It's all conveyed with an evenhanded, often affectionate tone.

But he was getting unmistakably uncomfortable, now, notwithstanding Laura's confiding sociability and almost affectionate tone.

But at least she said it gently, in the sort of affectionate tone one would use to address a dotty aunt in her dotage.

Anna Maria was her father's favorite child as demonstrated by the cordial, even affectionate tone of the letters that they wrote to each other.

Beneath the affectionate tone of Annie's response, steely signals glinted.

It was obvious from Goldfield's affectionate tone that he greatly admired the chief medical examiner.

"She's a diva, you know," says one top official at Lincoln Center in an affectionate and even sympathetic tone.

Her perfidious friend's voice had assumed the most affectionate tone; she spoke as a woman, but concealed the instincts of a wolf.

His affectionate tone and appreciative smile made her forget the whirlwind of horrors she'd en- dured over the past two days.

His way of speaking takes on a particularly benevolent, patient, affectionate and friend-philosopher-guide tone when he speaks with his disciple.