So sweetly sung were they that Pluto, that stern master of the nether regions, granted safe passage to him, and to the one he loved.

He had fifty thousand Nome soldiers, all well drilled, who feared nothing but their stern master.

We work for a sterner master than you, Sharpe.

He himself rubbed down his horse, for though he was a stern master he was a good one.

You never knew if they'd remember their lessons from their stern master.

That was the laugh of the stern master who had thwarted the hand of doom!

Under my husband's keen regard the young man squirmed like a schoolboy being quizzed by a stern master.

To her, the spiders were stern but benevolent masters, and it was a privilege to serve them.

For those handicapping the results, look at the vagaries of that stern master of Albany - election-year politics.

Henceforth, it was true, she must take second place, for Abi would be a stern master to her.