【1】
dear miss nancy,
much to my regret i was unable to keep my promise to attend your birthday party last saturday, owing to the fact that my little son was suddenly taken ill early that day.
【2】
Dear David:
I am afraid that you will think me unpardonably negligent in not having answered your letter dated 7, December sooner, but when I have told you the reason, I trust you will be convinced that the neglect was excusable.
When your letter arrived, I was just in Hong Kong.
【3】
Dear Kate:
Excuse me for my long delaying in returning to you your “Robinson Crusoe” which I read through with great interest.
I had finished reading the book and was about to return it when my cousin came to see me.
Never having seen the book, She was so interested in it that I had to retain it longer.
However, I hope that in view of the additional delight thus afforded by your book, you will overlook my negligence in not returning it sooner.