For some reason, my first year of school had wrought a great change in our relationship: Calpurnia’s tyranny, unfairness, and meddling in my business had faded to gentle grumblings of general disapproval. 

tutorial system

a system, mainly in universities, in which students receive guidance in academic or personal matters from tutors

tinfoil

Tinfoil consists of shiny metal in the form of a thin sheet which is used for wrapping food.

knot-hole

a hole in a piece of wood where a knot has been

loot

goods stolen or taken by force, as from a captured enemy city in wartime or by a corrupt official or by rioters; plunder; spoils

cram

to eat or cause to eat more than necessary

lick

When people or animals lick something, they move their tongue across its surface.

go gargle 

If you gargle, you wash your mouth and throat by filling your mouth with a liquid, tipping your head back and using your throat to blow bubbles through the liquid, and finally spitting it out.

grumble 

If someone grumbles, they complain about something in a bad-temperedway.

nauseate; nauseated;nauseating;nausea

If something nauseates you, it makes you feel as if you are going to vomit.

dash 

If you dash somewhere, you run or go there quickly and suddenly.

tread water

If you say that someone is treading water, you mean that they are in an unsatisfactory situation where they are not progressing, but are just continuing doing the same things.

good grace 

willingly or cheerfully

pitcher

A pitcher is a large container made of clay. Pitchers are usually round in shapeand have a narrow neck and two handles shaped like ears.

scowl;scowling

When someone scowls, an angry or hostile expression appears on their face.

whittle away 

To whittle away something or whittle away at it means to gradually make it smaller, weaker, or less effective.

melancholy

very sad

assorted

various different types

townsfolk

people who lived in a town

quell

to reduce or stop unpleasant feelings such as fear, doubt, or worry 

bumpy

uneven

tangle with

argue or fight

wreak

1\Something or someone that wreaks havoc or destruction causes a great amount of disorder or damage.

2\If you wreak revenge or vengeance on someone, you do something that will harmthem very much to punish them for the harm they have done to you.