to see you write that LR's advice is not bad advice at the time. I think the only reason it is really looked upon as bad is because of Anne's misery over the next 7 years. No one could look ahead and see what would happen to Anne, and as a mom myself, I would be torn in the same direction as LR. I have seen too many men like this with such "spunk" but no fire, too many women disillusioned by charismatic men. I would hate this for my daughter. I cannot blame LR. And I cannot blame Anne for being persuaded -OK I said it! Anne was persuaded. I would have liked to see how the seperation took place to see if Anne just cut thier engagment off for good, or if she communicated that she could wait for him until thier future seemed more stable (is that too cold?) and he was too proud and refused.