Isabella and John Thorpe
General and Captain Fredrick Tilney
Henry and Eleanor
Mr Allen Mrs Allen
James and Catherine Morland
Villainy / Heroism
Catherine and James Morland
Setting
Fullerton
This is the place we learn the least about, even though it’s the novel’s (Catherine’s) starting point and the place which Catherine returns to at the end. Little opportunity for meeting people (for Catherine of the same age and class etc) as nothing appears to happen. Instead the Allen’s take Catherine to Bath, considering that: “Adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village” (Chapter 1, page 7). This is when the narrator introduces the Allen’s at the end of the chapter, and Mrs Allen states their reason for going to Bath. “She found herself soothed beyond anything impossible” (Chapter 29, page 170). This quote was extracted from time when Catherine arrives back home after leaving Northanger Abbey. For all its dullness, home is where the warmth and support of her family are. It also brings adventure as Henry comes to apologise and asks for her hand in marriage.
Bath
They arrived in Bath in chapter 2. “Catherine was all eager delight... Her eyes were everywhere as they approached its fine striking environs” (Chapter 2, Page 8) Although Bath is crowded with those who go there to seek society, it is ironic that at first, Mrs Allen and Catherine fail to make fresh acquaintances or to renew old ones. “That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large acquaintance here” (Chapter 2, page 10). This is Mrs Allen talking to Catherine when they are finally seated, in response to how everyone is looking at them wondering why they are there. Bath is filled with occasional visitors rather than permanent residents, as it lacks social stability; “You ought to be tired at the end of the six weeks” (Chapter 10, page 54). This is quoted from Mr Tilney during his dance with Catherine. Bath lacks social stability in the sense that people meet each other not knowing any real knowledge of their character; “The progress of friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm” (chapter 5, page 21). This enables Isabella to deceive the trusting, naive Catherine for longer than in a neighbourhood like Fullerton, where she would be stigmatised for her scheming, inconsistency and self seeking greed.
Lower rooms and pump room
Here is where social meetings and balls take place. The lower rooms were used during the day for promenading and at night for dancing.
Lower rooms: Catherine meets Henry Tilney for the first time. “Here fortune was more favourable to our heroine” (Chapter 3, page 13). She also meets Eleanor here, “Catherine, interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr Tilney” (Chapter 8, page 36) Pump room: Mrs Allen meets Mrs Thorpe (Chapter 4, page 17)
Bristol
Talk of the Blaize Castle in Chapter 11, is what entices Catherine to accompany them on their carriage ride, instead of waiting for the Tilney’s to arrive for their walk “The finest place in England – Worth going fifty miles at anytime” (Chapter 11, page 58). (John Thorpe says to Catherine to persuade her to come). Links with the gothic tropes of kidnapping. But the Blaize Castle this is nothing more than a landmark that Catherine fails to visit, also symbolises the idea of deception and falseness of the Thorpes.
Theatre
This is where Catherine hopes to reconcile with Henry “If Mr Thorpe would only had stopped, I would have jumped out and ran after you” (Chapter 12, page 66).This encounter with Henry at the theatre drives the narrative forward because it allows them to arrange another walk, and then eventually fall in love and get married.
Northanger Abbey
“Have you a stout heart? – Nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?” (chapter 20, page 114). This is the beginning of Henry’s description of the Abbey whilst playing on the features of Gothic.He continues to illustrate; “However your eyes will be attracted towards a large old-fashioned cabinet of ebony and gold”. (When examining the room in chapter 21, she found the identical cabinet described in his story).Her response was: “Why should it be places here? Pushed back too, as if it meant to be out of sight” (Chapter 21, Page 118)“The whole building enclosed a large court, rich in gothic ornaments”(Chapter 22, page 128). Here is the description of the Abbey when she saw it for the first time from the lawn. “Walls seemed countless in number, endless in length, a village of hot houses seem to rise among them” (Chapter 22, page 130) – Description of the kitchen garden.“Bath stove, mahogany wardrobes and neatly painted chairs” (Chapter 24, page 140). This description is taken from when Catherine finally enters Mrs Tileny’s room and to her astonishment, there was nothing of her interest. Everything was new and refurbished and held no gothic secret or passages that she wished to find.
