I always got the impression that such a thing as Mrs. Clay trying to make Sir Walter consider her as a future wife would not occur to Lady Russell because, upright and particular as she was, she would not suspect Mrs. Clay capable of forming such a scheme. I always thought that had Elizabeth treated Anne more kindly, her friendship with Mrs. Clay would not have irritated Lady Russell half so much. And, as has already been mentioned in this thread, Mrs. Clay’s constant flattery only increased Elizabeth’s conviction that she alone was always perfect and in the right. But, perhaps, I was wrong and have missed something…