Back in chapter 16, Catherine went quite pensive for a while over Henry's big "superior in good nature yourself to all the rest of the world" compliment, but then got distracted by the Isabella/Frederick situation and seems not to have turned her mind to it again.

Now, in chapter 22, the time's ripe for him to drop another hint. I wonder whether he's indulging himself with a leisurely game of see-how-long-she-takes-to-notice-that-she's-being-wooed. If so, the general nearly ruined it with that heavy-handed reference to wedding gifts (an opportunity might ere long occur of selecting). Come to that, who invited him into the game, anyway? I thought Eleanor was the only other Tilney aware of their mutual attraction.