Sentence:  “A tight little craft,” was Austin's invariable comment on the matron;nb.... ¶ Near her wandered her husband, orientally bland, invariably affable, and from time to time squinting sideways, as usual, in the ever-renewed expectation that he <WSD>might</WSD> catch a glimpse of his stiff, retroussé moustache. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Used to indicate conditional or possible actions.