In ch.19, after Anne's departure from Molland's, we have another great example of gossip. Captain Wentworth's unidentified friends start discussing Anne, Elizabeth and Mr. Elliot.

As soon as they were out of sight, the ladies of Captain Wentworth's party began talking of them.

"Mr. Elliot does not dislike his cousin, I fancy?"

"Oh! no, that is clear enough. One can guess what will happen there. He is always with them; half lives in the family, I believe. What a very good-looking man!"

"Yes, and Miss Atkinson, who dined with him once at the Wallises', says he is the most agreeable man she ever was in company with."

"She is pretty, I think; Anne Elliot; very pretty when one comes to look at her. It is not the fashion to say so, but I confess I admire her more than her sister."

"Oh! so do I."

"And so do I. No comparison. But the men are all wild after Miss Elliot. Anne is too delicate for them."

They talk about how pretty Anne is (which I think most of us take as the truth) but one of them also comments on how good-looking *Mr. Elliot* is. However, back in ch.12 we were told that "He seemed about thirty, and though not handsome, had an agreeable person."

Now, whose judgement should we trust, I wonder? ;-)