emotional scars; mental trauma
at first; in the beginning; originally
whole family; entire family; all over the house; throughout the house; retainer of a daimyo; feudal domain
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first
trot; half run; jog; girl in charge of menial tasks in a samurai family
it's no big deal; it's no problem; it's nothing to worry about; safe (and sound); all right
a (single) moment; an instant
mutually; with each other; reciprocally; together; both
return present; return gift; something done in return (as way of thanks); retaliation; revenge
to put oneself on guard; to stand ready; to square off
yearned for; longed for; missed
all night long; all through the night
to be still half asleep; to be half awake; to be not yet quite awake
to re-think; to think back upon; to change one's mind
fellow women; between women; among women; woman-to-woman
to be pretentious; to put on airs; to show off
perquisite; perk; side benefit; emoluments
stout-hearted; firm; courageous; brave; tough
to interfere; to butt in; to interrupt someone
to profit; to benefit (from); to benefit (someone or something); to be beneficial to; to make good use of; to take advantage of
unconcerned (about); unbothered; unworried; easy; simple
to interrupt (with frivolous remarks, silly jokes, etc.); to butt in; to make teasing remarks
needless fear; groundless apprehension; unfounded worry
saving (e.g. energy); cutting down on (e.g. alcohol); save; save
recovery; return to form; regaining one's (usual) form; demodulation
to choose at one's own discretion; to choose when to do something; to estimate (the time for something)
administrative; businesslike; practical; impersonal; perfunctory; robot-like
early evening (usu. from 3pm to 6pm); dusk
baptism; christening; initiation (into a society, group, etc.); baptism; one's first experience of something; baptism (by fire, etc.)
drop (e.g. of water); drip
to be stumped; to be at a loss; to be at one's wits' end; to be fed up; to be tired (of); to be unable to bear
to stand in the way; to bar someone's way; to block the way
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)
preliminary step; first step
examination results; test result; test outcome
to raise objections; to complain; (to have the right) to say anything
retry; another try; another go
faltering; tottering; halting; unsteady; awkward; clumsy
elderly woman; senior lady-in-waiting
to grow; to spring up; to sprout; to cut (teeth)
certificate; certified document; (the) thumbs up; seal of approval; paper with signature of the shogun or lord
to be smeared; to be covered