deardavid:
iamafraidthatyouwillthinkmeunpardonablynegligentinnothavingansweredyourletterdated7,decembersooner,butwhenihavetoldyouthereason,itrustyouwillbeconvincedthattheneglectwasexcusable.whenyourletterarrived,iwasjustinhongkong.asmyfamilycouldnotforwardittomeduringmyabsence,ithasbeen,therefore,lyingonmydeskuntilthemomentwhenitookitup.nowthefirstthingihavetohastentodoistowritetoyouthesefewlinestoexpressmydeepregret.
ienjoyedmanypleasantsightsduringmytrip.ishallbepleasedtogiveyouanaccounttoofthemwheniseeyounext.
sincerelyyours,
tom
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XXXX年XX月XX日