“No, I am sure you are too good. You will be kinder than Mary. You will allow for the doubts of youth and inexperience. I am of a cautious temper, and unwilling to risk my happiness in a hurry. Nobody can think more highly of the matrimonial state than myself I consider the blessing of a wife as most justly described in those discreet lines of the poet—’Heaven’s last best gift.’” (4)

Henry’s cautious temper and unwillingness to risk his happiness in a hurry suggests he will not be tricked into marriage by the designs of one sister or gently prodded along into serious courtship by the good intentions of another. I think the risk to happiness he speaks of could be the danger of a personally unsuitable match—the Crawford’s marriage could have taught him the lesson. I take “in a hurry” to mean Henry is not eager to give up his bachelor status any time soon. Nevertheless Henry appears to be a determined and successful lady’s man—like his uncle but on a lesser scale, Henry does not shun female company or scruple to flaunt honor and propriety:

Mr. Crawford did not mean to be in any danger! the Miss Bertrams were worth pleasing, and were ready to be pleased; and he began with no object but of making them like him. He did not want them to die of love; but with sense and temper which ought to have made him judge and feel better, he allowed himself great latitude on such points. (5)