Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. (Ch 2)

This is Lady Russel's view of Anne, and so far as we have seen, Lady Russel is the person who values Anne the most. Reading the passage Kevin S quotes we can not but feel the pain that Anne must suffer at being so little valued by those around her. No one "sees" the real Anne.

Even the Musgroves, "a very good sort of people" and obviously fond of Anne, are "indifferent" to her performance on the instrument. I imagine that, kind and hospitable as they may be, they too fail to truly see and value Anne. No wonder then that Anne takes pleasure in other people's little happinesses. It is not just a sign of her good heart, but of how little pleasure and happiness she must find in her own life.