My needs get the best of me, confound them! They keep nibbling and nibbling like mice at a piece of cheese.
No sooner do I manage to scrape together ten rubles or so, when along comes some heathen, and makes away with all my money.

Yes.

It's hard to be a woman! It's a wretched business! To live alone is hard, to live with anyone, still harder!" "And I came to ask you to take me as your assistant," Vlasova broke in, interrupting her prattle.
"How is that ?" asked Marya.

And after hearing her friend's explanation, she nodded her head assentingly.
"That's possible! You remember how you used to hide me from my husband?
Well, now I am going to hide you from want.

Everyone ought to help you, for your son is perishing for the public cause.