Having read the various viewpoints, I want to add that Anne herself seems to value her friendship with LR over any other. Given the options of moving to either London, Bath, or a house nearby, Anne would prefer the latter: "A small house in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady Russell's society..." She visits her every day, presumably of her own free will. As an outside observer I would have to agree that LR is far from being the perfect godmother; I also realize that sometimes we are forced into friendships by limited circumstances, but I sense that Anne enjoys LR's company enough to overlook past differences.