DearKate:
Excusemeformylongdelayinginreturningtoyouyour“RobinsonCrusoe”whichIreadthroughwithgreatinterest.Ihadfinishedreadingthebookandwasabouttoreturnitwhenmycousincametoseeme.Neverhavingseenthebook,ShewassointerestedinitthatIhadtoretainitlonger.However,Ihopethatinviewoftheadditionaldelightthusaffordedbyyourbook,youwilloverlookmynegligenceinnotreturningitsooner.Thankingyouagainfortheloan.
Sincerely
yours,
dearfrank:
iamterriblysorrytotellyouthatihavelostthevaluablebookyouweresokindtolendmelastweek.ireaditeverydayandintendedtofinishitnextmonth.lastnightwhenicametomyroom,itwasnowheretobefound.iwilltrytorecoveritassoonaspossible.ififailtofindit,iwillgetanewbookforyou.
butiamafraiditcannevertaketheplaceoftheoldone.oldbooksarelikeoldfriends.oncelost,theycanneverbereplaced.theyareconnectedwithcherishedassociationswhichthenewonescanneverhave.andforthisirrecoverableloss,iamtoblame.iwassocarelesswithmythings.thisisawarningtometobemorecarefulinthefuture.
yourstruly,
tom
DearAnne,
Thankyouforyourinvitationtodinneratyourhometomorrowevening.Unfortunately,itismuchtomyregretthatIcannotjoinyouandyourfamily,becauseIwillbefullyoccupiedthenforanimportantexamcomingthedayaftertomorrow.Ifeelterriblysorryformissingthechanceofsuchahappyget-together,andIhopethatallofyouenjoyagoodtime.Isitpossibleforyouandmetohaveaprivatemeetingafterward?Ifso,pleasedon'thesitatetodropmealineaboutyourpreferabledate.Idolongforapleasantchatwithyou.
Pleaseallowmetosaysorryagain.
Regards,
LiMing
DearJohn,
Iameagerlylookingforwardtoyourvisittoourcity.Afteralltheseyearsofwritingtoeachother,Icannotwaittoseeyou.However,IregrettoinformyouthatIwillnotbeabletomeetyouattheairportontime.
Thereasonisthatyourflightwillarriveearlyinthemorning,andtheearliestIcanreachtheairportwillbeaboutanhourafteryouland.Willyoupleasewaitformeinthearrivallounge?Youcanhavebreakfastwhileyouwait.
Bytheway,aswehavenevermetImusttellyouhometoidentifyme:Iamof165cmtallandhavealonghair.Inaddition,IwillwearawhiteskirtandcarryaChinaDailyathand.
Hopewecanmeetsoon.
Sincerelyyours,
Alice
【译文】
亲爱的约翰:
我非常期待着你来参观我们的城市。这么多年来我们一直通信,我早就想见到你了。但是很抱歉我不能按时到机场接你。
因为你的飞机是一大早就到达机场,而我最早也要1小时后才能到。你能不能在旅客休息室等我,你可以利用这段时间吃早饭。
随便说一句,因为我们没过面,我得告诉你怎么找我:我大概1.65米,长发。另外我会穿一件白色的裙子,手上拿一份中国日报。
希望早点见到你。
你真挚的:
艾丽丝