She made a 'pitiful' attempt to complete her work.
a 'pitiful' [=very small] amount of money
a 'pitifully' small amount of money
(..) Thou marvell'st at my words. Hold thee still. Things bad begun make themselves strong by ill. Come, seeling night. Scarf up the tender eye of pitiful day and, with thy bloody and invisible hand, cancel... and tear to pieces that great bond which keeps me pale. MACBETH: Get up! (..)2015 Macbeth