DearDavid:
Iamafraidthatyouwillthinkmeunpardonablynegligentinnothavingansweredyourletterdated7,Decembersooner,butwhenIhavetoldyouthereason,Itrustyouwillbeconvincedthattheneglectwasexcusable.
Whenyourletterarrived,IwasjustinHongKong.Asmyfamilycouldnotforwardittomeduringmyabsence,ithasbeen,therefore,lyingonmydeskuntilthemomentwhenItookitup.
NowthefirstthingIhavetohastentodoistowritetoyouthesefewlinestoexpressmydeepregret.
Ienjoyedmanypleasantsightsduringmytrip.IshallbepleasedtogiveyouanaccounttoofthemwhenIseeyounext.
Sincerelyyours,
Tom
亲爱的戴维：
请原谅我收到您12月7日的来信后迟迟未复，现将原因告诉您，相信您一定会谅解的。您的来信到来时，我正巧在香港，家人无法及时转递。你的信一直放在我写字台上，直到我回到才看见，拖至今天才回信，深表歉意。
这次出去旅行饱览了许多美丽景色，下次见到您时，将告诉您一切。