scraps; cut end; cut-off piece
fragment; broken piece; chip; ounce (of truth, conscience, etc.); trace; shred
to connect; to join; to join or tie or knot together
government service; the bureaucracy
being about to cry; the verge of tears
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together; both
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
inferiority (e.g. numerical); inferior position; disadvantage; unfavorable situation; unfavourable situation
predominance; superiority; ascendancy; advantage; supremacy
to make matters worse; besides; what's more; in addition; on top of that
with a start; with a jump
stiffening; rigidity; rigor; stiffness; ossification; petrification
to tell; to inform; to announce; to indicate; to signal; to mark
to leave; to depart; to take one's leave
coat; tunic; jacket; outer garment
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
gesture; movement; action; acting; performance
to throw away; to cast away; to abandon; to desert; to give up; to resign
to remove; to take off; to drop (e.g. from a team); to remove (from a position); to leave (e.g. one's seat); to go away from
sweetly (smiling); broadly (grinning)
to nod; to bow one's head in assent; to agree
had better ...; had better not ...
leaving; going home; quitting one's job; free time; leisure
perhaps; likely; probably; I dare say
slowly; unhurriedly; easily (e.g. in time); well; well (e.g. sleep); comfortably
to abandon; to fail; to desert; to forsake
if you don't mind; if you like; if you feel up for it; if you're interested
care; looking after; trouble; bother; good offices; recommendation
to be saved; to be rescued; to escape harm; to be spared damage; to be helped; to be saved trouble
very; greatly; immense; enormous; serious; grave
to leave behind; to put off; to postpone
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to use tact; to exercise discretion; to be tactful; to be thoughtful; to have the sense (to do); to take a hint
surrounding at a distance
for a moment; for a minute; for a while; for some time; for the time being; for now
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
not caring; not giving a damn
to slip into; to crawl into (under); to conceal oneself (under); to sneak into; to infiltrate