And I think my main problem with Lady Russell here is not so much what she persuaded Anne to do as we never hear of her attempting to cheer her or at least get her out into society more. We know Anne did spend a winter with Lady Russell in Bath ("her happening to be not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards spent there with herself" may indicate this was shortly after the Wentworth incident) and Lady Russell also says that "[Anne's] spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to be more known." So why didn't Lady Russell take Anne with her more often? Even if it had not put Wentworth out of Anne's head it may have at least helped her to get to know more people and keep her from having to be around her less than kind family most of the time. It makes me wonder if Lady Russell was honestly that clueless as to how much the breakup affected Anne.