Deux Soeurs (Two Sisters), William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1901. [Public domain] via Wikimedia Commons
The relationship between sisters sure does go through changes as they grow up. Mary and Lydia's relationship is shifting in this story -- especially in Chapter 7 from where the excerpt below is taken. It's a bit of a role reversal as the little sister is stepping up to care for the big sister.
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Lydia threw her arms around Mary and pulled her into a tight hug. “Oh, Mary! Being alone in the middle must be dreadful! How you must suffer for it. I will not allow it to be any longer,” she said, and then, she did something she had not done since they were both very young. She kissed Mary’s cheek.
[from Persuading Miss Mary, book 4 in the Marrying Elizabeth Series]
Leenie Brown fell in love with Jane Austen's works when she first read Sense and Sensibility followed immediately by Pride and Prejudice in her early teens. As the second of five daughters and an avid reader, she has always loved to see where her imagination takes her and to play with and write about the characters she meets along the way. In 2013, these two loves collided when she stumbled upon the world of Jane Austen Fan Fiction. A year later, in 2014, she began writing her own Austen-inspired stories and began publishing them in 2015. Leenie lives in Nova Scotia, Canada with her two teenage boys and her very own Mr. Brown (a wonderful mix of all the best of Darcy, Bingley and Edmund with healthy dose of the teasing Mr. Tillney and just a dash of the scolding Mr. Knightley).
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6 thoughts on “Deux Soeurs (William-Adolphe Bouguereau)”
What a lovely picture. Those little girls are so adorable and beautiful in their youthful innocence. The age difference would be about right for Mary and Lydia. I have so enjoyed watching Lydia in this story. She has grown up right before our eyes. This example of her realizing Mary’s predicament in the birth order was grown up for her. Their relationship solidified right there. This will be fun to watch. I can’t wait to see the rest of the excerpt. Thanks for sharing.
This picture is very reminiscent of a picture of my three little sisters that I have hanging on my wall, so it’s even sweeter to me for that reason. I agree it is fun to see Lydia being presented with the need to mature and doing so in her very Lydia-like fashion in front of us. 🙂
I love that painting. And I loved that photo of your sisters on Facebook. Your Lydia in this series is the best I’ve ever encountered. I love variations that make you truly convinced tn a character’s reformation, redemption, really turning their life around. You did it with Caroline too. Where’s Kitty? I’m such a fan of the supporting characters in variations that give them more than just the cardboard cutout ‘there for the bit part in a play.’ So looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
In the story, Kitty is currently at Darcy House with Georgiana. She’ll most likely get her turn in the spotlight eventually. 🙂 In the picture: maybe she was sick on picture taking day? 🙂 I have a soft spot for Lydia. I was always sorry in the original that she never really grows up or is even really given the chance to do so. I think having worked with teenagers and seeing them in their very trying years (13 -15 years old) when sitting in my class and then seeing them graduate high school and move into adulthood makes me want to give Lydia the chance to also move from where she is to where she could really shine.
Love the picture and the excerpt. Mary needs to learn that people can change if they want to.
I love this picture. The girls are so sweet looking. Yes, Mary has things to learn.
What a lovely picture. Those little girls are so adorable and beautiful in their youthful innocence. The age difference would be about right for Mary and Lydia. I have so enjoyed watching Lydia in this story. She has grown up right before our eyes. This example of her realizing Mary’s predicament in the birth order was grown up for her. Their relationship solidified right there. This will be fun to watch. I can’t wait to see the rest of the excerpt. Thanks for sharing.
This picture is very reminiscent of a picture of my three little sisters that I have hanging on my wall, so it’s even sweeter to me for that reason. I agree it is fun to see Lydia being presented with the need to mature and doing so in her very Lydia-like fashion in front of us. 🙂
I love that painting. And I loved that photo of your sisters on Facebook. Your Lydia in this series is the best I’ve ever encountered. I love variations that make you truly convinced tn a character’s reformation, redemption, really turning their life around. You did it with Caroline too. Where’s Kitty? I’m such a fan of the supporting characters in variations that give them more than just the cardboard cutout ‘there for the bit part in a play.’ So looking forward to tomorrow’s post.
In the story, Kitty is currently at Darcy House with Georgiana. She’ll most likely get her turn in the spotlight eventually. 🙂 In the picture: maybe she was sick on picture taking day? 🙂 I have a soft spot for Lydia. I was always sorry in the original that she never really grows up or is even really given the chance to do so. I think having worked with teenagers and seeing them in their very trying years (13 -15 years old) when sitting in my class and then seeing them graduate high school and move into adulthood makes me want to give Lydia the chance to also move from where she is to where she could really shine.
Love the picture and the excerpt. Mary needs to learn that people can change if they want to.
I love this picture. The girls are so sweet looking. Yes, Mary has things to learn.