Persuasion...

Last weekend for Valentine's Day I had the pleasure of spending the evening with a fun group of ladies. We had quite the spread of yummy food, including a whole table full of dessert! We all know that a girl's night would not be complete without dessert! It was a sweet night of fellowship, relaxing, and enjoying the lovely work of Jane Austen, and the suave dance moves of Fred Astaire. Two different eras...... equally wonderful. :)

a fun group of girls.... :)

We opted to watch "Persuasion" rather than the loooong version of P&P. During the movie there is much wondering and waiting to see if the main characters finally get together. What would a love story be without the beautiful agony of anticipation? :) I just have to share this letter that was written by Captain Wentworth to the woman he loved, which of course cleared all misunderstandings away and made for a happy ending! Sigh. Excuse me for being a sap, but it actually brought tears to my eyes. Not even kidding.

If you know the background and the conversation that Captain Wentworth was overhearing Anne have with Captain Benwick just a few feet away from him while he was writing this letter, then you will have a deeper understanding and appreciation for the words he writes to Anne. People just don't write like this anymore....

Dearest Anne,

I can listen no longer in silence. I must speak to you by such means as are within my reach. You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope. Tell me not that I am too late, that such precious feelings are gone forever. I offer myself to you again with a heart even more your own, than when you almost broke it eight years and a half ago. Dare not say that man forgets sooner than woman, that his love has an earlier death. I have loved none but you. Unjust I may have been, weak and resentful I have been, but never inconstant. You alone have brought me to Bath. For you alone I think and plan. - Have you not seen this? Can you fail to have understood my wishes? - I had not waited even these ten days, could I have read your feelings, as I think you must have penetrated mine. I can hardly write. I am every instant hearing something which overpowers me. You sink your voice, but I can distinguish the tones of that voice, when they would be lost on others.- Too good, too excellent creature! You do us justice indeed. You do believe that there is true attachment and constancy among men. Believe it to be most fervent, most undeviating in F.W. ......I must go, uncertain of my fate; but I shall return hither, or follow your party, as soon as possible. A word, a look will be enough to decide whether I enter your father's house this evening or never.