By this time I began to fear that my friends would be rendered impatient by my protracted absence.

As time went on, she viewed with growing dismay Pasquinel's protracted absences.

At last I commenced to worry over Nobs' protracted absence and to fear that something had befallen him.

Tarzan's mysterious disappearance and protracted absence was the subject of considerable conversation.

At first he thought that the other's protracted absence indicated this, but as the days passed and his friend did not return he became anxious.

David Bouley needs a return to basics following his protracted absence from the kitchen.

Thanks to Trip's protracted absence, her memories of their brief time together had become as irrepressible as they were bittersweet.

But I was impatient to learn the cause of his protracted absence, and he proceeded to recount what had happened on board during my incarceration.

"I had affairs to settle before such a protracted absence, you know."

Given his protracted absence from the game he was taking a huge gamble in making himself available.