DearDavid:
Iamafraidthatyouwillthinkmeunpardonablynegligentinnothavingansweredyourletterdated7,Decembersooner,butwhenIhavetoldyouthereason,Itrustyouwillbeconvincedthattheneglectwasexcusable.
Whenyourletterarrived,IwasjustinHongKong.Asmyfamilycouldnotforwardittomeduringmyabsence,ithasbeen,therefore,lyingonmydeskuntilthemomentwhenItookitup.
NowthefirstthingIhavetohastentodoistowritetoyouthesefewlinestoexpressmydeepregret.
Ienjoyedmanypleasantsightsduringmytrip.IshallbepleasedtogiveyouanaccounttoofthemwhenIseeyounext.