She thought it sounded louder than in the morning--more insistent, less mirthful.

A web of tight wrinkles crept out across her face, less mirthful than annoyed.

But not a man in France felt less mirthful.

Then he spoke and his voice dropped to a less mirthful key, as he laid his hand on Zoroaster's shoulder.

(Their teenage son was less mirthful when the vetters grilled him about his Facebook profile.)