I agree. I love the Crofts. They are among my favorite characters in all of Austen. They are so sweet and lovable and amusing.

A big, big SUTH to Sir Walter and Elizabeth and their attitudes toward the Crofts.

The hilarious irony is that the Crofts have an extremely full social life. So much so that they cannot walk down the street without seeing one friend after another. And they don't even have to worry about giving card parties and dinner parties and being known as the relatives of so and so. People just like them and want to be with them. How refreshing!

And I agree, the scene with Anne and the Admiral is very tender and there is almost a father/daughter kind of chemistry between them. And yes, the Admiral in his distracted way is more affectionate and attentive to Anne than her father is throughout the whole of the book.