how Anne refuses to consider the different suitors who come her way. I understand how Anne was initially guided against Wentworth by the caution of a woman whom Anne considered almost a parent. But why Anne should not consider (for more than a few seconds anyway) the interest of Charles Musgrove or Mr. Elliot is curious to me. In a few previous threads, we've discussed why Anne and Charles might not have been an ideal match, and in Moni's post above, we see Anne's feelings against Mr. Elliot, but what are Anne's options? If she marries either one, she has reason to believe that she might not be pefectly happy with her husband. Their habits and tempers are unquestionably different from hers. But what shall she do then, stay the poor old maid forgotten youngest daughter (being no occasion to mention Mary :) of Sir Walter forever? When Anne expressed her opinion of Mr. E to Lady Russell, she did not yet know that Louisa and Cap. Benwick were a couple and CW free. So what did she think she was going to do for the rest of her life? Surely, a woman of respectability in her family home (Kellynch) with children and rank would be a more pleasant than being Elizabeth's doormat forever. I don't necessarily take Sir Thomas' view that a woman needs to have a reason NOT to marry a man before she can be excused for refusing him, but I wonder why she felt that a so-so married life was less tempting than staying single.