Very improper

Whatever it is that Henry is doing that Catherine likes but does not wholly understand, it enables him to slide into quite questionable territory quite easily. As soon as Mrs. Allen joins them and talks of muslin, Henry uses this to discuss Catherine's gown, to gravely examine it (and we do have to wonder what parts of her he looks at while doing so), to suggest that it will fray, and to talk about cutting it to pieces. he does all this under the guise of furthering a discussion of the practicalities of muslin introduced by Mrs. Allen.

Pretty good work that.

And, flogging my favourite subject again, anyone who thinks there is no awareness of sexuality in Austen ...

You doubt me? Read a couple of paragraphs and tell me this isn't sexual:

"And pray sir, what do you think of Miss Morland's gown?"
"It is very pretty, madam" said he, gravely examining it; "but I do not think it will wash well; I am afraid it will fray."
"How can you," said Catherine, laughing, "be so —' she had almost said, strange.

Read something like that and you have to wonder if the people who find Austen sexually repressed are very sexually aware themselves.