] While Isabella's shallowness and flightiness are readily apparent, I do think I see some sparks of friendship there, that there is some caring on her part for Catherine. But things seem to change when James and John arrive in town.

] Suddenly "faithful Isabella" doesn't talk to Catherine when James is around, and has no compunction about leaving her alone - "Isabella, who had been talking to James on the other side of her, turned again to his sister and whispered, "My dear creature, I am afraid I must leave you," - can barely find the time to talk to her - "James and Isabella were so much engaged in conversing together that the latter had no leisure to bestow more on her friend than one smile, one squeeze, and one 'dearest Catherine.'"

During this read, I confess I am wondering for the first time whether there is any sincere friendship from Isabella at all, or how much of her attention to Catherine is to further her own interest with James? The very fist thing Isabella says, upon being introduced to Catherine is "How excessively like her brother Miss Morland is!"