A little way into Ch 2 we find Anne and LR discussing the ideas that Anne has drawn up in a paper. They include a list of fated reductions, to enable Sir Walter to free the estate from debt by the shortest route. Anne seems grateful that LR sees merit in the approach, and is willing to promote the ideas at the meeting to discuss retrenchment.

Anne is pleased to leave it to LR to advocate her ideas; possibly because she is only too well aware that her influence with her father is negligible, but also her mild nature abjures the hurly burly of possible argument. Long standing positions have been taken and strong minds will have to be persuaded; and it will take an equally strong character skilled at persuasion to do it. It may take trench warfare to get retrenchment accepted!

Anne sees Lady Russell as her 'Champion' ideally placed to champion her cause. A cause that she has given much thought to, and feels deeply about. "She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence highly, .."

Of course, in the event the combined opposition of Sir Walter and Elizabeth, and the tactical silence of Mr Shepherd, who will not be seen to oppose Sir Walter openly, dismissed Anne's list as "..contactions and restrictions everywhere ... - ...disgraceful terms ...", before it is even studied.

What I had not noticed before is any immediate mention of how Anne takes on board, and reflects upon, the absolute failure of her 'champion of influence' to get anywhere with her father.

I imagine Anne alone later, in her room perhaps. As she reflects on the unhappy outcome to the meeting. What changes in her views might occur?

Presumably, her thoughts on her sister and father are pretty much unchanged, but just reinforced with a brooding sense of hopelessness; but what of Lady Russell in whose influence so much faith had been placed?