The Abbey in itself was no more to her now than any other house. The painful remembrance of the folly it had helped to nourish and perfect, was the only emotion which could spring from a consideration of the building.
Woodstone
Henry’s homeThey go to visit Henry at woodstone and Catherine is overwhelmed and delighted about the look of the place: (Chapter 26, page 156) “Prettily shaped room, the windows reaching the ground and the views from pleasant though only ever green meadows” “What a sweet little cottage there is among the trees – apples trees too!” (Catherine)
Trapped
Growing up, immaturity & innocence quotes
Gothic parody quotes
Society
- “How could you deceive me so, Mr. Thorpe?” – Catherine (Chapter 11) - On the way to Blaize Castle along with John, Isabella and James, Catherine see’s Eleanor and Henry Tilney walk past their carriage with an dissatisfied look on their face. Catherine was meant to spend the day with the two but was lied to by John that they had already gone. Catherine begs John to stop the carriage but he ignores her request and laughs it off. Catherine is left furious.
- “I carry my notions of friendship pretty high.” – Isabella (Chapter 6) – Isabella makes out to Catherine that she values their friendship highly as she attempts to comfort her in the pump room when Catherine is left confused after hearing from Isabella that John is “in love” with her. Catherine declares that she never tried to lead him and never would have attempted to but Isabella is insinuating that she must’ve. Isabella seems to push Catherine to have mutual feelings for John but then insists that Catherine’s happiness is important to her.
- “I hope they are not so impertinent as to follow us.” – Isabella (Chapter 6) – Isabella and Catherine are in the pump room. Isabella believes that two men have been staring at her for the past 30 mins and attempts to move away from them. She asks Catherine to check where they are going as she can see them move; supposedly hoping they are not following herself and Catherine. Catherine alerts her that they have left the pump room, and just by chance, Isabella decides to leave the pump room straight after the two young men knowing that there is a chance of bumping into them again.
- “I refused him as long as I possibly could” “he is not at all in my style of beauty” – Isabella (Chapter 16) – After sharing a dance with Captain Tilney who she made out to Catherine, to have no interest in, Isabella tries to explain herself making out that she was practically forced to dance with him. She attempts to reassure Catherine that she is not fond of Captain Tilney.
- “Udolpho was written by Mrs. Radcliffe,” – Catherine (Chapter 7) – Catherine, James, Isabella and John are in the gig on their way to the Thorpe’s house. In a discussion about novels, Catherine asks John if he has read Udolpho but John insists that he never reads besides a few. He further states that he would only read Mrs. Radcliffe’s novels.
- "Novels are all so full of nonsense and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones, except The Monk; I read that t’other day; but as for all the others, they are the stupidest things in creation.” - John Thorpe
General and Captain Fredrick Tilney
- “he was perfectly agreeable” - Narrator (Chapter 16 page 92) – about General Tilney when Catherine dines with the Tilneys.
- “strange man” – Mrs Morland (Chapter 29 page 170) – General Tilney when Catherine goes back to Fullerton and tells her family everything.
- "his loudest tone, resounded through the building” - Narrator (Chapter 24 page 139) – When Eleanor was about to show Catherine Mrs Tilney’s room.
- “his air was more assuming” – Narrator (Chapter 16 page 93) – Captain (Fredrick) Tilney first describing Captain Tilney at the ball.
- “Handsome! – Yes, I suppose he may” – Isabella (Chapter 16 page 96) – Captain (Fredrick) Tilney Isabella’s opinion of Captain Tilney.
Henry and Eleanor
- "unless you mean to have her think you intolerably rude to your sister, and a great brute in your opinion of women in general. Miss Morland is not used to your odd ways." - EleanorTilney (Chapter 14 page 82) - during their walk with Catherine around Beechen Cliff.
- ‘you are very impertinent. Miss Morland he is treating you exactly as he does his sister. He is for ever finding fault with me, for some incorrectness of language, and now he is taking the same liberty with you. The word ‘nicest;, as you used it, did not suit him; and you had better change it as soon as you can, or we shall be overpowered with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way’- Eleanor Tilney (Chapter 14, page 78) - During their walk with Catherine around Beechen Cliff.
