Ch.3 says that nobody ever told Mary about Anne's engagement. I can partly understand that because she was young and away at school at the time, but I'm surprised that no one ever mentioned it in her hearing since. This is another example of the way everybody is so terribly, terribly discreet in JA's novels (often too much so, in my modern opinion). Of course, being able to keep a secret is a wonderful quality, and makes for better novel plots, but too much of it leads to unnecessary heartache and invisible barriers.

This, and Anne's relief that only three people know about her engagement reminds me of the ultra-condensed Book-a-Minute Classics which Jessica Michael posted at the library board a while back (very funny!):

The Collected Works of Jane Austen

Female Lead:
I secretly love Male Lead. He must never know.
Male Lead:
I secretly love Female Lead. She must never know.

(They find out.)