"Of course you aren't," he said, trying to sound brisk.

She sounded brisk and businesslike, probably taking me for a client.

He sounded brisk and unreachable through the speaker on her desk.

"Well," she said, trying to sound brisk, "they told me I could stay here with you tonight and help keep you awake."

The voice at the other end sounded brisk.

"No, sir," he said, forcing himself to sound brisk and businesslike.

He was trying to sound brisk, but his voice was still thick with shock.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly, and tried to sound brisk.

She was trying to sound brisk, like somebody from the television.

She tried to sound brisk, but the tremor in her voice was unmistakable.