JA was a shewd observer of human nature. I have seen this same behavior many times in real life: a woman attracted to a man who is interested in someone else, deludes herself into thinking that making disparaging remarks about the true object of his affections will make him change his mind and turn towards her. The result is usually just the reverse of what the woman desired: the man feels that his taste and judgement is being criticised, and the woman doing the carping looks petty and mean.