Persuasion 200: Knowing her own mind

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Anne has a startling awareness…her own opinions!



Anne fastened her spencer and tied her bonnet strings. Strange sensations threatened to overwhelm her and if she did not get outside into the fresh air quickly she might be overcome. The butler opened the door for her, inquiring if she might require a chair. She shook her head and hurried out before anyone could inquire as to her destination.

What a very strange conversation she had shared with Lady Russell. In truth it was not a conversation. Lady Russell had gone out of her way, once again, to extol the merits of Mr. Elliot and imply his desirability as a suitor. This was not the first time and in each repetition, her subtlety waned.

Something within Anne strained to breaking, and she spoke her mind. Just a few words, soft, but firm ones. He is an excellent man, I am sure, but we would not suit.

The look on Lady Russell’s face—Anne had never see it before—something between astonishment and affront. She almost responded, but stopped before the words escaped. Instead, she turned a very polite, practiced smile on Anne. It was one she used when she disagreed with an expressed sentiment, but was far too well-manner to voice it.

Anne hurried along the lane, hand pressed to her chest. What had come over her, to speak so boldly? Had she ever openly disagreed with Lady Russell before? Quite possibly not. No, certainly not. What an odd, empowering sensation, to speak one’s own mind.

She drew several deep breaths as if free from some oppressive prison for the first time. She would have to do this again not disagree, but represent her own opinion with the same liberty as those she most admired.

But what was her opinion toward Mr. Elliot?

She jumped back out of the way of a phaeton driven too fast along the narrow lady by what looked like a very dandified young man. This was the very kind of behavior Mr. Elliot softly confessed to. In truth, that was among the least of his past transgressions.

He now professed correct, pleasing, very proper opinions, even with regards to his previous behavior. Still, something of the disingenuous lingered.

Why was it no one else saw it? Mr. Elliot had the happy ability of pleasing whomever he was with, from Father to Mrs. Clay—of whom Anne knew he thought very little. They both held his in high regard.

She watched the phaeton disappear around the corner, turning so sharply it nearly turned over on its side. She held her breath until it righted and left her sight.

How could one man be so uniformly pleasing to all? Was it possible to be always rational, discrete and polished? Mr. Elliot seemed so, perhaps even preternaturally so.

The confectionary shop appeared near the end of the lane, greeting her with delightful, teasing smells and pretty cakes in the window. Elizabeth had not yet discovered this place, so she had no demands for marzipan or anything else for Anne to fetch for her.  What a happy thing indeed to go somewhere for her own pleasure alone, not that of another.

Inside, Anne requested her favorite almond clear cake from the serving girl and perched on a high stool near the window amongst the other happy customers to wait. Somehow people always seemed happy at a confectionary shop.

A couple passed by the window, engrossed in what appeared to be an animated discussion. Her eyes bulged at some statement of his, and his face colored and his mouth gaped at her retort. How pleased they looked with themselves.

Mr. Elliot never demonstrated any such warmth in his discussion either by way of ascent or indignation. Instead he was unfailingly polite at all times. Polite was pleasing, after a fashion, but wholly unsatisfying.

The girl brought her clear cake. Gracious heavens! These were every bit as good as those at Boyd’s. She closed her eyes and savored the first bite. Oh, the ethereal delight of the crunch sugary crust, surrounding the cool, melting jelly.

How Mrs. Smith laughed at their last visit, as Anne had described her enjoyment of this secret pleasure. Perhaps she should bring one the next time she called. But no, Mrs. Smith confessed to a deep disinclination toward jellies of all varieties before she could censure herself.

Mr. Elliot would never do such a thing—allow a careless word to escape his lips. Mrs. Smith—how flustered she became—attempting  to apologize over and over all the while Anne insisted no offense had been taken.

Anne paused and set her clear cake on the dainty pink chine plate. Of course! How clear it was now. That was the crux of the matter, indeed.

