Doesn't JA undercut her earlier defense of novels by having catherine imagine this foolish and childish scenario of the general killing his wife? It seems that all of the silliness and gullability of women and the foolishness of reading novels. Catherine seems to have abandoned all of her previously displayed sense and maturity. This seems to undo all of the groundwork that JA has done in developing this character as an adult ready to enter society. IMHO