'Oh, things that happened the week after next,' the Queen replied in a careless tone.

"I do not need them, Captain," he said in the careless tone of royalty.

In a careless tone, he called to his companion to cut down the tree.

The careless tone caused Michael to stop, glance down.

"Very well," said the house-alien in the careless tone of one speaking to a moderately valuable servant.

"To be sure," said Billina in a careless tone.

He called out in a careless tone, "Enough, that will do," and closed the window again.

The memory of her words, that careless tone, still slashed him.

I asked, in as careless a tone as I could manage.

"I don't know," replied the Queen in a careless tone.