I don't find chapters 13-17 to be dreary! And when I first read Persuasion, I didn't think that Mr Elliot had fallen by the wayside at the end of chap 17. Anne had found him to be her msot agreeable acquaintance in Bath, her "we should not suit" I felt need not be taken too seriously since he had not spoken yet. She felt a lack of openess in him, and I thought it might be resolved either -- if he was what he seemed to be -- in him opening up to her, perhaps explaining to her about his past life, and her understanding him better -- or that her reservations about him would turn out to be justified (as it did).

I realized Mr Elliot had no chance in chap 18, when news of the Louisa-Benwick engagement arrived, and Anne's reaction to it!