or how Louisa could be so badly injured (knocked out cold and in a coma for days) from simply jumping off the steps. It wasn't like she dove down head first! In all the movie adaptations I've seen (I only bring this up because the scenes were filmed at Lyme and showed the actual Cobb) she jumps down into a standing position holding CW's hands. So I don't see how missing her grasp would produce this kind of injury. Unless she was expecting him to catch her in a sitting position, with one arm around her back and the other supporting the back of her knees? The would have her landing on her backside with the back of her head hitting the ground. Ouch!

IMHO, this is a badly construed scene on the part of JA. But, it is a turning point in the novel and moves the plot along nicely, so I forgive JA :-)

The other thing that has always baffled me about this scene, is the reaction of CW and Captain Benwick to Louisa's fall. They are brave and dashing sea captains, having enjoyed battles and captured enemy frigates, used to the harsh realities of life on board ship which must include illness, injury and death. Yet their actions, or more precisely inactions, to Louisa's fall don't seem realistic. Why are they paralyzed? Why can't they think of what to do next? I would have thought they would take command of the situation as experience has taught them. Could it be the sight of a young lady instead of a male sailor that affects them this way? Thoughts?