Definitely rising! His kindness to Jane at the dinner in Ch. 34, when he wishes her as many "concentrated objects" as he has, is really touching. Despite Emma's fears that he won't be happy to be encountering a dinner party during his short stay to drop off the boys for a visit to Hartfield, John not only takes the news well but he makes a successful effort to be agreeable and to join into the general conversation instead of just withdrawing to a corner to talk with his brother.