serious; important; significant; grave; weighty
plot; intrigue; scheme; conspiracy
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
how many people; a number of people
at hand; on hand; way of moving one's arms; skill; money at hand; pocket money
condition; state; health; state (of health); way; manner
to take turns doing; to do in rotation
from the beginning; from the first; of course; not to mention ...; not only ... but also ...
anything; whatever; whatever one likes
deep-seated; deep-rooted; ingrained
concrete; definite; specific; material; substantial
to draw near; to draw closer; to press (e.g. for an answer); to hound
very; extremely; extreme; excessive; splendid; impressive
entreaty; appeal; petition
to wear glasses; to put on glasses
confidence; trust; faith; credit
boom; bang; wham; Oh my God!; What a shock!
to jest; to joke; to play the fool; to act indecently; to be silly over
both; together; jointly; simultaneously
roughly; broadly; generally; more or less
so-so; passable; now, now; there, there; my, my; oh my!
idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
unnatural; affected; studied; forced
just as; right after; in the act of; as soon as; at that moment
Mr; Mrs; clan; he; him; counter for people
to collapse; to crumble; to get out of shape; to lose one's shape; to break down; to be thrown into disarray; to crash (stock market)
dull; dreary; dissatisfying; disappointing; unattractive; unappealing
seeing (someone) off; send-off; deferment; postponement; letting a pitch go by; wait-and-see attitude
to draw (someone) close to one's breast; to pull close to one; to take into one's arms; to embrace
meddling; meddlesomeness; nosiness; meddler; buttinsky; busybody
to hear; to be told; to know; to receive (order); to undertake; to comply
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)
drawing room; parlour; parlor; reception office
... is the reason; ... is my excuse
being startled; getting a shock
evening; night; nighttime