- “I have very little to say for Frederick’s motives, such as I believe them to have been. If the effect of his behavior does not justify him with you, we had better not seek after the cause.” - Henry Tilney (Chapter 27, page 159)- When Catherine is talking to him about Fredrick and Isabella.
- “What have you been judging from? Remember the country and the age in which we live. Remember that we are English, that we are Christians...Does our education prepare us for such atrocities? Do our laws connive at them?...Dearest Miss Morland, what ideas have you been admitting?” - Henry Tilney (Chapter 24, page 144) - When Henry catches Catherine looking in Mrs Tilneys room due to her suspicions.
- “young, attractive and at a ball without wanting to fix the attention of every man near her”. Narrator (Chapter 8, page 36) - When Catherine sees Henry Tilney and Miss Tilney at the pump room.
Mr Allen Mrs Allen
- “[Mrs. Allen was] never satisfied with the day unless she spent the chief of it by the side of Mrs. Thorpe, in what they called conversation, but in which there was scarcely ever any exchange of opinion, and not often any resemblance of subject, for Mrs. Thorpe talked chiefly of her children, and Mrs. Allen of her gowns.”
- "Mrs. Allen congratulated herself, as soon as they were seated, on having preserved her gown from injury.
- “Open carriages are nasty things. A clean gown is not five minutes wear in them. You are splashed getting in and getting out; and the wind takes your hair and your bonnet in every direction. I hate an open carriage myself”
- Mrs. Allen was one of that numerous class of females, whose society can raise no other emotion than surprise at there being any men in the world who could like them well enough to marry them.
James and Catherine Morland
- “received her brother with the liveliest pleasure" - Narrator (Chapter 7 page 44) - Soon after her meeting the Thorpes, Catherine and Isabella run into her eldest brother James and Isabella’s brother John Thorpe who have just come form their college at Oxford. James is introduced.
- "Sincerely attached to her" - Narrator (Chapter 7 page 44) - Jane Austen as the narrator reveals James's relationship with Catherine.
- "This was the first time of her brother's openly siding against her" - Narrator (Chapter 13, page 95) - After James begins developing feelings for Isabella, he begins to oppose to his beloved sister's feelings for the sake of Isabella. The narrator speaks of Catherine's feelings here.
- "James was the sufferer" - Narrator (Chapter 18 page 141) - After Catherine witnesses Isabella's openly affectionate behaviour towards Captain Tilney, she becomes worried and concerned for her brother James.
- "You are my only friend; your love I do build upon." - Volume 2, Chapter 10 (ch 25) page 190 When Jame's calls off his engagement to Isabella, he again shows his concern and love for his sister in the letter he sends her while she is at Northanger Abbey. The love and care becomes evident between the siblings as James pours his heart out to her and wishes to see her soon.
- "Dearest Catherine, beware of how you give your heart."
Villainy / Heroism
- "John Thorpe had first misled him" - Omniscient narrator (Chapter 30 page 179) - The narrator is explaining that the general was mislead about the Morlands lack of wealth which is why he kicked her out of his home
- "Well, I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road, driving a smart-looking girl" - John Thorpe (Chapter 11 page 59) John tells Catherine that he saw Henry and Eleanor drive off already, in hopes to encourage Catherine to join them on their trip to the "blaize castle".
- "I heard Tilney hallooing to a man who was just passing by on horseback, that they were going as far as Wick Rocks.' - John Thorpe (Chapter 11, Page 59). after Catherine insists on calling to check up on the Tilney's in an hour, John lies that he heard they would not be back for a while.
- "My dearest Catherine, you cannot form an idea of the dirt; come, you must go; you cannot refuse going now.' - Isabelle (Chapter 11 page 59) Isabella pushing Catherine to join them.
- “Well, I have settled the matter, and now we may all go tomorrow with a safe conscience. I have been to Miss Tilney, and made your excuses.” - John Thorpe (Chapter 13 page 71) John Thorpe cancels Catherine's plans with the Tilney's without her permission.
