a love that he wanted, needed, and didn't have because the woman he loved couldn't say yes. I looked at the early part of the novel in quite a bit of detail, on purpose, because I first thought Anne ought to have gone with him regardless, come hell or high water. But from looking at the surroundings she has, the difficulties she has, how she was belittled for her early heart's flutterings, and made to relinquish the validity of her own feelings, for him, she has endured much anyway. She actually denied the relationship for his sake, which gave her more comfort. She hasn't benefited by her decision, or married elsewhere, which might have provided an easy way out.

Why he did not understand her predicament is a mystery I would like to know more about. Is it because he was blinded by love and personal belief in himself? She clearly did not abandon him as she has been silently and painfully pining for him in those lonely years. He did not make a move toward showing her he had become independent, so she assumed he was no longer interested, another blow. Maybe it's a simple man thing, like not phoning, perhaps he doesn't feel like he has to explain, when he is just doing his duty and becoming successful.

I wonder why he didn't appeal to Sir Walter again, (perhaps sending a letter to both him and Anne), explaining what had occurred in the years past, how successful he had become, and was he open to another offer on his daughter's hand, now circumstances had changed. We know Anne cannot correspond with him, so he had to make that move. He had nothing to lose at such a distance, by letter.

It's like the phone line is down and all there is is static. Anne has done her research, but he has no idea, she has been pining for years, but he has no idea. For this reason, a more gentlemanly introduction might have been sought after all those years. I certainly respect the reasons Anne fell in love with him, I mean, who wouldn't? But for her to find him disparaging of her, still angry and unforgiving, means there must be something else afoot.