Sentence:  Eileen got to dancing , just a little tiny dancing step to a hummed tune that you could hardly notice , and <WSD>trying</WSD> to pick up strange men , but each time I was ready to say to hell with it and walk out she 'd pull herself together and talk so understandingly in that sweet husky voice about the good times and the happiness we 'd had together and there I was back on the hook . 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  make an effort or attempt