(This conversation will contain spoilers for the current chapters.)

R: Well, my flabbers were gasted by Chapter 21! At the beginning, I thought that while Mr. Elliot was definitely set up as a rival for Captain Wentworth, he wasn’t actually a bad guy. But then the revelation from Mrs. Smith! I have to say, I think this is the first time that Jane Austen has completely fooled me in the character of any of her characters. 

S: Well, I’m sorry to say that my gut about Mr. Elliot was right – he reminds me of Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice. I couldn’t peg him and even though he may actually love Anne I don’t think it matters considering how he treated Mrs. Smith after the death of her husband – it’s appalling. I feel for her and, even though she harbours a grudge, she really is a cheerful person which makes me like her even more.

I’m glad Anne is able to tell Mrs. Russell, just so she knows not to be enamoured with him anymore.

I agree with Anne that reading a letter someone wrote or a diary entry for that matter is a rather unfair way to judge someone’s character but at the same time it is part of who they are. It’s a grey area. 

R: The connection between Mrs. Smith and her husband and Mr. Elliot was a huge surprise, but it does explain a lot. I’m glad Mrs. Smith told Anne, though I suppose it’s possible that she’s making the whole thing up. The fact that she was originally willing to keep silent when she thought Anne was going to marry Mr. Elliot seems questionable. 

S: That is unfortunate. I wish she would have been willing to speak up so that Anne wouldn’t potentially suffer, but I can also see her wanting her friend to be happy if she’s truly in love.

Chapter 22 is one that makes me have some questions. I’m happy that some of the Musgroves are in Bath and I am glad that Captain Wentworth is with them, but I wonder at Mr. Elliot’s and Mrs. Clay’s meeting – are they making a deal and, rather than her pursuing Sir Walter and he pursuing Anne, they will marry? She would still become a Lady and he will still inherit the baronetcy and, most likely, they will have an heir.

R: I found this chapter a little meandering and confusing. I’m glad that Captain Wentworth is back and seems to realize that he might have been under a misapprehension about Anne and Mr. Elliot. The meeting between Mr. Elliot and Mrs. Clay is a puzzle. Your prediction is as good as anything I can think of. 

S: Once I got to the letter Frederick writes Anne in Chapter 23 I couldn’t help smiling; it makes me so happy. I am so glad that everything is out in the open between them and that he was humble enough to really observe her and listen to her words.

R: I enjoyed this chapter. Sneaky Frederick, writing a letter to Anne while she was sitting right there! I appreciated Anne’s words at the end of the chapter: ‘…I must believe that I was right, much as I suffered from it, that I was perfectly right in being guided by the friend whom you will love better than you do now’, speaking of Lady Russell. And further down: ‘…I was right in submitting to her, and that if I had done otherwise, I should have suffered more in continuing the engagement than I did even in giving it up, because I should have suffered in my conscience.’ While we may not always like what they have to say, it behooves us to listen to those God places in our lives when they give us wise advice.

S: I heartily agree! We must surround ourselves with wise counsel, and at the time, Anne and Lady Russell both acted upon the information they had, attempting to make a wise decision.

Chapter 24 is actually a pretty satisfying ending. I was certain that Frederick would meet Mrs. Smith and help her regain her husband’s property. I am very sad for Elizabeth, though. Overall, this is probably not one of my favourite novels of Austen’s just because I feel like there should be more to it. Everything just seemed to move so quickly, unlike her other stories. They are all definitely rereads for me but at the same time I do wish there was more to this one. 

R: I was pleased with the ending! I’m glad that they were able to help Mrs. Smith. I feel like it’s been consistent in most of Austen’s novels that the wrap-up happens in the last few pages rather abruptly. Overall, after a slow and confusing start, I did enjoy Persuasion, but I agree that it isn’t one of my favourites. I’m looking forward to watching a screen adaptation and discussing it. 

Our final discussion for this book will be over the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion!