as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
sliver of hope; gleam of hope; ray of hope
weak; feeble; delicate; frail; helpless
(public) notice; attention; public eye; public gaze
telephone booth; telephone box
isolated; standing alone; falling in drops (e.g. rain); saying a single word; muttering just a few words
light; illumination; glow; lamp; light
to take advantage of; to follow blindly; to multiply
what time; (lit.) which hour
direct line; direct communication; connecting directly; through service; nonstop service
to feel under pressure; to feel impatient; to be in a hurry
to get dark; to grow dark; to end (of a day, year, season, etc.); to come to an end; to be sunk in (e.g. despair); to be lost in (e.g. thought)
veil of darkness; curtain of night
mental fatigue; worry; boredom
restlessly; aimlessly; to loiter; to drift; to be restless; to fuss
jingle; ding; ringing of small bells
bell (used for summoning or signalling); buzzer
residence; stay; (job) posting; residential police box; residential police box officer
police officer; policeman; policewoman
police officer; policeman; constable
to take a breath; to take a short rest
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use
your husband; her husband
small mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise
to be traced (of a criminal); to be tracked; (arch.) to have a (male) lover
coquettish; charming; seductive; (arch.) beautiful; (arch.) graceful
empty nest; empty house; empty home; burglary (of an empty house); burglar (who targets empty houses)
(my) wife; inside the home; one's family
decent; respectable; dignified; becoming; seemly
piercing; shrill; noisy; loud; clamorous; wild
to be crowded (with); to be packed; to be piled up (of work); to be busy (with)
to call again; to call someone back
bump; lump; protuberance; swelling
to come out; to appear; to turn up; to emerge
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
unexpected; unforeseen; strange
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?