So - rationally - he might tell himself: these are a pair of nice, lively girls and their family lives conveniently near my sister's home . He probably talked about them a good deal at Kellynch for the admiral to be so frustrated that Frederick never made up his mind.

But - witout admitting as much, even to himself - he had all the petty, revengeful reasons mentioned to remain where Anne was. But more and more also trying to find out where life had brought her. Some man here (James? or Jac?) testified earlier that he'd be mad with tenderness, when he saw her downspirited and faded. Amazed that she was not married. Even more so upon hearing that she rejected another man. He observes how she's assisting Mary with the children. That she was no longer dancing. He knows she was left behind when her father went to Bath.