As I was reading the first several pages, it occurred to me that by reversing the characterstics of Catherine and her family, one could use it to generate a list of the characteristics of a Gothic heroine.

This is the list I came up with:

1. Her father may be a clergyman, but he must be poor. He may be less-than-respectable, and he should have a tendency to lock up his daughters.
2. The heroine's mother should die in childbirth, preferably when giving birth to the heroine. If she manages to survive, she should be in poor health.
3. Most or all of the members of the family, but especially the heroine, should be attractive.
4. She should raise a non-traditional pet, such as a doormouse. She should enjoy gardening.
5. She should be bright but docile, and she should develop accomplishments, such as music or drawing, at which she should excel.
6. She should not be a tomboy.
7. When she leaves home, her family must mourn the parting extravagantly. Her sister must extract a promise that she will write daily and in detail, and her mother must warn her against the machinations of potential villians.