...when JA uses free indirect speech to show us Anne's thought processes in action, saying "all declared that he had a heart returning to her" -- that "returning", to me, gives the idea that Anne realises it's a process, that it's going on right as she's watching him at that moment, that he's becoming (perhaps consciously, for the first time) aware that yes, he _does_ really love her, that his "anyone but Anne" bluff isn't working anymore...

Moment like this is why we're all here, right? :-)