Catherine and James Morland
- ‘she lays down her book with acted indifference, or momentary shame.’ Omniscient narrator Austen interjects in the narration through her omniscient narrator to create a defence of novels. The Omniscient narrator describes the disdain towards fictional novels. Chapter 5 Pg 23
- “It is so odd to me, that you should never have read Udolpho before;” Isabella Thorpe Catherine and Isabella are discussing which novels they are going to read and what they are going to wear that night. Chapter 6 Pg 25
- “Novels are all so full of nonsense and stuff; there has not been a tolerably decent one come out since Tom Jones, except The Monk;” John Thorpe John is on his gig with Catherine and after droning on about his means of transportation he begins to show his disapproval for novels.
- “Udolpho was written by Mrs Radcliff,” Catherine Morland John Thorpe claims he shall not read Udolpho and only novels written by Ann Radcliff and Catherine points out that Udolpho is one of Radcliff’s novels. Chapter 7 Pg 31
- “The Mysteries of Udolpho, when I had once begun it, I could not lay down again;” Henry Tilney Henry, Eleanor and Catherine are taking a stroll whilst discussing novels and Henry teases Catherine but also supports her love for novels. Chapter 14 Pg 77
- No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her. The Narrator
Setting
Fullerton
This is the place we learn the least about, even though it’s the novel’s (Catherine’s) starting point and the place which Catherine returns to at the end. Little opportunity for meeting people (for Catherine of the same age and class etc) as nothing appears to happen. Instead the Allen’s take Catherine to Bath, considering that: “Adventures will not befall a young lady in her own village” (Chapter 1, page 7). This is when the narrator introduces the Allen’s at the end of the chapter, and Mrs Allen states their reason for going to Bath. “She found herself soothed beyond anything impossible” (Chapter 29, page 170). This quote was extracted from time when Catherine arrives back home after leaving Northanger Abbey. For all its dullness, home is where the warmth and support of her family are. It also brings adventure as Henry comes to apologise and asks for her hand in marriage.
Bath
They arrived in Bath in chapter 2. “Catherine was all eager delight... Her eyes were everywhere as they approached its fine striking environs” (Chapter 2, Page 8) Although Bath is crowded with those who go there to seek society, it is ironic that at first, Mrs Allen and Catherine fail to make fresh acquaintances or to renew old ones. “That is very disagreeable. I wish we had a large acquaintance here” (Chapter 2, page 10). This is Mrs Allen talking to Catherine when they are finally seated, in response to how everyone is looking at them wondering why they are there. Bath is filled with occasional visitors rather than permanent residents, as it lacks social stability; “You ought to be tired at the end of the six weeks” (Chapter 10, page 54). This is quoted from Mr Tilney during his dance with Catherine. Bath lacks social stability in the sense that people meet each other not knowing any real knowledge of their character; “The progress of friendship between Catherine and Isabella was quick as its beginning had been warm” (chapter 5, page 21). This enables Isabella to deceive the trusting, naive Catherine for longer than in a neighbourhood like Fullerton, where she would be stigmatised for her scheming, inconsistency and self seeking greed.
Lower rooms and pump room
Here is where social meetings and balls take place. The lower rooms were used during the day for promenading and at night for dancing.
Lower rooms: Catherine meets Henry Tilney for the first time. “Here fortune was more favourable to our heroine” (Chapter 3, page 13). She also meets Eleanor here, “Catherine, interested at once by her appearance and her relationship to Mr Tilney” (Chapter 8, page 36) Pump room: Mrs Allen meets Mrs Thorpe (Chapter 4, page 17)
Bristol
Talk of the Blaize Castle in Chapter 11, is what entices Catherine to accompany them on their carriage ride, instead of waiting for the Tilney’s to arrive for their walk “The finest place in England – Worth going fifty miles at anytime” (Chapter 11, page 58). (John Thorpe says to Catherine to persuade her to come). Links with the gothic tropes of kidnapping. But the Blaize Castle this is nothing more than a landmark that Catherine fails to visit, also symbolises the idea of deception and falseness of the Thorpes.
Theatre
This is where Catherine hopes to reconcile with Henry “If Mr Thorpe would only had stopped, I would have jumped out and ran after you” (Chapter 12, page 66).This encounter with Henry at the theatre drives the narrative forward because it allows them to arrange another walk, and then eventually fall in love and get married.
