I asked him how he felt, but hardly expected an answer.

I hardly expected to get such an answer, not even from you.

"You can hardly expect things to go on as they have."

She hardly expected him to answer this, nor did he.

"You can hardly expect her to be able to read."

That was the truth, but I could hardly expect him to believe it.

"You can hardly expect them to take it every day."

You'd hardly expect to see one of them on the dance floor or standing with us, would you?

He could hardly expect a word of truth in the woman's statement.

She stood up to him with a dignity he had hardly expected.