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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 20, 2008 16:26:47 GMT -5
"It strikes me that perhaps novels should be altered, then," Darcy said. "Though I am glad, for your sake, that Avonlea waited to take you in."
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Post by Anne on Oct 20, 2008 16:32:06 GMT -5
"If novels were to reflect real life, though, who would read them? Who wishes to read fiction if only to be confronted with reality?"
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 20, 2008 16:35:29 GMT -5
"I do," Darcy said, slightly taken aback--possibly because he had not really thought about it before. "If I were to read a novel and truly enjoy it, I believe it would be because I was confronted with truths about the human condition that I myself may not be privy to. It need not have happened to be true, but neither must it be wholly fantastic to be entertaining. Surely when we go to plays, it is not only to see an alternative to reality--it is to see reality reflected back at us in another form."
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Post by Anne on Oct 20, 2008 16:41:11 GMT -5
*Anne stared at Darcy with some surprise. Was he...debating literary theory with her?
In that moment she wondered if kissing him would be entirely wrong.*
"There is some truth in that, I suppose...though the charm of a fairytale is rather lost in your interpretation of things. I used to believe that fairytales could be--no, that they were real. I still want to believe that."
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 20, 2008 16:47:23 GMT -5
"Fairy tales may offer truths," he said. "Else, they would not have lasted so long. I need not believe in the gods of the Greek pantheon to derive some knowledge from their exploits. But I have never believe such tales to be real. I prefer reality, for all its faults. It may not be black and white, but the rules are tangible, however obscure."
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Post by Anne on Oct 21, 2008 9:14:21 GMT -5
"But...magic offers such possibility, even if it must come within chaos...I mean--it may be the unknown, but isn't that exciting?"
*She bit her lip.*
"And as for the rules of reality...well, they don't making living much easier, do they?"
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 21, 2008 10:27:46 GMT -5
"Perhaps for you," Darcy said gently. "I have always valued knowing where I stand."
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Post by Anne on Oct 21, 2008 12:21:21 GMT -5
"That's easy for you to say--when all your life you've stood on top."
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 21, 2008 12:25:43 GMT -5
Darcy hesitated, torn.
"Perhaps," he said. "But we all have our misfortunes; who is there to measure the degree to which we feel them? I have not always felt myself to be 'on top' as you say. And now that is even less true."
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Post by Anne on Oct 21, 2008 13:09:14 GMT -5
"...you are a healthy, educated young man with ownership of a hotel--though your fortunes may have sunk by comparison to what they once were, you're still much better off than most."
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 21, 2008 13:18:34 GMT -5
Darcy started slightly, then his mouth twitched.
"She told you," he stated. "I had rather wanted to tell you myself. It's rather like a novel, isn't it? The tragic reversal? The bringing low of the prideful?"
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Post by Anne on Oct 21, 2008 13:52:44 GMT -5
"Tragedy?" *Anne fought the urge to roll her eyes.* "...I am pleased to think Georgiana trusted me enough to confide in me...though I can understand it if you wanted to break it to me in your own way; but what of it? You still have so much more than so many...than most would ever dream of having. And though you seem to be having difficulty in locating the silver lining to this your cloud, it...brought you to Avonlea."
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 21, 2008 13:59:26 GMT -5
"I am not disheartened, Miss Shirley," Darcy corrected. "I was, for a time; but I found solace in work. In reality. Which is precisely my point; perhaps another might have been comforted by flights of fancy, but I am not he. It does me little good to imagine myself with all my wealth again, and the 'silver lining' as you call it is, in may ways, preferable. And quite real. You mustn't think I am wallowing in my impoverished state, whatever opinion you hold of my sort."
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Post by Anne on Oct 21, 2008 16:00:15 GMT -5
"...well forgive me, but you sounded a bit sorry for yourself," *said Anne with a smile, shaking her head gently.*
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Post by Mr. Darcy on Oct 21, 2008 16:26:06 GMT -5
"I'm sorry to have implied so," he said. "I was merely attempting to anticipate your likely reaction, from a novelist's point of view. I'm afraid my attempts at humor often fall flat. And perhaps it has affected my spirits somewhat. But I can hardly be blamed for requiring some time to regain my footing. Hardship may be relative, but it is no less real."
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