Northanger Abbey
“Have you a stout heart? – Nerves fit for sliding panels and tapestry?” (chapter 20, page 114). This is the beginning of Henry’s description of the Abbey whilst playing on the features of Gothic.He continues to illustrate; “However your eyes will be attracted towards a large old-fashioned cabinet of ebony and gold”. (When examining the room in chapter 21, she found the identical cabinet described in his story).Her response was: “Why should it be places here? Pushed back too, as if it meant to be out of sight” (Chapter 21, Page 118)“The whole building enclosed a large court, rich in gothic ornaments”(Chapter 22, page 128). Here is the description of the Abbey when she saw it for the first time from the lawn. “Walls seemed countless in number, endless in length, a village of hot houses seem to rise among them” (Chapter 22, page 130) – Description of the kitchen garden.“Bath stove, mahogany wardrobes and neatly painted chairs” (Chapter 24, page 140). This description is taken from when Catherine finally enters Mrs Tileny’s room and to her astonishment, there was nothing of her interest. Everything was new and refurbished and held no gothic secret or passages that she wished to find.
The Abbey in itself was no more to her now than any other house. The painful remembrance of the folly it had helped to nourish and perfect, was the only emotion which could spring from a consideration of the building.
Woodstone
Henry’s homeThey go to visit Henry at woodstone and Catherine is overwhelmed and delighted about the look of the place: (Chapter 26, page 156) “Prettily shaped room, the windows reaching the ground and the views from pleasant though only ever green meadows” “What a sweet little cottage there is among the trees – apples trees too!” (Catherine)
Trapped
- Narrator. “He was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters” At the beginning when we get a description of Catherine Page 3
- Narrator “She was stuck however beyond her expectation, by the grandeur of the abbey” Just after Henry leaves for Woodston. Page 128
- Narrator “All favoured the supposition of her imprisonment” When the narrator talks about Henry’s mother. Page 137
- Narrator. “Having no party to join, no acquaintance to claim, no gentleman to assist them” When Mrs. Allen and Catherine go to the ball (She may feel trapped as she feels alone, she does not know anyone)with no one. Page 10
- Catherine. “Have I offended the General?” Catherine is told that she has to leave Northanger Abbey. She may feel trapped as she does not know what she did wrong to get kicked out of the General’s house.)Page 164.
Growing up, immaturity & innocence quotes
- Chapter 1 - the narrator describes how Catherine changes as a teenager. Catherine’s parents: ‘Catherine is almost pretty today’ – this quote shows Catherine growing, becoming more beautiful. (Pg 4)
- Chapter 5 - Isabella and Catherine attend the pump room. Catherine is looking for Henry Tinley but he is nowhere to be seen. Narrator: ‘she was not experienced enough in the finesse of love or the duties of friendship, to know when delicate raillery was properly called for’ - Catherine's lack of experience in relationships, as well as her emotional immaturity, creates uncertain situations for her. Words like "duties" and "to know," suggest the ways in which relationships are conducted by certain rules that the young and inexperienced Catherine will need to learn (pg 21)
- Chapter 11 – John Thorpe, Isabella, and James show up at her door with a plan to visit Bristol (Blazie castle) and try to convince Catherine to come with them Catherine: "But now really—are there towers and long galleries?" – This quotes shows Catherine’s immaturity and innocence as Blazie castle is a folly her tone also reflects a child eagerness which again highlights her immaturity. (pg 59)
- Chapter 24 - Catherine sneaks out alone around four o'clock in the afternoon to Mrs. Tinley’s old bedroom. She is caught by Henry, who has returned early. He tells her that General Tinley did not murder Mrs Tinley and that she is too caught up in her fantasy. Narrator: ‘She raised her eyes towards him more fully than she had ever done before’ – This quote shows that Catherine is becoming more mature and is able to be confident when speaking to Henry. (pg 144)
- Chapter 26 - Henry goes home to prepare for their arrival. In Woodston, Catherine is upset and reflecting. Narrator: ‘The Abbey in itself was no more to her now than any other house’ Catherine's disillusionment with Northanger Abbey marks the end of her Gothic fantasy about the house's secret history. She acknowledges how immature she was to invest it with an unrealistic fantasy, and she wants to forget the incident as quickly as possible. (pg 154)
- “No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be a heroine... But from fifteen to seventeen she was in training for a heroine...”
