I have to give James the admission that he was sent off to university alone, while Catherine was sent to Bath directly from home with the Allens as chaperons (and at least Mr. Allen seems genuinely astute and responsible).

Still, it is scary to think that James is training to be a clergyman (based on his being at Oxford and several remarks dropped by Isabella). That he is besotted with Isabella is pretty clear, but that he could fall in with Thorpe and not judge what sort he was--much less that he could fall in with Thorpe's plan to deceive the Tilneys--is shocking considering his expected future.