It made too strong a contrast to his gloomy soul, and it even seemed as though the course of the sun, in its beaming, unattainably lofty path, mocked the hapless, painful obstruction to his own motion.
"The Complete Historical Romances of Georg Ebers"
Georg Ebers
In her sensitive face, in her reserve, and in her sometimes melancholy air, he saw traces of inward struggles between a passionate, impulsive, pleasure-loving nature and standards of virtue unattainably high.
"The Pines of Lory"
John Ames Mitchell
They gallop up only to find the train, reduced by distance to a small puff of smoke, steaming unattainably northwards.
"Doctor Cupid"
Rhoda Broughton