When my nerves had steadied a bit, I shifted onto one hip and renewed my struggle to free the keys from my pocket.

Hobson reassures himself once his nerves have steadied that if the entity returns, he can apparently keep it at bay by concentrated mental effort.

His nerves had steadied, but he was sweating too much to get drunk.

Rapidly his nerves steadied.

Hope came back to his heart; his nerves soon steadied themselves as the heavy beverage filtrated through into his blood.

It hadn't steadied her nerves.

Robbie's nerves had steadied.

The administrator's nerves had steadied.

Or perhaps our nerves had steadied, now that it was too late.

His nerves steadied themselves, his mind cleared; he saw Carew for what he was, and the hour of his salvation was upon him.