She gave him a look that made him blench; then she caught the heavy church-door, and dashed it to with such force that it fairly groaned.
"Landolin"
Berthold Auerbach
Even so, and though her face betrayed trouble and some irresolution, she did not blench, but faced her accuser with a slowly rising passion that overcame her shyness.
"The Castle Inn"
Stanley John Weyman
Like Hamlet with the king at the play, "If he but blench, I know my course!"
"Weighed and Wanting"
George MacDonald