I found myself thinking of things 'falling away' in the autumn, on the brink of change. The things which came to me of 'maturity verging on decline' are similar to Tom P2.

Not only is Anne's bloom fading, but so is Elizabeth's. 'She felt her approach to the years of danger...' and was 'always to be presented with the date of her own birth, and see no marriage follow..' (Ch 1)

The Elliot family are declining. The opening page refers to the 'Baronetage' book - '..followed the history and rise of the ancient and respectable family...' (Ch 1) This is where Sir Walter Elliot has been & now he & his family are seriously in debt & decline.