While Henry could be accused of selfishness for being unwilling to give up his freedom and settle for the relatively confined and unvarying society of a country neighbourhood in order to provide a home for his sister I don't find this a very surprising attitude for a sociable young man.

I agree with Kathleen (elder) that London may be the key here. If so, I think we may be jumping to unwarranted conclusions if we attribute unworthy or sinister motives to such a preference. Consider the following quotations from the Georgian era:

"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." [Samuel Johnson (of dictionary fame), 1709-1784.]

"I have no relish for the country; it is a kind of healthy grave." [Sydney Smith (reformist clergyman), 1771-1845.]