My answers seemed to please him, for his stern features relaxed.

He smiled briefly before the stern features relaxed back into seriousness.

Sadness touched those stern features, and one huge hand rose pleadingly.

The other was shorter, older, with stern features and an iron-gray beard.

Men, with stern features and shaking hands, some carrying guns, rushed forward.

She shook her head, willing away the unwanted vision of the old man's stern features, and tried to force the trembling to stop.

The woman was middle-aged, with iron grey hair and stern features.

She with dark red frizzy hair, a high brow, and tiny regular features too stern to be beautiful.

Her hand was taken but the stern features didn't relax.

Pretty allowed her stern features to relax into a sentimental smile.