In my post below I maintained that though the Admiral may talk somewhat flippantly about ladies, as though one were as good as another, and they were all almost interchangable, as long as they are pretty and aimiable, it is clear that this is not his real feeling. His relationship with Mrs. Croft completely contradicts this. They have an equality and ease together that does not just happen without appreciation and real respect on both sides. I can't believe that he is unaware of the fact that he has the best possible and the most ideally suited wife imaginable. As for all other ladies besides his Sophy, he has no trouble remembering Anne's name. Perhaps its because Anne has many of the sensible and intelligent qualities that his wife has that she fits so comfortably on his arm.

I believe there is taste and feeling there buried on a certain amount of bluster, (bluster which is amusing and charming.)