took to himself the blame of having made home miserable to Harold, and driven him into bad company; of having been so peevish and unpleasant, that it was no wonder he would not come near him more than could be helped; and above all, of having set a bad example of idleness and recklessness, when he was well. "Friarswood Post-Office" by Charlotte M. Yonge