This week's reading has some of favorite moments in the book. (You've mentioned several including Mary's letter, Anne's stroll with the Admiral, the way Anne rationalizes going to the door to "see if it rained" when really she wants to meet FW!)

Here are a few more:

The way the scene at Mulland's builds:

Cousin Elliot judges Anne's shoes to be thickest, which is a coded way of saying he prefers to accompany her home. Score 1 for Anne!

Anne sees Wentworth first and manages to pull herself together and be the least effected of the two by their surprise meeting. Score 2 for Anne.

Anne rationalizes her way into putting herself forward in a position where she will be seen by Frederick. Score 3 for Anne.

Captain Wentworth wants to walk with her, get her a chair, give her his umbrella, but she simply leaves with Cousin Elliot. Score 4 for Anne.

Captain Wentworth is left to hear the talk of his party and hear open speculation that now Anne will probably marry Mr. Elliot. The shoe is on the other foot! Score 5 for Anne.

But do these triumphs go to her head? No, she remains as loyal as ever to FW. After Elizabeth and lady Russell both snub him, she determines to seek him out again and pay attention to him. This time there is no need to rationalize. She is positively on the prowl, in her own elegant and delicate way, in Chapter 20:

Anne was the nearest to him, and making yet a little advance, she instantly spoke. He was preparing only to bow and pass on, but her gentle "How do you do?" brought him out of the straight line to stand near her, and make enquiries in return, in spite of the formidable father and sister in the background.

This is followed by their little conversation, may I say, their first real, frank conversation in the whole of the book, where they actually begin to address all the elephants standing in the corner of their lives.

Which leads to Wentworth's little glow of a smile to Anne this comment, "A man does not recover from such a devotion of the heart to such a woman! He ought not; he does not."

Sigh!

OK, I must stop. This post is already so long, and yet, decidedly lacking in analytical content. Sometimes you just have to pause to gape, to admire.