I must protest, I have not suggested that Elizabeth cares the least bit for a Charles Musgrove or a Frederick Wentworth only that she cares about being passed over and is therefore jealous of Anne who has not—that is what I proposed.

I cannot comment on evidence in future chapters which undo my ideas but if you would post your conclusions at that time I would love to read them.

I think we know for a fact that unlike Anne, Elizabeth’s single state is not by choice. Do not forget that Mr. Elliot escaped. In Chapter 1, we are told that she wanted Mr. Elliot for a husband since a young girl and her father said she should have him—he was encouraged, invited, and expected by them both, she liked him for himself, she was disappointed he married another, and she is still angry several years later when she thinks about him. I think we can assume with little trepidation that Elizabeth would have said yes to Mr. Elliot if he had proposed to her so in turn she is not single by choice.

What do you base the idea that Elizabeth thinks Anne is mousy? Is it only that Elizabeth knows herself to be handsome? Handsome people think those unlike them are mousy? That is fairly close to Sir Walter’s evaluation of Anne’s appearance. At the moment I cannot think of a reference with which I would base the idea that Anne is considered mousy by Elizabeth.

I am afraid it must be admitted that I am not sufficiently knowledgeable of MP at this time to be able to adequately understand your comparisons to it with regards to Elizabeth without some help. Could you please explain in a little more detail and give some references from MP to show how Elizabeth’s opinion of Anne is similar to those of people who dislike and are annoyed with Fanny Price? I am not exactly sure which persons in MP you are thinking of or what instances of dislike and annoyance you are referring to but I would very much like to.