]They may have had hard times, but I don't think Anne was ill suited to dealing with difficult times.

Couldn't agree more. We have seen for ourselves how capable and adaptive Anne is, how suited to dealing with adverse situations she can be. She always come through. She remains calm under pressure when everyone around her seems to be falling apart. She does not complain or lay blame, just deals as best she can with the situation. If she had to stand on corners with a cup to beg for money for bread, she would do it well. I look at her now and can't help but feel that if she had it to do over she would have risked everything and been willing to live with the worst case scenario.

]But I think Lady Russell wanted and easier life for Anne - one with more wealth and comfort and she believed Anne could attain that by attracting a different man.