after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
painful; heartrending; trying; oppressive; suffocating; miserable
unsophisticated; ruggedly honest; artless; unaffected; simple; naive
errand; mission; messenger; bearer; familiar spirit
to be tear-stained; to have one's face covered with tears
to hurt; to smart; to sting
thick; deep; kind; cordial; abundant
to loiter; to hang around; to wander around; to prowl; to roam
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
to get slightly dirty (all over)
to scoff; to laugh at; to make fun of; to ridicule; to jeer at
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
Vega (star in the constellation Lyra); Alpha Lyrae
stealthily; secretly; in secret
straight (from one place to another); going right onto; on the way; simultaneously; incidentally; directly
fault; error; going poorly; being disadvantageous; un-; non-
supreme council; high council; Supreme Soviet (former USSR)
prime minister; premier; chancellor
centre; center; pivot; central nervous system
to assemble (in a hall); to meet together (in a room)
without permission; without notice
tearing up and discarding (e.g. documents); destruction; annulment; cancellation; reversal (of an original ruling on appeal); quashing
first words said (e.g. when meeting someone); first thing out of one's mouth; first speech; inaugural address; first tone (in Chinese); level tone
to insist; to assert; to be obstinate in saying
to get to the main subject; to move on to the main topic; to get down to business
shameful; disgraceful; unsightly; indecent; unseemly; unbecoming
better; preferable; more; increase; (arch.) increase; (arch.) growth
rude; outspoken; presumptuous; cheeky
to look around; to take a view of
resting one's chin in one's hands; brace (in construction); angle brace
to prick; to stab; to poke; to prod; to use (a cane); to prop oneself up with
to death (bored, scared, etc.); to distraction; like crazy; like mad; so much; dying (e.g. for a drink)
consideration; taking into account
to leave (something) undone; to neglect (a duty, task, etc.); to break (a promise, appointment, etc.); to stand (someone) up
selfish; egoist; (arch.) self-indulgent; (arch.) wilful; (arch.) willful
theatre; theater; playhouse
actor; actress; player; performer