John Thorpe is up to trickery when the situation calls for it. His so called proposal is very vague and Catherine does not get it—he is too “chicken” to say something more direct IMO. When Isabella brings it up a proposal and how much John cares for Catherine it is as if they are trying to “guilt” her into thinking she as somehow accepted him or led him on. Fortunately Catherine is too honest and too ready to believe the best in people to fall for such as this. Those Thorpe’s are very sneaky IMHO! :D