Gothic parody quotes
- “He was not in the least addicted to locking up his daughters” Narrator, introducing Catherine’s normal background and gently mocking the gothic convention of a tyrannous father Chapter 1, Page 3
- “A clear blue sky was no longer proof of a fine day” Narrator, talking about the picturesque and what was beauty through a gothic lens Chapter 14, Page 80
- “Is not it a fine old place, just like one reads about” Catherine, voicing her expectations of Northanger abbey Chapter 20, Page 114
- “But there being nothing in all this out of the common way” Henry Tilney, light-heartedly mocking the gothic convention of discovering, blood, daggers and instruments and tortures when exploring Chapter 20, Page 115
- “How inexpressibly different in domestic arrangements.. in which all the dirty work is done by two pair of female hands at the utmost” Narrator, telling us about the gothic conventions abbeys and castles Catherine reads about and how they differ to Northanger Chapter 23, Page 134
- “It was the air and attitude of Montoni” Narrator, telling us of Catherine’s thoughts and assumptions of the General as a parallel to the villainous Montoni in Mysteries of Udolpho Chapter 23, Page 136
- “Receiving the pitiless hands of her husband a nightly supply of coarse food” Narrator (Chapter 23, Page 137) - Catherine’s imaginations and speculations of the horrific deeds of the General
- “The clock struck twelve- and Catherine had been half an hour asleep” Narrator (Chapter 23, Page 138) - How Catherine falls asleep when she decided to spy on the General to watch his nightly activities
- But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her. Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way. The Narrator
- “Yes, pretty well; but are they all horrid, are you sure they are all horrid?”
- “It is only a novel... or, in short, only some work in which the greatest powers of the mind are displayed,
- “The person, be it gentlemen or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.”
- “And now I may dismiss my heroine to the sleepless couch, which is the true heroine's portion - to a pillow strewed with thorns and wet with tears. And lucky may she think herself, if she get another good night's rest in the course of the next three months.”
Society
- “He wants me to dance with him again, though I tell him that it is a most improper thing, and entirely against the rules. It would make us the talk of the place, if we were not to change partners.” - Isabella (Chapter 8 page 38) - Isabella and James have competing views on the rules that govern public dances, though Isabella is most likely lying in order to play hard to get. She really has no intention of not dancing with James. Isabella does draw our attention to the problem of gossip and rumours in polite society.
- “I have always lived there, and always been very happy. But certainly there is much more sameness in a country life than in a Bath life. One day in the country is exactly like another.” - Henry (Chapter 10 page 55) - Catherine is fond of both country and the urban life, though she enjoys the social life she has in Bath. Henry implies that there is something irrational and ridiculous about life in Bath.
- “She knew not how such an offense as hers might be classed by the laws of worldly politeness, to what a degree of unforgiveness it might with propriety lead, nor to what rigours of rudeness in return might justly make her amendable.” - Narrator (Chapter 12 page 65) - Catherine is learning the rules of society, feeling guilty for breaking a convention.
- "These schemes are not at all the thing. Young men and women driving about the country in open carriages! Now and then it is very well; but going to inns and public places together! It is not right; and I wonder Mrs. Thorpe should allow it." - Mr Allen (Chapter 13 page 75) - Allen explains Catherine’s behaviour is improper and bordering on scandalous. Catherine is able to escape from gossip here, since she went out riding unchaperoned.
- “For what would the Tilneys have thought of her, if she had broken her promise to them in order to do what was wrong in itself – if she had been guilty of one breach of propriety, only to enable her to be guilty of another?” - Narrator (Chapter 13 page 76) - Catherine has a lot of anxiety about doing the proper thing and behaving well in polite society.
- "But I confess, as soon as I read this letter, I thought it a very foolish, imprudent business, and not likely to promote the good of either; for what were you to live upon, supposing you came together? You have both of you something to be sure, but it is not a trifle that will support a family now-a-days; and after all that romancers may say, there is no doing without money." - Isabella (Chapter 18 page 103) - She is greedy, in her pursuit of wealth. Isabella is speaking of John and Catherine, while she voicing doubts concerning her match with James.