Mr. Elliot never spoke a careless or hasty word, and he never had occasion to repent. But was it not in those moments that one’s true character was revealed? Surely Miss Smith showed her true, sensitive nature with her concern for the distress she might have caused.

Anne could not accuse Mr. Elliot of actual disguise, yet at the same time, he never indulged in those moments of exposure that might have offered assurance of his true character.  

Since her time in Lyme, among the Harvilles, Captian Benwick—and Frederick, she had come to treasure the frank and open-hearted character she had found among the naval men much more than among the gentlemen of society. Dear heavens, that was what she had found missing in so many she met in Father’s company.

The tension that stiffened her back floated away and she sighed.  Frederick expressed himself with warmth and enthusiasm.  He occasionally said what he should not, told stories not so very appropriate for the drawing room, complained when affronted by others. In short, one felt like one knew him, the true man, after an evening in his company.

How many times had she been in in Mr. Elliot’s company only to come away knowing him not more after the call than she had before. What was more, she did not like it, did not trust it.

And that was her opinion on him!

How very…freeing to finally understand her own mind.

She took another bite of her clear cake, savoring it as much as the knowledge that while Lady Russell might appreciate Mr. Elliot all she wanted. Anne would remain courteous and save her regard for one who might enjoy a clear cake with the same relish she did.

 

Voting on Color of Anne’s Soap

Please help us choose the color of Anne’s special soap by responding to the poll below. Also, to be entered to win one of two bars that will be given away, please enter the rafflecopter from yesterday. Be sure to scroll down past the pictures of the prizes to find the rafflecopter and follow the directions there.

1. Shades of pink, soft colors

2. Layered, multi color

3. Yellow tones, cream

4. Shades of blue (to coordinate with a future Captain Wentworth soap)

[yop_poll id=”25″]

 


 

Want to refresh your memory with Jane’s Austen’s original work? Read Persuasion on Austen variations HERE.

21 comments

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    • Julie on January 27, 2015 at 2:33 am
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    This little snippet was just delicious! Thank you – Anne Elliot is a favorite of mine, and seeing her come to a clearer understanding of her own mind is very welcome!

  1. Loved this vignette–although I doubt that I should very much like clear cakes. However, I do adore a crisp lemon tea biscuit and a small wedge of shortbread, of course! 🙂

    Have a lovely week, everyone!

    Warmly,
    Susanne 🙂

      • Sheila L. M. on January 29, 2015 at 10:56 am
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      Oh, lemon anything has me in its grips.

    1. Ohh, that does sound good Susanne. I’d love to share some with you!

    • Deborah on January 27, 2015 at 5:43 am
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    This missing scene was delightful. Anne expressing her own opinion for the first time. Lady Russell held her tongue, but I couldn’t help thinking of what Lady Catherine might’ve said of her voicing her decided opinions for one so young (though older than Elizabeth was). Interesting that Lady Russell thought she should not have a say in her life and would blindly follow her guidance, flawed as it is. She thinks an honorable man is not good enough for Anne, but a cad is.

    Mr. Elliott reminds me so much of Wickham, saying what each person wants to hear. I am glad Anne sees him for what he is. Someone not to be trusted. I’d hate to imagine what her life would’ve been like with him. The cake she’s eating sounds interesting…I’m glad she is indulging herself, observing those around her and their relationships, and making her own decision. Good for her!

    Thank you for a wonderful piece, Grace. I like getting into Anne’s head. Looking forward to the next missing scene. Would live to find that confectionary shop.

    1. Unfortunately, for all her good intentions, Lady Russell is not a stellar judge of character, blinded somewhat by her appreciation of rank and wealth.

      I think many of Austen’s bad guys, Willoughby, Mr Elliot, Wickham, Frank Churchill, Henry Crawford, all shard a strong similarity. I think most of them would have behaved similarly in similar circumstances. Frank Churchhill was a little better than the rest…

      Thanks, Deboorah!

