Since Laura had lived alone, she had not been missed during her short absence.

Noting that no one seemed to notice her short absence, she decided to just sit back and enjoy watching people.

It was as though old friends had been reunited after a short absence.

The commissary himself had, during their short absence, fallen half asleep.

The next chamber, however, had far more markings than could possibly be accounted for by their short absence.

"Has anything occurred during my short absence from the laboratory?"

He was old enough now that he didn't have to ask special permission for short absences.

"Now, tell me how things fared in my short absence?"

He always asked the same question, as if a short absence would have changed her mind.

But Mikelaus will make himself handy during my short absence.