...that the Anne we see at the opening of the book is not the Anne that once was... She was described as "an extremely pretty girl, with gentleness, modesty, taste and feeling." Also, "Her attachment and regrets had, for a long time, clouded every enjoyment of youth; and an early loss of bloom and spirits had been their lasting effect." I believe that Anne really is open-hearted and frank but between letting herself sink into a melancholy state and her existence in a limited society gives us little chance to see this until a change of society and events begins to bring back the spirited Anne of yore (or something like that). :)