It was an expensive addiction however, and one which his increasingly truncated circle of professional contacts could scarcely hope to finance.

In the dark ages before cable, about 30 years ago, British television was routinely, if wrongly, considered the standard Americans could scarcely hope to achieve.

I am here almost miraculously, and can scarcely hope for so good an opportunity to occur again.

"I scarcely hoped to see you tonight, Father," said the countess.

It seemed almost impossible that they could become more than friends, even if she cared to do so, which he could scarcely hope.

I came back, scarcely hoping that I should find you here.

These were none too reassuring, though one could scarcely hope for better under the circumstances.

They could scarcely hope for a tougher or more imposing start.

So strong is he that you can scarcely hope to conquer him in open war--yet snakes may crawl where men cannot walk.

A country finally facing its past could scarcely hope for a better, or more enamored, chronicler of its present.