DearFrank:
IamterriblysorrytotellyouthatIhavelostthevaluablebookyouweresokindtolendmelastweek.Ireaditeverydayandintendedtofinishitnextmonth.LastnightwhenIcametomyroom,itwasnowheretobefound.Iwilltrytorecoveritassoonaspossible.IfIfailtofindit,Iwillgetanewbookforyou.
ButIamafraiditcannevertaketheplaceoftheoldone.Oldbooksarelikeoldfriends.Oncelost,theycanneverbereplaced.Theyareconnectedwithcherishedassociationswhichthenewonescanneverhave.Andforthisirrecoverableloss,Iamtoblame.Iwassocarelesswithmythings.Thisisawarningtometobemorecarefulinthefuture.
Yourstruly,
Tom