This letter was, she sternly told herself, a foolish, romantic affair.

She felt fear starting to cramp her stomach, and sternly told it to relax.

Gail would have followed, but Sabbatha sternly told her to remain where she was.

You do not know it for a fact, he sternly told himself.

So she sternly told herself that gray day in the windy park.

She found herself feeling mildly lost, and sternly told herself not to get into a mood.

Then, like a boyfriend setting an ultimatum, the program sternly told me that I had 10 more days to make up my mind.

Of course it doesn't, she told that pesky corner sternly.

But that was for later, she sternly told herself.