Over the air the voice of the Starfleet Admi-ral, slightly distorted by its long journey, sounded extremely stern.

But the singing tended to sound stern and the dancing at first was of minimal complexity.

Deudermont demanded, trying to sound stern though Drizzt's chuckles were both comforting and infectious.

'You have a stranger here, Willet, who sent to me,' he said, in a voice which sounded naturally stern and deep.

The maid sounds stern and furious, so she stops and drops her goblet to be the same as everyone else.

Gillian tried to sound stern and failed.

Paula was trying to sound stern and sensible.

His voice sounded too stern, he knew.

Julian could sound very stern when he liked.

"Bed," he said again, sounding a trifle less stern.