Anyone who plugs along this far will have noticed that I am not summarizing the plot the way some other Austen bloggers do. I assume people actually want to read the book or already have. I like to raise questions.
One interesting thing about all Austen novels, I may have already said this somewhere, is how much they share in common with mystery novels. Our heroine has to analyze the motives of others to succeed. With one notable exception, every Austen heroine is a female sleuth analyzing and explaining the motives of others. The glaring exception is Catherine Morland. As Henry points out to her, she unfailingly assumes other people have the best motives.
In Book 2, chapter 3 this weakness of character—and for Austen it is a weakness—reaches its maximum depth. Isabella's perfidy meets its match in Captain Tilney. This sets a course of events that will hurt Catherine's brother but is to his ultimate advantage.
Catherine completely misses the thought process of a loaded line from Isabella. In comes in response to Isabella's making a case on behalf of her brother and Catherine emphatic insistence that she is not interested followed by a declaration that is really a plea: "And you know, we shall still be sisters,"
To this Isabella replies, "'Yes, yes,' (with a blush), 'there are more ways than one of of our being sisters. — But where am I wandering to. ...." Well, as is obvious to everyone but Catherine, she is definitely trying to wander out into something.
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