This is a lovely piece.Indeed,it looks as if the “Love affairs that never were” give rise to better literature than the real thing.Other examples are Jane Austen and Justice Lefroy of Longford ( on whose character Mr.D’Arcy is supposed to be based) and Dickens’ sister-in-law who died very young and seems to have been the inspiration for Litttle Em’ly,Dora Spenlow and other tragic young women in his novels.

Thank you

Dónall Ó Luanaigh