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