The reply came that the line was out of order.

In the late afternoon of the following day, the reply came.

A reply would therefore have come back along the line.

With your help I'm sure it will be, came the reply.

The reply came still from a long distance, but clearly and without effort now.

"I want to see what they were making here," came the reply.

Her soft reply came just as he was beginning to move away.

When asked why he had said it, his reply came fast and cold.

"The reply may come more quickly than I had thought."

I will help you with that part, came the reply.