"We will be ready for them if they do come back," she said gently.

I said gently, 'He was using you too, to get at your father.

"After all we've meant to one another, I should think you would have known my voice," she said gently.

Finally she said gently, "We think of the boy as our own."

Stand - stop, although when said gently may also mean just to slow down.

"There is one thing which you can still offer to me," she said gently.

"Leave me with him now," I said gently to the entire company.

"It might have been nothing more than the need for human contact," he said gently.

"I kind of think it would be a good idea for the kids," he said gently.

"I think one always has to take some risk," she said gently.