but i am afraid it can never take the place of the old one. old books are like old friends. once lost, they can never be replaced. they are connected with cherished associations which the new ones can never have. and for this irrecoverable loss, i am to blame. i was so careless with my things. this is a warning to me to be more careful in the future.
yours truly,
tom
親愛的弗蘭克：
很抱歉，上星期您借給我的那本書竟遺失了。我每天都在看，準備下個月看完。昨晚我回到我的臥室，到處也找不到那本書。我將盡力找到它。萬一找不到，我只好買一本新的還您。
但是，新書恐怕不能代替那本舊書吧！舊書跟舊友一樣，一旦失去就不能再得。舊書與往事相連，這種不可彌補的損失，皆由我起。我對待一切太大意了，這次給我一個警告，叫我以後要小心。