Broadcasts from Earth reported the terrorist attacks with muted excitement; broadcasts from Mars and the Belt reported them with rage; and every report on the Floater Factor, no matter where it originated, was tinged with wonder, concern, and confusion.

A sensation she had not felt for months - of muted excitement and expectation - went through her.

David and Michal were about to become empty-nesters, and all the milestones created an air of muted excitement and stress.

There was a feeling of expectancy, a muted excitement.

His voice held that urgent if muted excitement that was so common in television journalism, as he quickly brought viewers up to speed on the investigation and then detailed today's search and rescue of the sheriff of Clayton County.

Instead, he was possessed by an alert but muted excitement.

She sighed, and the slight wash of air carried her scent toward him, the odor of excitement muted, and the sense of sadness deeper now.

With the managing director on board and the buildups and trails written, with circulation rising and a muted but unforgiving excitement trickling through the staff, the meetings with Frank had no longer been necessary.

The muted excitement of the TV commentator came in bursts through the more vivid excitement of the spectators.