Vocabulary

preferential treatment; special favour; special benefit

anywhere; everywhere; indiscriminate(ly); no matter where

bedsore

exclusive photographing (e.g. for a magazine)

peach and plum

birdcage

the authorities

nowadays; these days

(lamp) wick

uniform excellence

additional collection; additional imposition; surcharge; forfeit; penalty

recollection; remembrance; reminiscence

PS; postscript

point (of a question, story, etc.)

grabbing a handful (of); grabbing as much as one can in one handful

to strum; to pluck the strings (of a guitar)

to stand on tiptoe

to finger; to roll between the thumb and the fingers

fierce or defiant look; determined expression; plucky countenance

popular figure; person in demand; favorite; favourite

oval face (e.g. of a beautiful woman)

sprouts; new shoots; young buds

bewilderment; confusion

cotton ginning

reduction (of a fraction to its lowest terms)

drugstore; pharmacy; chemist

medicine chest (container)

climax; peak; critical moment; most important stage; turning point

soft fair skin

important talk

positive charge; positive electricity

stronghold; fortress

(Western-style) umbrella; parasol

ambush

leaf stalk; petiole

evening star; Vesper; Hesperus; Venus in the evening sky

leaf venation; leaf nervature; leaf vein; leaf nerve

cradle

solar calendar

main or important road