I was very struck by the language used to describe Anne's and Frederick's feelings upon encountering each other in Molland's. They both know--however it came to pass--that he is free from Louisa, absolutely.

Anne 'starts', feels 'lost', is 'all confusion' and has to 'scold back her senses' from the 'overpowering, blinding, bewildering effects' of the surprise of seeing him. She also feels agitation, pain, pleasure, and between delight nd misery. Very evocative!!

She sees that he is 'struck and confused', he turns red, he seems embarrassed, conscious, and neither comfortable nor at ease.

Certainly there have been other couples who, for better or worse, have been very struck at an unexpected sight of each other: Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy at Pemberley, Marianne seeing Willoughby at the party in London, Emma seeing Mr. Knigtley come through the garden door towards her, having ridden through the rain after his time spent at John and Isabella's. But I really can't think of an encounter that paints a picture like what was going on in Molland's!

I was thinking, prompted by one of the essays in the NCE (Anne Elliot's Education p. 275) that Anne has to keep learning how to deal with Frederick over and over again.

She had learned, after their broken engagement, to live entirely without him in her life, then relearn how to live in the same circle as him, but estranged with the "cold politeness, his ceremonious grace" that "were worse than any thing", then to learn to affect (and receive from him) "apparent indifference and calmness" towards each other, then to tentatively offer each other non-romantic but still sincerely felt proofs of enduring friendship and respect, and now this.