] And then what should we make of the ON telling us that “Wentworth should be allowed some credit for the self-command with which he attended to her if not that he might have otherwise been looking around that barrier to "Anne’s slender form, and pensive face" ???

Wentworth should be allowed some credit for attending to Mrs Musgrove, not Anne here, as Mrs Musgrove goes on and on about poor Dick, whom Wentworth knows full well was a worthless sailor and troublesome person. And yet, he

...entered into conversation with her, in a low voice, about her son, doing it with so much sympathy and natural grace, as shewed the kindest consideration for all that was real and unabsurd in the parent's feelings. (ch. 8)