Some, Zerodium and Gleg among them, are perfectly respectable, and choosy about whom they deal with (Zerodium says it declines more sales than it makes).
I often heard them repeat the word assai, and from their gestures I understood they were inviting me to go ashore, an invitation I felt obliged to decline.
You have made an impression upon her young heart, which gives me the most serious alarm: To prevent that impression from growing stronger, I am obliged to decline your acquaintance.
She resolved to treat him with distant politeness, to decline his services with gratitude for the tender of them, and to make him feel, without offence, that his future visits would be far from acceptable.
She was very much obliged to him, but declined it all, repeating her conviction, that the rain would come to nothing at present, and adding, " I am only waiting for Mr Elliot. He will be here in a moment, I am sure" .