1.   That he ultimately was able to succeed helped ease that pain ever so slightly.

2.   Eventually, changes at the store, such as organizing her cash drawer differently, helped ease the pain, but it was too late.

3.   It was his third win of the season and helped ease the disappointment of having been passed over for the Ryder Cup team the week before.

4.   But gains on Wall Street and the bond market helped ease the pressure on the dollar a bit, he said.