...well, when he first appears on the scene I am willing to give some leeway and feel a bit sorry for him. He is obviously a follower and quite smitten with Isabella and I can only shake my head and look at him and see him as at risk of becoming someone I'd be sorry to see him turn into by his blind association with the Thorpe family.

I understand about youth and hormones and kids-will-be-kids if they are willing to suffer the consequences themselves and not be expecting others to be a part of any consequences/suffering, particularly if you care about them and they expressly want no part of it. Most people out exploring the stupidity of youth are not ganging up on a beloved family member with their friends to force him/her into participating in the stupidity, as it were. :)

The harangue of Catherine has to have lasted at least fifteen to twenty minutes, if not more. To be watching this, let alone participating in it, I don't know, I just find it hard to understand. The hurt, frustration and vexation must have been all over her face and in her voice. And it would have been so easy to put an end to it: "Catherine, is right, she should not break her promise; we can go out the following day." or " You know, Thorpe, what would it hurt to take your sister out just this once?" which is obviously what they ended up doing anyway. I'd wager that a Henry Tilney of the same age as James would not have allowed such a shameful display against Eleanor for one second, raging hormones or not. He would have escorted the young lady back to her door and wished her good day for good. She would not have deserved his raging hormones. :)

Kudos to Catherine for remaining strong, steadfast and true to herself under the circumstances. At this point, I can only say that once James allows the Thorpes to treat his sister in such a shameful manner and helps them to do it, any pity or feeling sorry for him, etc. pretty much disappears. I can only hope that he will do something to regain some respect for himself and any dear readers who have been disappointed.