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