  2. I like that Anne is starting to learn more about herself. Once she gives little pieces of herself, she can start laying the foundations for her own happiness.

    1. That’s an excellent observation, Patty. I think you understand Anne well!

    • Maggie Griscom on January 27, 2015 at 8:56 am
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    How funny to think of Lady Russell’s reaction to Anne’s comment. She needs to let Sir Walter have it also. I really enjoy these reflections of Anne’s and how she is growing more confident and true to herself. Frederick will find the true Anne at the end.

    1. I think for a woman in that era, especially in Anne’s position, ill favored as she was by her father, to speak her mind to him could have been disastrous. He could easily have put her out with nothing and the hope of finding charity with her sister Mary. Unfortunately that was a reality of the era.

      Thanks Maggie!

    • Stephanie L on January 27, 2015 at 9:34 am
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    The pastry side of me is quite fascinated by the concept of the almond clear cake. It makes me think of the cherry meltaways my father used to bring me. Crunchy sugar on the outside and soft cherry jelly candy on the inside. Calling it a cake though throws me for a loop. LOL One of the things about Anne that drives me batty (in canon) is that she spends the majority of the book doing precisely as she is told or instructed to do. It’s great to see her realizing that she has the capability inside of herself to make her own decisions and know her own mind.

      • Julie on January 27, 2015 at 2:46 pm
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      I am mad to find a recipe for the clear cake – it sounds wonderful to me. I am so happy, too, to get a glimpse inside Anne’s head and see that she finds she can make up her own mind not just at the very end of the novel. Those kind of turnabouts seem too abrupt to me, something my husband and I call the “Hitchcock effect” where the protagonist and heroine are thrown together at the beginning of a movie, fall in love in the first ten minutes, then go about solving the mystery together – slam, bam, here’s whodunnit!

      1. I wrote the descriptions form a recipe I had and now I can’t find it and it is driving me mad! I will post it as son as I find it again!

        I have to agree, it would have liked to have gotten more opportunity to see into Anne’s head in the original.

          • Julie on January 30, 2015 at 4:55 pm
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          Oh, a recipe would be so wonderful if you can find it. However, driving yourself mad over it, is probably not a good thing… 😀 Thank you for the effort, even if it doesn’t prove fruitful!

    1. I think you’ve got the description spot on, Stephanie. They did use some odd terms then for food. Pastry dough was called ‘paste’ for example.

      I think Anne is a character who is more difficult to understand through modern eyes. She was doing exactly the right things for her day, but to us, it is difficult to appreciate. Thanks!

    • Carole in Canada on January 27, 2015 at 4:09 pm
    • Reply

    Anne’s revelation is freeing…almost euphoric. I honestly think she hated confrontation. This was so well done Maria. I could almost taste the almond cake.

    1. I’m glad you got the sensory part of this, too. I do think Anne dreads confrontation in a huge way.

    • Kathy on January 28, 2015 at 12:01 am
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    I’ll agree with everyone else that it’s about time that Anne learned to listen to herself, and express herself to Lady Russell! She has been so isolated by having her own opinions (even if she didn’t utter any out loud!), and to have others constantly disparage or disagree with them has probably worn her down as much as everything else.

    1. Very true, Kathy. I thinkit took some time with an out spoken friend like Mrs. Smith to give her some new insights on herself.

    • Sheila L. M. on January 29, 2015 at 11:05 am
    • Reply

    This segment reflects exactly how I interpreted Anne’s thoughts in reading the book or watching the movie(s). I just think she was too well mannered to express herself before. But with 8 years to contemplate how listening to and minding what others said and told her to do or what was best for her, Anne can see and feel the results. She is too wise to let others tell her who she should marry and I am sure she is holding her breath to see how Frederick acts. Glad she found a moment’s pleasure in her cake and in being able to sit and think.

    Thank you for this part of our story.

    1. I think you’ve captured it very well, Sheila.Thanks!

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