That was what I thought of Mrs.Smith, too. She was in extremely trying circumstances, so in her situation, one can forgive her as Anne does. However, even Anne realises that Mr.Elliot is a shade lighter than what she has painted him as (which not much of an improvement, at any rate!). "and she listened to a recital which, if it did not perfectly justify the unqualified bitterness of Mrs. Smith, proved him to have been very unfeeling in his conduct towards her, very deficient both in justice and compassion." Chap 21